I want my keyboard to behave exactly how I tell it to, but it seems like the tools for customizing the layout keep fighting over who is in control, and there are a few features that I've never been able to get working completely correctly. However, I just got a new computer, and I would like to get things set up "properly" this time. Even if you don't know much or are unsure, or just have a link to a manual, I would still appreciate your input. The number of times some random website which doesn't show up with normal searching has proved invaluable is depressingly large.
Here is a list of properties an 'optimal' keyboard has:
- base layout is colemak, including ralt international keys
- shift+capslock changes layout to qwerty
- ctrl+capslock starts japanese ime without changing keyboard layout (bonus: editable dictionary)
- alt+capslock changes to a custom layer (numeric/symbolic with useful greek/math)
- tap capslock to return to colemak from any layer
- the "variant" string should be two letters (US, CM, JP, SM)
- meta (windows) key acts as compose key (bonus: meta+capslock toggles capslock)
- ctrl+space launches that ibus emoji/unicode character thing (bonus: fuzzy finding?)
- yubikey input unaffected
- settings are activated before login
I am on ubuntu using i3, and am prepared to sink hundreds of hours into this.
