Configs showcase

[veyxov]

Can we have a discussion about cool tips and tricks or ideas about keyboard configurations.
In which users can show their chords, layers... and discuss keyboard efficiency?
This can help discover new ways to make your layout comfortable and efficient.

[rszyma]

I'll start with my favourite one:

• Remapping mrgt (right mouse button) to (tap-hold-press 200 200 mrgt lctl) (left control while held). I like to use mouse a lot while editing code (I use vscode) and this remapping has probably the most impact on reducing left hand strain for common shortcuts that use Ctrl: Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+Z, and many other custom ones. And this also gives a superpower of having "go to definition" by just using mouse: RightMouseHold+LeftMouseClick :D

[amospalla]

Say:

• you touch-type.
• you have your mods on the home rows by using tap-hold.
• you always shift your right keys with left-shift, and your left keys with right-shift.

This way, for example, you never combine the left-shift with any key on the left half of the keyboard, like "Q", "T", "3" or "B". You can then use these combinations or other things. Example:

My ";" (right key to "L", english layout) behaves as right-shift when held with the help of tap-hold, but when combined with "j,k,l,i" they behave as mouse wheel up/down/left/right (I've got mouse forward, backward, and the 3 main mouse buttons too, but I'll skip these for simplification):

(defalias
  sft_scln_lyr (multi rsft (layer-while-held shift_scln_alt_layer))
  rwhup        (multi (release-key rsft) (mwheel-up 120 120))
  rwhdown      (multi (release-key rsft) (mwheel-down 120 120))
  rwhleft      (multi (release-key rsft) (mwheel-left 120 120))
  rwhright     (multi (release-key rsft) (mwheel-right 120 120))
)
(defalias sft_scln   (tap-hold-release  $tt  $th  scln    @sft_scln_lyr))

(defsrc
    i
  j k l   ;
)

(deflayer base
    _
  _ _ _   @sft_scln
)

(deflayer shift_scln_alt_layer
           @rwhup
  @rwhleft @rwhdown @rwhright _
)

The only downside of this is that using any key on the shift_scln_alt_layer releases the shift key, so you must release the ";" key and press it again if you want to use it as shift, but anyway you never use the ";" (semicolon) to access the mouse wheel followed by shifting something on the left half keyboard.

[amospalla]

(Macro) Delete all the text: selects all the text and deletes it. I use this all the time when clearing any text field like user, password, text input, etc.:

• (defalias rmall (macro C-home C-S-end del home S-end del))

[amospalla]

Storing passwords:

• Have an array of dynamic-macros where you can store passwords. Store them once, use them all the time without having to type it.
• Use some combination not easy to reach by mistake (like smashing the keyboard keys with both hands) to trigger dynamic-macro-play. Like (an easy to remember but hard to reach by mistake) three keys sequence or two nested layer combination, to trigger the macro play.
• Your passwords are not stored anywhere (but in memory). Secure when the computer is not in a shared environment like home. You can set a key action to delete the passwords from memory.

[jtroo]

Available in the latest main but not in any pre-built release (at the time of writing) is now on-idle-fakekey which enables behaviour that is similar to but not exactly the same as ZMK global-quick-tap.

When using home row tap-hold-* keys, this can help prevent accidental hold activations when typing quickly. A downside is that if one tries to activate the hold action too quickly, they will instead just type the letter! I've been trying it out and it's working pretty well, I can be less careful about accidental hold activations while having tap-hold-release on the home row.

I do occasionally get accidental letters when I intended to have a hold activation though. Maybe it could be useful to have just tap-hold with pure timeout on the typing layer, as opposed to tap-hold-release on the base layer.

[DarkKronicle]

One of my favorite aspects of kanata has been the chording. Q + W goes left a desktop, W + E goes right one. Then other combinations for other actions. I also have one for media. U is volume up, O is volume down, I is pause, while U + I is previous and I + O is next.

I also have an ARTSEY layer set up for fun.

Here's a part of my config (maybe I'll share the full thing when I clean it up).

(defalias
  ch1 (chord win 1)
  ...
  md1 (chord media 1)
  ...
  windows C-A-S-k ;; opens rofi window selector. Instead of running `cmd` I'm using a plasma keybind because I had issues with detaching.
  launcher C-A-S-j ;; opens rofi application launcher
  	ead (tap-hold-press 1 1000 esc (toggle layer extend))
)

;; media keybinds, right above right hand
(defchords media 300
  ;; (1 2 3) unused
  ;; (1   3)  unused
  (1 2  ) prev
  (  2 3) next
  (  2  ) pp
  (    3) volu
  (1    ) voldwn
)

(deflayer qwerty
	grv  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  0  -  =  bspc
	tab  q  w  e  r  t  y  u  i  o  p  [  ]  \
	@ead  a  s  d  f  g  h  j  k  l  ;  '  ret
	lsft z  x  c  v  b  n  m  ,  .  /  @inpsw
	lctl met lalt   spc  ralt   menu rctrl
)


