How could I modify keystrokes programatically, per application?

[James Ferguson]

I'm hoping for some pointers to get me on the right path...  I am a
developer who is unfamiliar with X development, but have a task in mind.

I want to create an equivalent under X to the (Windows) XKeymacs app which
makes emacs-style key bindings work almost universally, even for CUA-style
applications (shift+movement to select, C-x to cut etc.).  Ironically,
XKeymacs makes XP nicer for those with deep emacs muscle-memory than X11 is.

To do this I need to be able to:

1.  Map or modify keystrokes depending on an internal state.  e.g. if they
enter Ctrl+n, then a down-arrow key would result; if the user has set a
mark, then arrow-key movement needs a shift modifier added until a
copy/cut/quit .
2.  know what application is receiving the keystroke so the internal state
for that application can be used.

It seems that a naive approach with XGrabKeyboard and XNextEvent /
XSendEvent won't work because many apps will not accept the events.

Would I need to create a tweaked X Keyboard input driver, which monitors
which window has focus?  How would you approach it?


Thanks,

James.
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