Efficient key bindings using both Mac and Linux
I'm still switching back and forth all the time from linux to mac, and I can't figure out how to stop getting confused in my keystrokes, especially with browsers, and unix apps.
Here's the situation:
* Emacs, vim, shell, and other unix apps use the ctrl key the same on both mac and linux
* Some VERY common keystrokes of copy, paste, cut, all are swapped cmd on the mac, and ctrl on linux.
Some things I tried:
* Using cmd as ctrl in emacs -- kind of works, but then it confuses other unix type apps
* Swapping the position of cmd and ctrl on the keyboard -- good for copy, paste, all, and not much else.
I can't possibly be the only one that goes back and forth between mac and linux having this issue.
Would it possibly be better to approach this from the Linux side and change the mappings there so that I can have the same ones on the Mac?
The main problem is browser apps (Chrome/Firefox) and then unix type apps (Emacs, IntelliJ, Rubymine, Vim, tmux).
linux macos ubuntu
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
add a comment |
I'm still switching back and forth all the time from linux to mac, and I can't figure out how to stop getting confused in my keystrokes, especially with browsers, and unix apps.
Here's the situation:
* Emacs, vim, shell, and other unix apps use the ctrl key the same on both mac and linux
* Some VERY common keystrokes of copy, paste, cut, all are swapped cmd on the mac, and ctrl on linux.
Some things I tried:
* Using cmd as ctrl in emacs -- kind of works, but then it confuses other unix type apps
* Swapping the position of cmd and ctrl on the keyboard -- good for copy, paste, all, and not much else.
I can't possibly be the only one that goes back and forth between mac and linux having this issue.
Would it possibly be better to approach this from the Linux side and change the mappings there so that I can have the same ones on the Mac?
The main problem is browser apps (Chrome/Firefox) and then unix type apps (Emacs, IntelliJ, Rubymine, Vim, tmux).
linux macos ubuntu
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
add a comment |
I'm still switching back and forth all the time from linux to mac, and I can't figure out how to stop getting confused in my keystrokes, especially with browsers, and unix apps.
Here's the situation:
* Emacs, vim, shell, and other unix apps use the ctrl key the same on both mac and linux
* Some VERY common keystrokes of copy, paste, cut, all are swapped cmd on the mac, and ctrl on linux.
Some things I tried:
* Using cmd as ctrl in emacs -- kind of works, but then it confuses other unix type apps
* Swapping the position of cmd and ctrl on the keyboard -- good for copy, paste, all, and not much else.
I can't possibly be the only one that goes back and forth between mac and linux having this issue.
Would it possibly be better to approach this from the Linux side and change the mappings there so that I can have the same ones on the Mac?
The main problem is browser apps (Chrome/Firefox) and then unix type apps (Emacs, IntelliJ, Rubymine, Vim, tmux).
linux macos ubuntu
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
I'm still switching back and forth all the time from linux to mac, and I can't figure out how to stop getting confused in my keystrokes, especially with browsers, and unix apps.
Here's the situation:
* Emacs, vim, shell, and other unix apps use the ctrl key the same on both mac and linux
* Some VERY common keystrokes of copy, paste, cut, all are swapped cmd on the mac, and ctrl on linux.
Some things I tried:
* Using cmd as ctrl in emacs -- kind of works, but then it confuses other unix type apps
* Swapping the position of cmd and ctrl on the keyboard -- good for copy, paste, all, and not much else.
I can't possibly be the only one that goes back and forth between mac and linux having this issue.
Would it possibly be better to approach this from the Linux side and change the mappings there so that I can have the same ones on the Mac?
The main problem is browser apps (Chrome/Firefox) and then unix type apps (Emacs, IntelliJ, Rubymine, Vim, tmux).
linux macos ubuntu
linux macos ubuntu
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
edited May 30 '12 at 21:32
Jeremy W
3,4511335
3,4511335
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
asked May 19 '12 at 23:07
justingordonjustingordon
578621
578621
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
After a number of months, I did come to a solution that I like.
- On the Mac, I got used to the fact that there are 3 main modifiers: Cmd, Ctrl, Opt.
- On the Linux box, I use the same kinesis keyboard and have the same layout for the modifiers, such that I map:
Mac => Linux
CMD == Ctrl
Opt == Alt
Ctrl == Ctrl
The key was to have ctrl twice. And then I got used to the differences between cmd and ctrl on the mac, and on the PC, it worked out that ctrl is the key. For example:
In Chrome:
Ctrl-tab on the Mac ==> Ctrl-tab on Linux
Cmd-C on the Mac ==> Ctrl-c on Linux.
So I can hit two different keys on Linux and get the same result as the Mac.
If you have a windows type keyboard, you can remap something like the special windows key to be the mac command key.
I've since switched to just using a Mac, and, without a doubt, that's way more efficient for touch typing!
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
1
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
add a comment |
KDE (Kubuntu) has a shortcut config tool that lets you set global shortcuts, but I couldn't get it to recognize the changes when I tested it. Perhaps it needs a restart. Maybe Ubuntu has a similar option.