;; various window keybinds
(defchords win 100
  (  2 3       ) C-rght ;; virtual desktop right
  (1 2         ) C-lft ;; virtual desktop left
  (1 2 3       ) A-f4 ;; close window
  (1   3       ) M-m ;; minimize window
  (1           ) @windows  ;; window switcher
  (  2         ) M-w    ;; window viewer
  (    3       ) M-S-w  ;; Virtual desktop viewer
  (       4    ) @launcher ;; application launcher
  (           6) M-f   ;; Unused
  (       4 5 6) M-f ;; Unused
)

;; Activated by holding the caps-lock key.
(deflayer extend
	_    f1  f2  f3  f4  f5  f6  f7  f8  f9  f10  f11 f12 _
	_    @ch1 @ch2 @ch3  _  _  _  @md1  @md2 @md3  _  _  _  _
	_    @ch4 @ch5 @ch6  _  _  lft  down  up  rght  _  _  _
	_    @mute1 @mute2 @cpy @pst  _ _ _ _ _  _  _
	_    _   @aly      _    _      _    _
)

;; Things not included here (but I can send them if anyone is interested). @inpsw runs a script to switch to japanese input. It is toggled if it is tapped, if it is held it is toggled until release.
;; mute1 and mute2 are for discord mute/deafen. 
;; @aly goes to my base-layer-switching layer.

I've been trying to make a symbols layer, but nothing has really felt right yet. Maybe with what jtroo mentioned above I'll use that.

I also use kanata on my mouse. It's a G604 (6 buttons on the side, and 5 on top)

(defsrc
  mrgt mlft
  7 8     9
  4 5 6
  mmid 2 3
)

(defalias 
    deskleft C-lft
    deskright C-rght
)

(deflayer base
  mrgt  mlft
  @volmvt voldwn @lmd
  pp   lshft      @deskleft
  mmid met      @deskright
)

(deflayer gaming
  mrgt mlft
  7 8     @lmd
  4 5 6
  mmid 2 3
)

(defalias
  base (layer-switch base)
  gmg (layer-switch gaming)
  lay (layer-toggle layers)
  lmd (tap-hold-release 200 200 mmid @lay)

  mvmt (layer-while-held movement)

  volmvt (tap-hold-release 200 200 volu @mvmt)
)

(deflayer layers
  _ _
  _ _    _
  _ _ _
  lrld @base @gmg
)

(deflayer movement
  _ _
  _ _    _
  _ up _
  lft down rght
)

[NowotnyJim]

I know it's been a year, but I have to ask: can you map all the buttons on your Logitech G604 mouse? If so, how did you find their name?

[DarkKronicle]

I changed the onboard profile to certain keys. (I chose numpad). Then in kanata I just use those.

[emdashii]

This thread really helped me understand how the (defchords) work. I was able to port the relevant parts of my QMK keymap relatively quickly :) This keymap will probably evolve as I use it, but I'm excited to be able to use my laptop keyboard like my TOTEM keyboard. Here's my rough keymap. Note that the chords map to home-row-mod aliases.

(defcfg
  process-unmapped-keys yes
)
(defsrc
  grv  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =    bspc
  tab  q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]    \
  caps a    s    d    f    g    h    j    k    l    ;    '    ret
  lsft z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    /    rsft
  lctl lmet lalt           spc            ralt rmet rctl
)
(defvar
  ;; Note: consider using different time values for your different fingers.
  ;; For example, your pinkies might be slower to release keys and index
  ;; fingers faster.
  tap-time 200
  hold-time 150
)
(defalias
  a (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time a lmet)
  s (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time s lalt)
  d (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time d lsft)
  f (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time f lctl)
  j (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time j rctl)
  k (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time k rsft)
  l (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time l ralt)
  ; (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time ; rmet)

  s1 (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time S-, lmet)
  s2 (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time S-. lalt)
  s3 (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time [ lsft)
  s4 (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time ] lctl)

    ;; tap: backtick (grave), hold: toggle layer-switching layer while held

  ;; layer-switch changes the base layer.

  ;; tap for capslk, hold for lctl
  cap (tap-hold 200 200 esc (layer-toggle symbols))
  space (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time spc (layer-toggle symbols))

  chj (chord querty j)
  chk (chord querty k)
  chl (chord querty l)
  ch; (chord querty ;)

)

(deflayer qwerty
  grv  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =    bspc 
  tab  q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]    \ 
  @cap @a   @s   @d   @f   g    h    @chj @chk @chl @ch; '    ret 
  lsft z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    /    rsft 
  lctl lmet tab            @space         ralt rmet rctl
)

(deflayer symbols
  grv  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =    bspc 
  tab  S-1  S-2  S-3  S-4  S-5  S-6  S-7  S-8  S--  grv  [    ]    \ 
  caps @s1  @s2  @s3  @s4  \    lft  down up   rght '    '    ret 
  lsft S-9  S-0  S-[  S-]  S-\  home pgdn pgup end  S-'  rsft 
  lctl lmet lalt           spc            ralt rmet rctl
)

(defchords querty 500
  (j      ) @j
  (   k   ) @k
  (      l) @l
  (j  k   ) =
  (   k  l) S-=
  (j     l) S-grv
  ;; (j  k  l) @three
  ;; lots more combinations that I am not using
  (         ;) @;
  (      l  ;) -
  (   k     ;) C-bspc
  ;; (j  k  l ;) @four
)

[jtroo]

One thing to be wary of is that most laptop keyboards don't have enough key rollover capability to use arbitrary chords, i.e. risk of key ghosting.

