I use a Linux distro with kde, so I have a lot of customization available. I like trying other distros in VMs, but stuff like windows (no need to copy really kde is similar by default) and Mac is a pain in the ass to use that way. so, I want to know what your os does that you think I should copy using kde’s customization. I’m looking for Mac in particular (bc I haven’t used it before) but any OS or desktop environment is fair game.
Caps Lock remapped to compose. Much more useful, especially for those of us who sometimes need to type “other” letters, but prefer US dvorak keyboard layout.
While I agree with the general premise that Caps Lock is in a terrible place on standard US English keyboards – that’s prime real estate and people just don’t use it that much – I swap Caps Lock and Control and have Menu remapped to Compose. If you’re typing in English, you’re gonna use Control a lot more than Compose. If you use emacs, that’s doubly true. And that’s about where Compose has been on some keyboards.
what’s the compose key? never heard of it but any excuse to not waste a key on caps lock sounds great.
Allows you to do umlauts, accents on letters etc.
E.g., öšéå
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key
Works in X11 and Wayland.
Not as powerful as Emacs’s input methods, but it covers a lot of common cases.
Basically, hitting compose causes the next two keystrokes to “combine”. For example, / + o = ø, as well as the other letters that are useful to us with extra letters in the alphabet. In addition to that it provides a myriad of other characters such as copyright, trademark, just to name a few.
I don’t really need the compose key, but rebinding caps does sound tempting. But what to bind it to… Hmm
I bound it to normal shift, because I fat-finger caps instead of shift all the time anyway lol
Haha fair enough
On Macs, I remap it to the Command (super) key. On Linux, I remap it to Ctrl.
It makes copying, pasting, etc. way more ergonomic and doesn’t strain your pinky 😌
I’m using it as a Super key on my 80s AT keyboard
I have it activate a layer when held where all the other keys are remapped.
I also use a 45% keyboard (https://wilba.tech/jd45) and its done in the keyboard’s firmware (https://qmk.fm/), so I need the extra keys.
I have an older model of the JD45 with a full bottom row.
I’ve been meaning to get my hands on a QMK board, but didn’t get around to it yet. Having an extra layer with macros or something sounds super powerful. I wonder whether I’m able to replicate a similar behavior without touching the board’s firmware. But I guess with enough registered keybinds it should work lol
What? And lose one of the disco buttons? (along with scroll lock and num lock)
Flashing lights and a loud beep if set up right hehe.