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Configs Keyboards

• I like to map
  • Capslock to Ctrl (for emacs, and general computing)
    • This is pretty common, and generally easy to configure
    • Uses my left pinkie
  • Right Alt to Escape (for vim, and quick exiting)
    • I've never seen anyone else do this so far
    • Uses my right thumb
• The most consistent way I've found to achieve this is with setkeycodes
  • Works across Arch, Fedora, Ubuntu and different window managers
  • First attempt:

#!/bin/sh

# showkey --scancodes
# showkey --keycodes

# Capslock -> Left Ctrl
setkeycodes 3a 29
setkeycodes ba 29

# Right Alt -> Escape
setkeycodes e038 1
setkeycodes e0b8 1

# https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Map_scancodes_to_keycodes

• Automating this with systemd:

[Unit]
Description=Customize keycodes on boot

[Service]
Type=oneshot

# Capslock -> Left Ctrl
ExecStart=/usr/bin/setkeycodes 3a 29
ExecStart=/usr/bin/setkeycodes ba 29

# Right Alt -> Escape
ExecStart=/usr/bin/setkeycodes e038 1
ExecStart=/usr/bin/setkeycodes e0b8 1

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

— Kunal