[mpbsd]

First of all, I would like to thank all great minds that have contributed to this superb piece of software. It gave me control over all of my boards once again (with each board I attempted to solve an old issue but then, eventually, a new issue comes in place). Kanata is just GREAT. I don't master every feature of kanata just yet, as there are so many, but the config below already solves all issues that I had with my HHKB Pro 2. Thank you in advance!!!

(defcfg
  process-unmapped-keys yes
)

(defvar
  tap-time  275
  hold-time 275
)

(defalias
  a (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time a lctl)
  s (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time s lmet)
  d (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time d lalt)
  f (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time f lsft)
  j (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time j rsft)
  k (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time k ralt)
  l (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time l rmet)
  ; (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time ; rctl)

  SPC (tap-hold $tap-time $hold-time spc (layer-while-held aux))
)

(defsrc
   esc    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =    \  grv
   tab    q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]  del
  lctl    a    s    d    f    g    h    j    k    l    ;    ' ret
  lsft    z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    / rsft
       lalt lmet            spc           rmet ralt 
)

(deflayer default
   esc    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =    \  grv
   tab    q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ] bspc
   esc   @a   @s   @d   @f    g    h   @j   @k   @l   @;    ' ret
  lsft    z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    / rsft
       lctl lalt           @SPC           ralt rctl 
)

(deflayer aux
     _   f1   f2   f3   f4   f5   f6   f7   f8   f9  f10  f11  f12    _    _
     _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
     _    _    _    _    _    _ left down   up rght    _    _    _
     _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
          _    _              _              _    _ 
)

[gerhard-h]

2xUPper => CApsLOck

Idea: activate caps-words after pressing to uppercase letters in sequence instaed of using a dedicate "caps" key

The big question: is this helpful or an anoyance?

edit: I added "1.0.1 cancel if another key was pressed or to much time has passed" so no special handling for non tracked keys is needed

The code is ready to be tried out and commented to explain itself. I wonder if there is an even simpler solution.

(defcfg
   process-unmapped-keys yes 
)

(defvirtualkeys
  nop1  nop1 ;; pressed if last letter was Upper Case 
  nop2  nop2 ;; a virtual key tap will stop caps-word but not hinder its start
  ;;on-idle-action (macro-release-cancel 5000  (on-press release-vkey nop1) ) ;; a timer might be usefull when using caps or lsft instead of capswords
)
(deftemplate capscount (letter)
	(switch
		;; 1. press the key
		() $letter fallthrough
                ;; 1.0.1 cancel if another key was pressed or to much time has passed     
		((and nop1 (not(or
		(and (key-history nop1 1 ) (key-timing 1 less-than 500 ))  ;; S-(a b)
		(and (key-history nop1 2 ) (key-timing 2 less-than 500 )) 
		(and (key-history nop1 3 ) (key-timing 3 less-than 800 ))  ;; S-a S-b
		)))) (multi (on-press release-vkey nop1)) break
		;; 3. if this the last two letters where shifted activate caps-words
		((and nop1 lsft)(and nop1 rsft))
			(multi  
				(caps-word-custom 2000 
					(a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z )
					(lsft rsft nop1 ) ;; shifts and nop1 must be exluded as they are used while triggering caps-words
				)
				(on-press release-vkey nop1)
			) break
		;; 2. remember the last key was shifted by pressing nop1
		((and (or lsft rsft) (not nop1 ))) (on-press press-vkey nop1) break
		;; 1.1. else stop remembering and reset the counter
		() (on-press release-vkey nop1) break
	)
)

(defsrc
  a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z lsft rsft              
)
;; just wrap every letter in capscount
(defalias
 a (t! capscount a)
 b (t! capscount b)
 c (t! capscount c) j (t! capscount j) z (t! capscount z) u (t! capscount u)  y (t! capscount y) p (t! capscount p) f (t! capscount f) l (t! capscount l) m (t! capscount m) w (t! capscount w) q (t! capscount q) s (t! capscount s) i (t! capscount i) e (t! capscount e) o (t! capscount o) d (t! capscount d) t (t! capscount t) n (t! capscount n) r (t! capscount r) h (t! capscount h) k (t! capscount k)  x (t! capscount x) v (t! capscount v) g (t! capscount g)
)
;; shift is down during caps-word activation, so we use nop2 to deactivate caps-word 
(defalias
 lsft	(multi (on-press tap-vkey nop2) lsft) 
 rsft	(multi (on-press tap-vkey nop2) rsft)
)

(deflayer base
 @a  @b  @c  @d  @e  @f  @g  @h  @i  @j  @k  @l  @m  @n  @o  @p  @q  @r  @s  @t  @u  @v  @w  @x  @y  @z  
 @lsft
 @rsft
)