[LINUX] Making better use of the bottom keyboard row

joshwiththegoodhair · July 5, 2019, 3:11pm

I wanted to share the simple bash script I’ve created which allows better use of the bottom row of the MPC.

The script requires xmodmap and xcape. xcape is not a standard install, but can be installed with:

Arch: xcape AUR package
Ubuntu: sudo apt install xcape

The script is split into functions which have been described and can be used a la carte as needed. Essentially, this script:

“resets” the keyboard by resetting the layout and killing existing entries of xcape
swaps the super/windows key with alt/meta
when capslk is held, it acts as ctrl; when tapped, it acts as esc
the /+? key acts normally when tapped, but acts as a right-hand side super modifier key when held
the \+| key acts normally when tapped, but acts as a right-hand side ctrl modifier when held
the left-hand super acts as the normal super modifier key when held, but triggers the F12 key when tapped. I use this to toggle a quake-like terminal window.
the left-hand ctrl acts as the normal ctrl modifier key when held, but triggers the (completely chosen-at-random) XF86Documents key when tapped. I’ve bound XF86Documents to Wavebox, my Electron multi-chat client, but you could make it act as a toggling hotkey for any app.

gist.github.com

https://gist.github.com/joshskidmore/f8599610da3308613cddcaf46a701ecc

gpd-micropc-keyboard.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# resets keyboard; kills all running instances of xcape
reset_kbd () {
  local xcape_cnt=$(pgrep xcape | wc -l)

  echo "  - reset_kbd"
  echo "    - killing $xcape_cnt instances of xcape"

  setxkbmap -layout us

This file has been truncated. show original

bohdik · August 3, 2019, 9:49pm

Hi Josh, you write about ctrl, but the function in the script is called alt_to_chat… and maps Alt_L=XF86Documents. In the MATE the switched Alt still opens “Start Menu” like SuperL, although in the Keyboard Shortcuts it acts as AltL. Please, what key-name should be written in Wavebox for toggling? (Thank you for bringing Wavebox to me, I paid for it.)