For buying new keys, there are many inexpensive (non-mechanical) USB number pads you can get for $10 or less. It's a good way to get started before committing to something more expensive. Or you can even just use an entire second keyboard; most software will let you bind shortcuts to a specific keyboard.
For software, Hammerspoon [0] is a free option that can handle arbitrary key mappings/macros; however, you'll have to program it yourself, it's more of a hacker's tool than something with a friendly UI.
Remapping a few things can make a full day at the computer much more comfortable. I struggle with RSI in my right thumb and index finger, so it helps a ton to have other ways to click the mouse button. I have a dedicated key for mouse click, as well as using Mod+Caps Lock as double-click. Don't be afraid to move shortcuts around if it makes sense. Brains are more adaptable than we tend to give them credit for.
For any linux folk who haven't tried something like this yet, keyd and wtype are what I settled on, having tried the kmonads, interceptiontools, xscapes, kanatas, etc. (though I've been meaning to try kanata out again now it's a bit more mature)
Will check out keyd and wtype, thank you for the pointers! If you don't mind, could you go into a little more detail on your journey? What do you use it for? What roadblocks did you encounter that made you try out different tools?
On Windows I was a happy Autohotkey user. For the same functionality I'm using kmonad+bash+ydotool+systemd now. I use it to make CapsLock a modifier key. Mostly for navigation, e. g. Caps+HJKL for arrow keys, Caps+E/R for Ctrl+🡰/🡲, i. e. jump to the next/prev word. Also moved some special keys closer to the home row, e. g. Caps+F=Backspace, Caps+D=Delete, Caps+V=Enter.
I do not like kmonad at all. The configuration language seems poorly designed, and OS integration is non-existent. Last week I spent about 90 minutes with Copilot trying to get the kmonad script to autostart. And it still doesn't work properly. I have a macro that types the current date, and I just couldn't get it to work when running as a systemd service. Umlauts also don't seem to be working anymore.
Caps Lock <—> Esc should honestly be standardized on keyboards. Esc is used pretty often in my experience while Caps Lock, being modal, only gets the occasional press even when used.
Was always my first tweak to a new machine - such an obvious change. Moving to a split keyboard gave me three keys at each thumb - the same kind of realization. We have two thumbs that most keyboards map to a single space bar. The thumb is a really solid finger for modifiers.
Another nice thing about a custom keyboard is not needing to map the keys - it's in the firmware.
I'd love to have 3 extra keys to assign to Ctrl-c, Ctrl-v and Alt-tab, but I keep bumping into these issues: RGB lights and other typical gaming design; proprietary app to install; huge real estate occupied on the desk.
OT: this is the first time Ive encountered a branching article. Awesome. The ability has been there for decades, but never used. Guess going from print to digital is not only a change of tools but a mindset.
The only keyboard customisation that I want is to include a trackpoint (or any poiting device) in my TKL keyboard. Such a common sense requirement for devs, but literally zero solutions that are actualy affordable.
I like mechanical keyboards and the likes with a lot of key travel. So not a fan of these laptop keyboards. That and cost and availability too. That keyboard does not appear to be available on my country...
Fair, although I used to prefer the old chonky Thinkpad keyboards to anything else. There was (is?) a Model M style buckle spring keyboard with a trackpoint, but it had the numeric pad, so no good to you.
I guess one could do a project-keyboard and add a trackpoint to it. I don't know if you'd have to macgyver it up, or if there's something you can buy as a package for the trackpoint. That would be fun. One could even do a 40% version with it and damn the RSI :)
For me at least the post wasn't loading on mobile (Firefox on Android) and looks like others had the same issue. Skimming the article just now on the laptop (Firefox on Linux) I see in the images that the author is using a trackpoint on their keyboard, but it's not mentioned in the text anywhere!
Edit: Ohhhh... I see that big box at the bottom that I just dismissed without reading as one of those "continue reading my other articles" chumbox inspired things, is actually a continuation of the article via multiple options. I guess that might be what upset my mobile browser too.
I'm still not spotting any discussion of the trackpoint though...
Two notes:
For buying new keys, there are many inexpensive (non-mechanical) USB number pads you can get for $10 or less. It's a good way to get started before committing to something more expensive. Or you can even just use an entire second keyboard; most software will let you bind shortcuts to a specific keyboard.
For software, Hammerspoon [0] is a free option that can handle arbitrary key mappings/macros; however, you'll have to program it yourself, it's more of a hacker's tool than something with a friendly UI.
0: https://www.hammerspoon.org/
Remapping a few things can make a full day at the computer much more comfortable. I struggle with RSI in my right thumb and index finger, so it helps a ton to have other ways to click the mouse button. I have a dedicated key for mouse click, as well as using Mod+Caps Lock as double-click. Don't be afraid to move shortcuts around if it makes sense. Brains are more adaptable than we tend to give them credit for.
Nice post.
For any linux folk who haven't tried something like this yet, keyd and wtype are what I settled on, having tried the kmonads, interceptiontools, xscapes, kanatas, etc. (though I've been meaning to try kanata out again now it's a bit more mature)
Will check out keyd and wtype, thank you for the pointers! If you don't mind, could you go into a little more detail on your journey? What do you use it for? What roadblocks did you encounter that made you try out different tools?