Another thing that might help with the copy and paste functions in Linux is to use the middle mouse button to paste. When you highlight some text, you don't have to copy it - highlight it, switch to your other app, then click the middle mouse button to paste the highlighted text. Different habits would make the keyboard issue a moot point, at least for those specific functions.
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
add a comment |
I went through this a while ago and found someones autokey setup (I would give credit if I could find where it came from).
I modified it for some things that were missing for my setup, but here it is:
https://github.com/ericwooley/dotfiles/tree/master/.config/autokey
It gets me to like 95% percent of all the keystrokes being the same.
Some things that are still different cmd + right and cmd + left don't act the same, on Linux I use alt+page-up and down.
I ended up depending on vim bindings in my editor to keep me sane, I would recommend that if it's possible for what you're doing.
Oh, and guake has a configurable copy and paste setting for the terminal, so I set that to be alt+c and alt+p for terminal shenanigans
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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After a number of months, I did come to a solution that I like.
- On the Mac, I got used to the fact that there are 3 main modifiers: Cmd, Ctrl, Opt.
- On the Linux box, I use the same kinesis keyboard and have the same layout for the modifiers, such that I map:
Mac => Linux
CMD == Ctrl
Opt == Alt
Ctrl == Ctrl
The key was to have ctrl twice. And then I got used to the differences between cmd and ctrl on the mac, and on the PC, it worked out that ctrl is the key. For example:
In Chrome:
Ctrl-tab on the Mac ==> Ctrl-tab on Linux
Cmd-C on the Mac ==> Ctrl-c on Linux.
So I can hit two different keys on Linux and get the same result as the Mac.
If you have a windows type keyboard, you can remap something like the special windows key to be the mac command key.
I've since switched to just using a Mac, and, without a doubt, that's way more efficient for touch typing!
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
1
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
add a comment |
After a number of months, I did come to a solution that I like.
- On the Mac, I got used to the fact that there are 3 main modifiers: Cmd, Ctrl, Opt.
- On the Linux box, I use the same kinesis keyboard and have the same layout for the modifiers, such that I map:
Mac => Linux
CMD == Ctrl
Opt == Alt
Ctrl == Ctrl
The key was to have ctrl twice. And then I got used to the differences between cmd and ctrl on the mac, and on the PC, it worked out that ctrl is the key. For example:
In Chrome:
Ctrl-tab on the Mac ==> Ctrl-tab on Linux
Cmd-C on the Mac ==> Ctrl-c on Linux.
So I can hit two different keys on Linux and get the same result as the Mac.
If you have a windows type keyboard, you can remap something like the special windows key to be the mac command key.
I've since switched to just using a Mac, and, without a doubt, that's way more efficient for touch typing!
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
1
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
add a comment |
After a number of months, I did come to a solution that I like.
- On the Mac, I got used to the fact that there are 3 main modifiers: Cmd, Ctrl, Opt.
- On the Linux box, I use the same kinesis keyboard and have the same layout for the modifiers, such that I map:
Mac => Linux
CMD == Ctrl
Opt == Alt
Ctrl == Ctrl
The key was to have ctrl twice. And then I got used to the differences between cmd and ctrl on the mac, and on the PC, it worked out that ctrl is the key. For example:
In Chrome:
Ctrl-tab on the Mac ==> Ctrl-tab on Linux
Cmd-C on the Mac ==> Ctrl-c on Linux.
So I can hit two different keys on Linux and get the same result as the Mac.
If you have a windows type keyboard, you can remap something like the special windows key to be the mac command key.
I've since switched to just using a Mac, and, without a doubt, that's way more efficient for touch typing!
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
After a number of months, I did come to a solution that I like.
- On the Mac, I got used to the fact that there are 3 main modifiers: Cmd, Ctrl, Opt.
- On the Linux box, I use the same kinesis keyboard and have the same layout for the modifiers, such that I map:
Mac => Linux
CMD == Ctrl
Opt == Alt
Ctrl == Ctrl
The key was to have ctrl twice. And then I got used to the differences between cmd and ctrl on the mac, and on the PC, it worked out that ctrl is the key. For example:
In Chrome:
Ctrl-tab on the Mac ==> Ctrl-tab on Linux
Cmd-C on the Mac ==> Ctrl-c on Linux.
So I can hit two different keys on Linux and get the same result as the Mac.
If you have a windows type keyboard, you can remap something like the special windows key to be the mac command key.
I've since switched to just using a Mac, and, without a doubt, that's way more efficient for touch typing!
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
edited Jul 15 '17 at 22:50
yass
2,4153618
2,4153618
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
answered Jan 23 '13 at 6:03
justingordonjustingordon
578621
578621
1
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
add a comment |
1
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
1
1
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Good trick but it forces you to make Ubuntu act like Mac and not the opposite. Also this approach won't work with Gnome3 since CMD is used for the overview of windows and search (mission control + Alfred equivalents). What is "touch typing" btw?
