WaylandMap

I started to code this program because I want to use RightAlt + hjkl as system-wide arrow keys. Everyone has been using xmodmap to remap keys on linux. However, after switching to Wayland window system, xmodmap stopped working. I started to look for ready-to-use solution but with no luck. Probably Wayland are still too new for the community to catch up. Luckly, Google gave me some hints on how to achieve this task. The key is to go to lower level! This module makes use of evdev and uinput module to achieve keymapping. Therefore it should work on any Desktop, such as X11 or Wayland.

Install

Simply install using pip and run it as a cli application:

pip install waylandmap

It is recommended to install the package to its own virtual environment, especially when installed as a linux system service. For example, install using pipx:

pipx install waylandmap

Usage

Your can run the keymapper directly by supplying the name of keyboard and the keymap file.

sudo waylandmap -n <name-of-your-keyboard> <path/to/config.yml>

You can see the key event inputs and outputs printed out in real time by running in debug mode. You can also check the string name required by the config file.

sudo waylandmap --debug -n <name-of-your-keyboard> <path/to/config.yml>

Configuration

The program accept a config file path as argument. The config file should be in yaml format.

# keymaps.yaml

# map one single key with another
- type: map
  source: KEY_LEFTALT
  target: KEY_LEFTCTRL
- type: map
  source: KEY_LEFTMETA
  target: KEY_LEFTALT
- type: map
  source: KEY_LEFTCTRL
  target: KEY_LEFTMETA
# simply swap two single key
- type: swap
  target1: KEY_CAPSLOCK
  target2: KEY_ESC
# map 2-keys-chord into a new key
# # RightAlt + hjkl to arrows
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_H
  target: KEY_LEFT
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_J
  target: KEY_DOWN
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_K
  target: KEY_UP
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_L
  target: KEY_RIGHT
# # remap home + pgdn + pgup + end
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_N
  target: KEY_HOME
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_M
  target: KEY_PAGEDOWN
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_COMMA
  target: KEY_PAGEUP
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_DOT
  target: KEY_END
# # remap backspace + delete
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_Y
  target: KEY_BACKSPACE
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_U
  target: KEY_BACKSPACE
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_I
  target: KEY_DELETE
- type: combo 
  modifier: KEY_RIGHTALT
  source: KEY_O
  target: KEY_DELETE
# more key combo options is coming

Install as Linux system services

After writing your config file and test running it without problem, your can install the program as a system services. This should automatically start the keymapper everytime when you login. You may use systemctl/waylandmap.service as a template to edit the services file, and then install the service as follows:

sudo cp systemctl/waylandmap.service /etc/systemd/system/
sudo systemctl enable waylandmap.service

Warning

Due to the design of the program, once a modifier key has been registered as part of a combo, its events will no longer visible to the O.S. Essentially, this modifier key is disabled system-wide. By default, the program will first handle map, then swap, and finally the combo. No remapping is done in any rules, therefore, if there are multiple rules applicable to the same key, only the first matched rule will be handled.