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diff --git a/users/callum/readme.md b/users/callum/readme.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..24b71038b --- /dev/null +++ b/users/callum/readme.md @@ -0,0 +1,99 @@ +A keymap for 34 keys with 4 layers and no mod-tap. + + + +## Details + +- Hold `sym` to activate the symbols layer. +- Hold `nav` to activate the navigation layer. +- Hold `sym` and `nav` together to activate the numbers layer. +- The home row modifiers are oneshot so that it's possible to modify the + keys on the base layer, where there are no dedicated modifiers. +- `swap win` sends `cmd-tab` for changing focus in macOS but holds `cmd` + between consecutive presses. +- `swap lang` behaves similarly but sends `ctrl-space`, for changing input + language in macOS. + +## Oneshot modifiers + +The home row modifiers can either be held and used as normal, or if no other +keys are pressed while a modifier is down, the modifier will be queued and +applied to the next non-modifier keypress. For example to type `shift-cmd-t`, +type `sym-o-n` (or `nav-a-t`), release, then hit `t`. + +You can and should hit chords as fast as you like because there are no timers +involved. + +Cancel unused modifiers by tapping `nav` or `sym`. + +### Userspace oneshot implementation + +For my usage patterns I was hitting stuck modifiers frequently with [`OSM`][] +(maybe related to [#3963][]?). I'd like to try to help fix this in QMK proper, +but implementing oneshot mods in userspace first was: + +1. Fun. +2. A good exploration of how I think oneshot mods should work without timers. + +So in the meantime, this [userspace oneshot implementation][] is working well +for me. + +## Swapper + +`swap win` sends `cmd-tab`, but holds `cmd` between consecutive keypresses. +`cmd` is released when some other key is hit or released. For example + + nav down, swap win, swap win, nav up -> cmd down, tab, tab, cmd up + nav down, swap win, enter -> cmd down, tab, cmd up, enter + +`swap lang` sends `ctrl-space` to swap input languages in macOS and behaves +similarly. + +[Swapper implementation.][] + +## Why no mod-tap? + +[Mod-tap][] seems to be by far the most popular tool among users of tiny +keyboards to answer the question of where to put the modifiers, and in the +right hands it can clearly work brilliantly, but I've always found myself error +prone and inconsistent with it. + +With dedicated modifiers, there are three ways one might type `ctrl-c`: + + ctrl down, ctrl up, c down, c up + ctrl down, c down, ctrl up, c up + ctrl down, c down, c up, ctrl up + +Basically, you never have to worry about the keyups, as long as the keydowns +occur in the correct order. Similarly, there are three ways one might type +`ac`: + + a down, a up, c down, c up + a down, c down, a up, c up + a down, c down, c up, a up + +Replace `a` with `ctrl` and this is exactly what we had before! So if we want +to put `a` and `ctrl` on the same key we have a problem, because without +considering timing these sequences become ambiguous. So let's consider timing. + +The solution to the ambiguity that QMK employs is to configure the +`TAPPING_TERM` and consider a key held rather than tapped if it is held for +long enough. My problem with this is that it forces you to slow down to use +modifiers. By its very nature the tapping term must be longer than the longest +you would ever hold a key while typing on the slowest laziest Sunday afternoon. +I'm not typing at 100% speed at all times, but when I am, having to think about +timing and consciously slow down for certain actions never fails to trip me up. + +So alas, mod-tap is not for me -- but if it works for you, more power to you. +:) + +* * * + +[My github][] + +[`OSM`]: /docs/one_shot_keys.md +[#3963]: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/issues/3963 +[userspace oneshot implementation]: oneshot.c +[swapper implementation.]: swapper.c +[Mod-tap]: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/mod_tap.md +[My github]: https://github.com/callum-oakley |