Turning the worst key on a keyboard into the most useful one

Summary

In this insightful video, a software developer discusses their evolving relationship with the Caps Lock key, which they initially considered the worst key on the keyboard due to its redundancy and poor placement. However, after rebinding the key to serve as an Escape key while utilizing a mod-tap behavior for Control, the Caps Lock became a pivotal part of their workflow. The developer shares practical solutions for customizing key behavior across different operating systems using tools like Carabiner Elements and Canet, ultimately transforming a frustrating key into a productivity enhancer.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Caps Lock key is often seen as redundant since uppercase letters can be typed using the Shift key.
• 🤔 Accidental activation of Caps Lock is common due to its positioning, which can interrupt workflow.
• 🛠️ Some operating systems provide visual indicators for Caps Lock, but they are not always reliable, especially in specific applications.
• 💻 The 2016 MacBook Pro's removal of the physical Escape key posed significant challenges for Vim users.
• 🔄 Rebinding the Caps Lock key to serve as the Escape key significantly improved the speaker's workflow and efficiency.
• ⌨️ The concept of 'modt behavior' allows a key to have different functions based on whether it is tapped or held.
• ⚙️ Customizing key functions using software like Caneta enhances keyboard usability and productivity.
• 📦 Caneta can be installed on various operating systems and supports cross-platform key remapping.
• 🔍 A detailed configuration process is required to set up the desired key behaviors effectively.
• 📈 The speaker advocates for personalized keyboard setups, highlighting their importance for software developers' productivity.

Q & A

What is the main argument against the caps lock key?

The speaker argues that the caps lock key is redundant because uppercase letters can be typed using the shift key, which also works for numbers and symbols.

How does the positioning of the caps lock key affect its usability?

The caps lock key is positioned on the home row, right next to the A key, which is prime real estate on a keyboard. Its infrequent use compared to other keys makes its position questionable.

What problem did the speaker encounter with the MacBook Pro's keyboard?

The speaker faced issues due to the removal of the physical Escape key, which made using Vim nearly impossible without tactile feedback.

How did the speaker repurpose the caps lock key?

The speaker remapped the caps lock key to function as an Escape key, significantly improving their workflow.

What is 'mod tap' functionality, and how is it applied to the caps lock key?

Mod tap functionality allows a key to perform different actions based on how it is pressed—tapping it sends an Escape signal, while holding it acts as the left control key.

Which software tools did the speaker recommend for remapping the caps lock key on different operating systems?

For Linux, the speaker recommends Canita; for Mac OS, they suggest using Karabiner-Elements, which is user-friendly for key remapping.

What configuration is needed to implement the new caps lock functionality in Canita?

Users need to create a configuration file that defines the keys to overwrite, specifies tap and hold actions, and sets parameters for the mod tap functionality.

Why is feedback from the shift key preferred over the caps lock key?

The shift key provides immediate feedback when pressed, allowing users to confirm its activation, whereas the caps lock key toggles and can be easily forgotten, leading to accidental activations.

What issues arise from using the caps lock key with applications like Vim?

When caps lock is accidentally activated, it can disrupt the workflow, especially in Vim where commands are sensitive to capitalization, and there is no immediate visual feedback.

How does the speaker ensure their caps lock remapping is consistent across multiple devices?

The speaker uses a package manager like Nyx to manage their Canita configuration, allowing them to share and synchronize settings across different machines.