Multiple language layout switch shortcut (alt+shift) conflicts with active window alt-shift-tab cycling in previous order

[juj]

Distribution

Linux Mint 22.1 Cinnamon

Package version

6.4.8

Graphics hardware in use

No response

Frequency

Always

Bug description

I am trying to make language switching keyboard shortcuts work the same way on Linux Mint Cinnamon as it works on Windows, to make it cognitively easier to frequently switch between using both systems.

If Alt-Shift (or Left Alt+Left Shift) shortcut is chosen to switch between keyboard layouts, then alt-shift-tab no longer moves to the previous window in the alt-tab window selector menu.

Steps to reproduce

1. Have two keyboard layouts, e.g. English and Finnish.
2. In the Keyboard -> Layouts -> Options... -> Switching to another layout shortcut, choose Alt-Shift as the shortcut to switch between layouts.
3. Hold down Alt and tap the Tab key. Release Tab but do not release Alt. Hold down Shift key and then tap Tab key again.

Expected behavior

After pressing Alt-Shift-Tab, the selector should move to the previous window. But instead it moves to the next window.

I.e. setting Alt-Shift as a shortcut to switch languages has effectively disabled Alt-Shift-Tab from working.

Additional information

Windows has a very nice intelligent behavior to manage the overlap between Alt-Shift switching keyboard layout and Alt-Shift-Tab moving to the previous window:

On Windows:

1. Hold down Alt
2. Press Tab and release it (while Alt is still being held down). This will show up the window switch menu
3. Press and release Shift key (while Alt is still being held down)

Observe that on Windows this will not cause the language to change, since the alt-tab menu is open. I.e. languages are never changed while the window menu is open.

Chef's kiss if this logic could be implemented in Linux Mint, that would be very useful!

[Rizado]

This is a problem of xserver. I have this problem too with three layouts - English, Russian and Spanish. I use Ctrl+Shift for switching and hotkeys Ctrl+Shift+ don't work.
This problem exists because switching layouts works when you press hotkeys and no when you release them.
Recommend you install patch for xserver from ppa:nrbrtx/xorg-hotkeys - it fixes this problem.
Wayland switches layouts by press hotkeys too.