On Windows I was a happy Autohotkey user. For the same functionality I'm using kmonad+bash+ydotool+systemd now. I use it to make CapsLock a modifier key. Mostly for navigation, e. g. Caps+HJKL for arrow keys, Caps+E/R for Ctrl+🡰/🡲, i. e. jump to the next/prev word. Also moved some special keys closer to the home row, e. g. Caps+F=Backspace, Caps+D=Delete, Caps+V=Enter.
I do not like kmonad at all. The configuration language seems poorly designed, and OS integration is non-existent. Last week I spent about 90 minutes with Copilot trying to get the kmonad script to autostart. And it still doesn't work properly. I have a macro that types the current date, and I just couldn't get it to work when running as a systemd service. Umlauts also don't seem to be working anymore.
As a vim, linux, shell guy, I still love my mapping of Caps Lock pressed to CTRL und Caps Lock released to ESC.
Being able to reach CTRL and ESC with the little finger while keeping your hands on the home row keys is great.
Caps Lock <—> Esc should honestly be standardized on keyboards. Esc is used pretty often in my experience while Caps Lock, being modal, only gets the occasional press even when used.
Capslock <-> Backspace is my #1 keyboard config. Esc is not bad either. BUT WHY DO I NEED A LARGE KEY FOR SHOUTING?
Was always my first tweak to a new machine - such an obvious change. Moving to a split keyboard gave me three keys at each thumb - the same kind of realization. We have two thumbs that most keyboards map to a single space bar. The thumb is a really solid finger for modifiers.
Another nice thing about a custom keyboard is not needing to map the keys - it's in the firmware.
This is trivial to map on QMK/ZMK mechanical keyboards too, using mod-tap: https://docs.qmk.fm/mod_tap
I do this but better:
- caps + key = control + key
- tap caps = escape
- caps + space + key = ctrl, opt, cmd + key
All done in my keyboard firmware.
This is the way
I'd love to have 3 extra keys to assign to Ctrl-c, Ctrl-v and Alt-tab, but I keep bumping into these issues: RGB lights and other typical gaming design; proprietary app to install; huge real estate occupied on the desk.
Was always mystified about custom keyboards - until I got the idea to do an emoji layer: https://poggers.institute/@j/the-emoji-layer/
Also: swapping colon/semicolon, using fn+hjkl for arrow keys and having Enter at my right thumb.
Once you open that door.
The website crashed my firefox (149.0.2 android) 3 times in a row. How to reproduce: open the website, start scrolling
It locked up my whole phone. It's becoming increasingly common to see websites that are just text with the odd image that are too heavy for mobile!
Firefox 150 android w/ ublock: images don't load, rest of page works fine.
I'd guess I'm probably more aggressive in what I block?
Huh, so it's not just me. Got a few crashes on android Firefox 150.0, couldn't read anything
> I know my keyboard looks weird, but stripped of its strange moments, it’s a pretty standard QWERTY.
I'd like to hear you say that once you've searched for a replacement for that 4.5u spacebar, or for Justin's mini-ADA profile f-key keycaps :)
OT: this is the first time Ive encountered a branching article. Awesome. The ability has been there for decades, but never used. Guess going from print to digital is not only a change of tools but a mindset.
The only keyboard customisation that I want is to include a trackpoint (or any poiting device) in my TKL keyboard. Such a common sense requirement for devs, but literally zero solutions that are actualy affordable.
You know the Lenovo Thinkpad Trackpoint Keyboard II is a thing, right? It would seem to meet that requirement. What's missing?
Edit: Oh, they're pricey - so that, I guess?
>What's missing?
I like mechanical keyboards and the likes with a lot of key travel. So not a fan of these laptop keyboards. That and cost and availability too. That keyboard does not appear to be available on my country...
Fair, although I used to prefer the old chonky Thinkpad keyboards to anything else. There was (is?) a Model M style buckle spring keyboard with a trackpoint, but it had the numeric pad, so no good to you.
I guess one could do a project-keyboard and add a trackpoint to it. I don't know if you'd have to macgyver it up, or if there's something you can buy as a package for the trackpoint. That would be fun. One could even do a 40% version with it and damn the RSI :)
Maybe give this a look? https://tex.com.tw/products/shinobi
I am aware of this existing. But it is costly, not easily available, and looks huge, compared to a compact TKL mechanical keyboard.
Have you read the post you're commenting on yet?
For me at least the post wasn't loading on mobile (Firefox on Android) and looks like others had the same issue. Skimming the article just now on the laptop (Firefox on Linux) I see in the images that the author is using a trackpoint on their keyboard, but it's not mentioned in the text anywhere!
Edit: Ohhhh... I see that big box at the bottom that I just dismissed without reading as one of those "continue reading my other articles" chumbox inspired things, is actually a continuation of the article via multiple options. I guess that might be what upset my mobile browser too.
I'm still not spotting any discussion of the trackpoint though...
By way of examples, I my favourites were a button to toggle light/dark mode, and the context dependant bit button.