I can't hit Fn keys reliably without looking. Instead I mapped switching to my common programs to `fn+h/j/k/l` and other closeby keys (firefox = fn+h, vscode = fn+j, etc). My right-hand fingers are already on hjkl anyway, it's much much faster for me :)
Function keys productivity trick
91–100 of 221 posts
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#92No, you're using the computer wrong. See, you should use a tiling window manager with several workspaces and shortcuts without having to look at your keyboard, e.g. Meta+4 to go to workspace 4 where you have your chat apps.
> without having to look at your keyboard
Function keys are faster / more direct for people that do 100% touch typing, right?
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#93No, you're using the computer wrong. See, you should use a tiling window manager with several workspaces and shortcuts without having to look at your keyboard, e.g. Meta+4 to go to workspace 4 where you have your chat apps.
Any recommendation for Mac?
As others have mentioned yabai +skhd is excellent. I think using this guide to set it all up went a long way for me: https://cbrgm.net/post/2021-05-5-setup-macos/
Yabai is my daily driver and I really like it.
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#94I use Karabiner-Elements and Hammerspoon to map caps lock to a "hyper" key, so browser is hyper+b, text editor is hyper+t, terminal is hyper+s, notes/tasks (Obsidian) is hyper+k, etc.
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#95Would be nice to have a usb keypad and perhaps a little oled screen in each keycap to implement this… my function keys are pretty overloaded with stuff now.
You're looking for a stream deck: https://www.elgato.com/fr/stream-deck-mk2 A related comment above: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34246255
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Re: Function keys productivity trick
#96So, let's say F2 does something important in an open app (e.g. "Rename file" in Explorer) - does that mean it would not work anymore? Or am I missing something obvious?
Yeah I use F2 constantly for rename, not just in explorer but very useful in lots of apps. In Unity (the game engine) it's invaluable. Also F3 is generally "Find next" when you have a search box open. F12 and Shift-F12 do code navigation in VS and F10 and F11 are useful in the debugger. There are lots of nice things you can do with the F keys which this tip spoils.
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#97Windows users can do this by pressing Win+digit with open apps or apps you have pinned on the task bar. Linux Mint, as with many other windows shortcuts, has this also
I use shortcuts heavily, but Win+number is something I never get used to despite knowing them. They way they work when you have multiple X programs opened (say, editors, explorers..) is kinda weird and I ended up just using alt+tab, which is much easier to press anyway.
Yes, I use them for launching "singleton" applications, and Alt+Tab for the rest.
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#98This is not too different to how I've been using tiling window managers for the last decade.
There 9 or 10 virtual desktops which are accessed with WIN+1-0.
1 is for shells, 2 is the IDE, 3/4 are browsers, 6 is administrative stuff, usually a root shell, 0 is for zoom, 5,7,8 are less defined or just "whatever doesn't fit". In addition I'm using the multi-monitor switching from xmonad in i3 (i.e. if I have [1] on the left and [2] on the right screen, when I activate [1] while on the right one, they switch places, if I activate [3], then it will replace [2] and [1] stays on the left one).
It sounds very pedantic but I don't even have to think when context switching and it's made my life a lot easier. Interestingly it doesn't work as well on my private computer because (to no one's surprise) I am using many more GUI tools and do different things when not working.
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#99Windows users can do this by pressing Win+digit with open apps or apps you have pinned on the task bar. Linux Mint, as with many other windows shortcuts, has this also
It's ok, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to register with "multiples of the same application" open, i.e. if I have Firefox at Win-2 then it's always the first window that was opened (which is fine most of the time) but if I need the other Firefox window then it's alt-tabbing again. No, tabs don't help here, I don't have 50 Firefox windows open, but often a second.
Re: Function keys productivity trick
#100So, let's say F2 does something important in an open app (e.g. "Rename file" in Explorer) - does that mean it would not work anymore? Or am I missing something obvious?
F5 webpage refresher checking-in to say hi.