Project 01

Project-01 My Custom Keymap using Kmonad

Let me tell you about this wonderful keyboard management tool called Kmonad and how I use it (link).

My kmonad config

In my own words, kmonad is a software level (contrast to firmware level) tool that let you to remap your keys however you want. In perticular, it allows you to define different layers, thus allowing the same key to produce different symbols when typed in different layers.

I have three layers (inspired by the lily58 split keyboard layout, and the Corne keyboard layout found at this website), and they are as follows:

1. the default: qwerty layer

2. numbers on the home row: lower layer

3. left down up right at hjkl: raise layer

space key has dual functionality with tap versus hold:

in the qwerty layer:

• tap: acts as ordinary space key

• hold: (more than 150 millisecond) toggles into the lower layer

If we are already in raise layer or lower layer:

• tap the space key: acts as ordinary space key

• hold the space key: (more than 150 millisecond) toggles back to the qwerty layer (not sure if this is useful)

In addition to the toggle functionality, which means one must hold down the toggle key for the layer to remain activated, there is the switch functionality, which means we just need to tap the switch key once, and we are in the desired layer, without needing to hold it down the entire time. Then we can tap a another switch key (usually the same key) to swich back to the layer we started with. In my config, we have the following swich keys:

1. F1 key switches between qwerty layer and lower layer

2. F2 key switches between qwerty layer and raise layer

Note that we don’t usually switch to the lower layer, we would rather just use our thumb to toggle, so upon release the space key, we automatically go back to the qwerty layer.

I also put the modifier keys on the Home Row. Thus, I might make the left Shift key into a toggle key for raise layer, using the tap versus hold functionality.

Home Row Modifiers

I have put the modifier keys on my Home Row with the following order:

• Pinkie: Shift
• Ring finger: Ctrl
• Middle finger: Alt or sometimes called Meta
• Index finger: Super aka Windows key aka OS key

Again, this is using the tap versus hold functionality. If I tap the key, then I am typing asdf and jkl; normally. However, if I hold the key, i.e., keep my finger pressed down on the key longer than 150 millisecond before releasing, then I activate the modifier key, and I could tap another key at the same time as one would normally use modifier keys. (for example, Ctrl + T to open a new tab in firefox browser).

“Why would I ever want to do this to my keyboard?” you asked.

well, the philosophy is we could use the thumb more,

use left thumb to hold the space key to toggle into lower layer,

then the right hand could easily type

`!@#$%`
    `12345`
        `_-+[{`,

and upon releasing the space key, we automatically gets back to the qwerty layer.

While use right thumb to hold the space key to toggle into lower layer,

then the left hand could easily type

            `^&*()`
                `67890`
                    `}],.=`,

and upon releasing the space key, we automatically gets back to the qwerty layer.

Hence, holding the space bar using our thumbs acts like Shift, but with different layers and keys.