KeyboardRemap

My custom keyboard remap, using AutoHotkey v2. See below for layout diagrams and explanation.

Historically, there were 3 versions of the remap:

1. The original one, implemented in Javascript and compiled to AHK using js2ahk (main.ahk.js).
2. An updated version combining Capsicain and AutoHotkey v1. This one was more reliable, but I didn't like using a half-unmaintained kernel driver (Interception) just to remap my keyboard, and the driver seemed to occasionally cause BSODs on my machine. (commit 7cf9c80)
3. The current version, using AutoHotkey v2, with no external dependencies.

Usage

1. Install AutoHotkey v2.
2. Clone this repository, or download the latest release.
3. Run setup_remap.cmd.
4. If the script ran correctly, a small red indicator should appear in the bottom right corner of your screen and the hotkeys should now work.

Layout diagrams

Base layer

This layer is active by default.

• The Macro key is mapped to F13 — it is intended for use in other apps as a general purpose macro key.
• The reddit key sends <End> site:reddit.com<Enter> as a key sequence. I use it when searching in a browser, as I often want to narrow down the results to reddit posts.
• The !g ddg key sends /<End> !g<Enter> as a key sequence. When viewing DuckDuckGo search results, this repeats the same search query in Google.
• The Mod SpecialChars key switches to the SpecialChars layer while held (see below).
• The Mod Nav keys (there are two, both do the same thing) switch to the Navigation layer while held (see below).

Accents

I use the following Shift + ? and ISO\ + ? number key combinations to type most of the Czech accents.

Navigation layer

This layer is active momentarily while one of the Mod Nav keys (ISO \ or ;) is held. I use this to navigate in text while working in a text editor, without leaving the home row.

SpecialChars layers

This layer is active momentarily while the Mod SpecialChars key (CapsLock) is held. This layer contains all special characters I use, so that I can type them without leaving moving my hand around to the edges of the keyboard.

Browser mode

This layer is activated using one of the Browser mode toggle and Browser mode on keys in the other layers. I use it when browsing the web or reading and navigating through text files.

The provided capsicain.ahk AutoHotkey script renders a small GUI indicator in the lower right corner of my screen, which changes color when browser mode is active. To hide this indicator, press Ctrl-PrintScreen. To show it again, press Shift-PrintScreen.

Notable features

This is just an overview, for the current exact bindings, read the source code. :)

• Browser mode: separate "browser mode" config that allows me to operate a browser using one hand by mapping letters to browser navigation keys — f = ArrowDown, d = ArrowUp, e = PgUp, s = PgDown, w = ArrowLeft, r = ArrowRight, t = Ctrl-Shift-Tab,...

  • Current mode is indicated using a small GUI indicator in the screen corner
  • To toggle, use ', CapsLock-Escape; to activate from normal mode, ;-q works; to deactivate, you may also use 1

• CapsLock for special characters: separate layer that lets me type all commonly used special chars using the middle 3 keyboard rows - CapsLock-d = (, CapsLock-j = ',...

• Shift-<num> for Czech accents (and Ctrl-Shift-<num> for uppercase)

• ; and L\ as a layer for navigation: both of those are very nicely placed keys, which are almost asking to be used for macros :) ; I'm using them for text navigation, e.g. arrows, home/end,...

  • a bit unusually, I'm using j=down, k=up, i=left, l=right; this lets me keep my fingers on the home row when scrolling, and matches vim layout more
  • for the left hand, the layout is similar, but for Home/End/PgUp/PgDn on esdf (I'm using esdf even when gaming, as it's imo more natural than wsad)

• Window switching using hotkeys: Win-f = Firefox, Win-c = Spotify,...; if the window exists, it is focused, otherwise the app is started (you may need to adjust the exe paths for your system)

• Virtual desktop switching using [ and ]

• RShift = minimize current window, ;-RShift = close current window