My implementation of Miryoku system for Kanata

[bogorad]

It's sorta-documented but let me go through some of it. BTW I'm typing this using the config linked.

https://github.com/bogorad/miryoku-kanata/blob/main/kanata.kbd

UPD: KANATA_PLATFORM and KANATA_LAYOUT env-vars needs to be set!

About layers:

=============
0. I closely follow the logic of Miryoku as applied to my Kinesis Advantage (KB500), only using 36 keys.

1. U_BASE is the default. I use COLEMAK-DH.
2. U_QWERTY - no key remapping, used for Cyrillic in Windows, with 2/3-taps for missing chars.
3. U_TAP has almost everything disabled (just U_NAV to be able to return to U_BASE); I don't use it, considering removal.
4. U_NUM has nubmers (basically, numpad+)
5. U_SYM - my own map. This is probably my strongest deviation from Miryoku, I didn't appreciate the idea of U_SYM being shifted U_NUM, so I stole someone's idea:

• top row for shifted numbers,
• the rest of the symbols in pairs, unshifted on bottom row, shifted on middle row.

7. U_FUN - for function and other seldom used keys
8. U_MOUSE - for mouse emulation and ENG/RUS switching. Although since I put Cyrillic layer on a countdown timer, I rarely use direct switching on this layer; considering its removal. Mouse follows U_NAV layer (see below).
9. U_BUTTON has buttons and HYPER-combos to be interpreted by the OS. Just starting.
10. U_NAV is heavily modified. Although I'm a 20+year Vim user, I find fascination with h/j/k/l quite silly. Consequently, I remapped directional keys in the w/a/s/d style, for the right hand (obviously; NAV key is uner my left thumb. Also moved PgUp/PgDn. Also added {[()]} heavily used in Vim navigation - also saving precious space on U_SYM layer. The only(?) two exceptions to the left/right-hand rule - the left/right keys on C/D so that when watching Youtube I can skip boring parts using my thumb+index fingers.
11. Put a lot of effort so that symbols send the same codes regardless of the input language (Cyrillic screws it up badly). Even had to create a special symbols layer for Cyrillic. Most are Unicode, but not all - my beloved ZTree is a console application and expects "real" keys.
12. Put comma, dot and question mark on chords.
13. Added chords for vim-save and vim-cmd.
14. Make heavy use of deffakekeys - for input-language + layer switching, timed-out.
15. In Windows, Hyper-keys are handled by MS PowerToys at the moment, considering a switch to Autohotkey.
16. Undo/Cut/Copy/Paste are chords on z/x/c/d/v.

Notable changes from Miryoku/Kinesis:

1. U_BASE:
   1.1. Restored home-row mod-taps. To fix problems due to rolls, I use fork.
   1.1.1. All keys in U_BASE are mapped to chords. Very easy to add new ones!
   1.1.2. When a key is pressed, its code is passed to chords.
   1.1.3. Chord decides if it's a single key (e.g., @met-a which is a/meta),
   1.2. Added some chords
   1.3. Got tired of unintentional 'enter' taps, assigned ret to a chord, disabled on kbd.

2. U_NAV
   2.1. Changed direction keys: h/j/k/l with Colemak is just stupid.
   2.2. Added [{()}] for VIM-style navigation
   2.3. Moved CAPS and replaced it with CAPS-WORD
   2.4. n/a
   2.5. Threw away copy/cut/paste, used chords instead.
   2.6. Moved home/end, pgup/pgdn.
   2.7. n/a.
   2.8. Not on this layer, but related to navigation: modified tab always resets the language to ENG.

3. U_MOUSE
   3.1. Changed direction keys to match U_NAV.
   3.2. Added language switching ENG/RUS, one more slot available
   3.3. Moved scroll wheel buttons
   3.4. This and U_MEDIA are the only two layers
   where U_TAP/U_QWERTY/U_BASE switching is possible
   3.5. Threw away copy/cut/paste, use chords in U_BASE nstead.

4. U_SYM was revised completely. Followed the advice
   to keep !@#$%^&*() to use existing muscle memory.
   Added more keys. Mapped / to . TBD

The real lctl key on my keyboard it not used, but defined in defsrc so that my mouse's copy/paste keys work.

[yoshuawuyts]

The link posted by OP no longer resolves to the layout files. Here is a direct link to the last working commit, and a backup gist just in case.

[bogorad]

ooops, my bad! thank you!

(and I fixed it)

[yoshuawuyts]

Thank you!

By the way, what version of kanata are you running? I just tried the config with Kanata 1.6.1 (simulator), and I'm seeing a number of errors.

[bogorad]

Yep, I'm cooking my own from the latest source: installed RustUp for cargo, then cargo build --release. Takes around 3 min on my old i5.

[bogorad]

Also, since I use it on multiple systems, it needs an env-vars KANATA_PLATFORM and KANATA_LAYOUT now. Slipped my mind completely.

[gerhard-h]

in your chord definitions you use qa-qz where

  (qq            ) (multi q @qfast)
  (   qw         ) (multi w @qfast)

for later aliases qwe-a (chord qwe-chords qa)
qa-qz and ka-kz are just abitrary strings not defined anywhere else.

I was not aware this even works, but on the other side I also don't see the benefit over just using letters?

P.S. I just for fun checked the size of my config: it is equally gigantic
120 lines defcfg defvar deflocalkeys
570 lines aliases(440) templat (70lines 16uses) chords(60)
300 lines layers

P.S.2
your _FAST layers have plain keys a b c... where I need (unmod a) (unmod b) .... not sure there is a structural reason or just typing habits.
also instead of universal hold timeouts I have different ones at least per finger.

[bogorad]

qa-qz and ka-kz are just abitrary strings not defined anywhere else.

yep, it's in the docs :)
the benefit is - because I have multiple layers, with different layouts, I don't get confused when I look at it in a year.

also instead of universal hold timeouts I have different ones at least per finger.

this I've been contemplating for some time, but kinda got used to the defaults.