Sway keyboard configuration
Published:
Because a physical keyboard is not always just a single input device (featuring the AJAZZ AK820 keyboard).
I recently bought AJAZZ AK820, which is a wired USB-C keyboard with 75% layout. I do not do wireless, so wired keyboard is a must. I also do not really use the arrow keys, the numpad, and usually map most functions I need to some combination of the Super, Control, or Alt keys; and with a 75% layout I do not waster desk space on something I never even use.
I added two input blocks to my ~/.config/sway/config:
input "12815:20571:Evision_AK820_Keyboard" { ... }input "12815:20571:Evision_AK820" { ... }
Adding just one, for the Evision_AK820_Keyboard was not
sufficient.
Parlez-vous ISO_Level3_Shift?
I live in Europe, so I frequently need to use fünky áccentęd čharäcterš.
I have a custom XKB layout that includes the ones I use most often, and
I hide them in the ISO_Level3_Shift layer.
The layout enables this by including level3(ralt_switch) at
the end of (after all the other configuration) the xkb_symbols block:
xkb_symbols "basic" { ... include "level3(ralt_switch)"};
This handles switching the Alt_R to
ISO_Level3_Shift using XKB machinery.
If you use a predefined layout, you may need to add this to your
input configuration block for the keyboard in the Sway
configuration file:
input "2137:10269:Some_Keyboard" { ... xkb_options "lv3:ralt_switch"}AJAZZ AK820
What about the keyboard itself? I think it is a nice one. It is heavy enough not to slide on the desk. You can adjust the "tilt" on it using the little legs it has on the back. The backlight does not shine through the keys, but around them. And it is relatively small.
It also has the knob, for which I don't see a real use yet. I mapped it in such a way that I can switch workspaces by turning it, and take a screenshot by pressing it. It is a silly little three-function button essentially.