May I rework XKB ?

[Justin P. Mattock]

Dirk Wallenstein wrote:
> I would like to give some examples of what a fully functional and configurable
> XKB extension could offer.
>
>
> 1.Obviate the need to leave the home row for functionality that is provided by
>    keys right of the main keyboard
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> By taking a common pc-105 keyboard and holding down the AltGr/ISO-Level3-Shift
> modifier , all the alphabetic keys can be equipped with functionality like
> cursor-cross, insert, delete, home, etc. With the help of XKB's
> Redirect-Key-Action it would even be possible to have word-wise cursor movement
> in all text edit fields. All without leaving the home row.
>
>
> 2.Shortcuts abound
> ------------------
> Press one key and let the whole keyboard produce keysyms that are not
> recognized by any application, so that you can be sure, not to interact with
> the currently active application in an unwanted manner. This now inactive
> keyboard could be set up, to exclusively interact with the desktop environment.
>
>
> 3.Use a shortcut setup to control the window manager
> ----------------------------------------------------
> By using a shortcut setup from example 2 and making it accessible by one of the
> keys in the lowest keyboard row, it would be possible to configure advanced
> window manager interaction that would not require leaving the home row.
> Shortcuts for switching applications, switching desktops, packing windows, and
> common application shortcuts, would have some considerable clearance. It would
> be possible to lock these shortcuts onto the main window (say with
> Shift-Return), and with slightly improved support from the window manager,
> there would be the chance to move the active window in a mouse-keys like
> behavior or force a particular geometry onto a window (For example: maximize on
> the left halve of the screen, halve the screen's width and a quarter of the
> screen's height in the top right corner, etc).
>
>
> 4.Configure remote controls
> ---------------------------
> The usual device selection buttons on a remote control could be used to switch
> between key type levels, so that the other keys produce the key events a
> particular application takes for the corresponding action. With a simple
> configuration file format that could be supported by those applications, and a
> mechanism like inotify, configuration changes in the application could be
> immediately active in the remote control. The user would at first create a
> general configuration for the remote control, and after that, would only need
> to associate the device selection buttons with a particular application.
>
>
> 5.Configure a gamepad as a typing device
> ----------------------------------------
> With 7 independently combinable buttons it would be possible to type all
> characters of the English alphabet and punctuation (6 modifiers and a trigger
> key), maybe facilitated by an input method.
>
>
>
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>
>    
My guess would be to do what you do,
then when your ready submit your patches, fully tested and everything
then go from there.(or have a separate url where the patches are located,
for people to test out or something).

Justin P. Mattock