– Pithikos
Jul 22 '17 at 17:39
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
Pithikos do you have another keyboard configuration you prefer then for using a common keyboard on both ubuntu and mac, but to make the mac feel more like ubuntu?
– Max Power
Dec 6 '18 at 3:53
add a comment |
KDE (Kubuntu) has a shortcut config tool that lets you set global shortcuts, but I couldn't get it to recognize the changes when I tested it. Perhaps it needs a restart. Maybe Ubuntu has a similar option.
Another thing that might help with the copy and paste functions in Linux is to use the middle mouse button to paste. When you highlight some text, you don't have to copy it - highlight it, switch to your other app, then click the middle mouse button to paste the highlighted text. Different habits would make the keyboard issue a moot point, at least for those specific functions.
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
add a comment |
KDE (Kubuntu) has a shortcut config tool that lets you set global shortcuts, but I couldn't get it to recognize the changes when I tested it. Perhaps it needs a restart. Maybe Ubuntu has a similar option.
Another thing that might help with the copy and paste functions in Linux is to use the middle mouse button to paste. When you highlight some text, you don't have to copy it - highlight it, switch to your other app, then click the middle mouse button to paste the highlighted text. Different habits would make the keyboard issue a moot point, at least for those specific functions.
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
add a comment |
KDE (Kubuntu) has a shortcut config tool that lets you set global shortcuts, but I couldn't get it to recognize the changes when I tested it. Perhaps it needs a restart. Maybe Ubuntu has a similar option.
Another thing that might help with the copy and paste functions in Linux is to use the middle mouse button to paste. When you highlight some text, you don't have to copy it - highlight it, switch to your other app, then click the middle mouse button to paste the highlighted text. Different habits would make the keyboard issue a moot point, at least for those specific functions.
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
KDE (Kubuntu) has a shortcut config tool that lets you set global shortcuts, but I couldn't get it to recognize the changes when I tested it. Perhaps it needs a restart. Maybe Ubuntu has a similar option.
Another thing that might help with the copy and paste functions in Linux is to use the middle mouse button to paste. When you highlight some text, you don't have to copy it - highlight it, switch to your other app, then click the middle mouse button to paste the highlighted text. Different habits would make the keyboard issue a moot point, at least for those specific functions.
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
answered May 20 '12 at 2:56
TomTom
1,28378
1,28378
add a comment |
add a comment |
I went through this a while ago and found someones autokey setup (I would give credit if I could find where it came from).
I modified it for some things that were missing for my setup, but here it is:
https://github.com/ericwooley/dotfiles/tree/master/.config/autokey
It gets me to like 95% percent of all the keystrokes being the same.
Some things that are still different cmd + right and cmd + left don't act the same, on Linux I use alt+page-up and down.
I ended up depending on vim bindings in my editor to keep me sane, I would recommend that if it's possible for what you're doing.
Oh, and guake has a configurable copy and paste setting for the terminal, so I set that to be alt+c and alt+p for terminal shenanigans
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
add a comment |
I went through this a while ago and found someones autokey setup (I would give credit if I could find where it came from).
I modified it for some things that were missing for my setup, but here it is:
https://github.com/ericwooley/dotfiles/tree/master/.config/autokey
It gets me to like 95% percent of all the keystrokes being the same.
Some things that are still different cmd + right and cmd + left don't act the same, on Linux I use alt+page-up and down.
I ended up depending on vim bindings in my editor to keep me sane, I would recommend that if it's possible for what you're doing.
Oh, and guake has a configurable copy and paste setting for the terminal, so I set that to be alt+c and alt+p for terminal shenanigans
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
add a comment |
I went through this a while ago and found someones autokey setup (I would give credit if I could find where it came from).
I modified it for some things that were missing for my setup, but here it is:
https://github.com/ericwooley/dotfiles/tree/master/.config/autokey
It gets me to like 95% percent of all the keystrokes being the same.
Some things that are still different cmd + right and cmd + left don't act the same, on Linux I use alt+page-up and down.
I ended up depending on vim bindings in my editor to keep me sane, I would recommend that if it's possible for what you're doing.
Oh, and guake has a configurable copy and paste setting for the terminal, so I set that to be alt+c and alt+p for terminal shenanigans
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
I went through this a while ago and found someones autokey setup (I would give credit if I could find where it came from).
I modified it for some things that were missing for my setup, but here it is:
https://github.com/ericwooley/dotfiles/tree/master/.config/autokey
It gets me to like 95% percent of all the keystrokes being the same.
Some things that are still different cmd + right and cmd + left don't act the same, on Linux I use alt+page-up and down.
I ended up depending on vim bindings in my editor to keep me sane, I would recommend that if it's possible for what you're doing.
Oh, and guake has a configurable copy and paste setting for the terminal, so I set that to be alt+c and alt+p for terminal shenanigans
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
answered Jan 10 at 17:43
Eric WooleyEric Wooley
1112
1112
add a comment |
add a comment |
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