Desktop Hotkey Proposal

Keyboard shortcut proposal for easy-to-learn, quick, mouse-free access with hands on keyboard under MacOS and Linux Desktops.

Description

Basically, all keyboard shortcuts listed here are just proposals. These have to be implemented in the MacOS/Linux/Windows Desktop by scripts or software. Following tools can be used to realize those proposals:

• MacOS: use BetterTouchTool - configuration is planned to be included in this repository in future
• Linux: Both Cinnamon Desktop and [Fluxbox|http://fluxbox.org/] offer some good support for manipulating keyboard shortcuts. For some actions, scripts are needed. Some are provided in this repository.
• Windows: oops, sorry, no idea how to implement window manipulation and desktop management here. Maybe AutoIT?

Key combos should not interfere with genuine setup under MacOS/Linux/Windows, but some adjustments may have to be taken. For example the unified approach to have WIN/CMD+Cursor Keys resize and move windows does not work under macOS where CMD+Cursor Keys cycles through desktop spaces. This can be switched to CTRL+Cursor Keys easily - just do it in case you happen to work on MacOS and linux desktop.

The modifiers work blind without needing to now if its mac or linux. IBM keyboard CTRL,WIN,ALT modifier keys are applied in the same order as CTRL,ALT,CMD on Apple keyboard.

All gestures which look too hard to learn easily are left out.

Words and abbreviations used here:

• Desktop: virtual desktop (fullscreen apps and space in mac os, workspaces in X windows) - usually across monitors
• Monitor: one desktop usually spawns across multiple monitors
• U/D/L/R: arrow keys up/ down/ left/right
• Wheel L/R: mouse wheel click left/right
• Thumb U/D: mouse thumb button up/down

For some parts, mouse wheel click respectively thumb button action proposals have been added which fit in nicely. Make sure to use a mouse with support of mousewheel click (left/right) and a set of two thumb buttons like for example a Logitech M500.

Preparations

MacOS

• Settings > Mission Control > Disable "Monitors use different spaces"
• BetterTouchTool: Disable ALT+q for closing apps - this is easily typed when trying to type @. Replace by ALT+F4.

Desktop Navigation ("x--", "xx-")

Switching desktops bases on using CTRL key, combined like

• CTRL + left/right or numbers for switching desktops (memorize modifier key pattern "x--")
• CTRL + WIN (Mac: ALT) + left/right or numbers for moving windows between desktops (memorize modifier key pattern "xx-")

Description	Linux IBM Keyboard	MacOS Keyboard	Mouse Action
Switch desktop/space	CTRL+WIN+L/R	CTRL+ALT+L/R	CTRL+WIN/ALT+Wheel L/R
+ move window to desktop	SHIFT+CTRL+WIN+L/R	SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+L/R	SHIFT+CTRL+WIN/ALT+Wheel L/R`
Switch to desktop 1	CTRL+WIN+1	CTRL+ALT+1
+ move window to desktop	SHIFT+CTRL+WIN+1	SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+1

Monitor Navigation ("^x-")

• SHIFT + WIN (Mac: ALT) + left/right for moving windows between monitors (memorize modifier key pattern "^x-")

Description	Linux IBM Keyboard	MacOS Keyboard	Mouse Action
Move window to monitor	SHIFT+WIN+L/R	SHIFT+ALT+L/R	SHIFT+WIN/ALT+Wheel L/R

Window Move Resize ("-x-", "-xx")

Resizing and moving windows bases on using WIN/ ALT key, combined like

• Half size, maximize, move: memorize modifier key pattern "-x-"
• Quarter size: memorize modifier key pattern "-xx"
• Mouse resize window: memorize modifier key pattern "-x-"
• Mouse move window: memorize modifier key pattern "-xx"

Description	Linux IBM Keyboard	MacOS Keyboard	Mouse Action
Half size left/right edge	WIN+L/R	ALT+L/R
Maximize window	WIN+U	ALT+Up
Restore original size	WIN+D	ALT+Down
Quarter size in corner	WIN+ALT+L/R/U/D	ALT+CMD+L/R/U/D
Full screen	WIN+Enter	ALT+Enter
Sticky window	WIN+ALT+Enter	ALT+CMD+Enter
Freely resize window			WIN/ALT+ MouseMove
Freely move window			WIN/ALT+ ALT/CMD+ MouseMove

Window Tabs ("x-x")

Switching window tabs or window instances bases on ALT/CMD key, combined like

Switching desktops bases on using CTRL key, combined like

• CTRL + left/right or numbers for switching desktops (memorize modifier key pattern "x--")
• CTRL + WIN/ALT + left/right or numbers for moving windows between desktops (memorize modifier key pattern "xx-")

In single application windows (e.g. browsers), navigate tabs with the key combinations below. For single-window applications (standard terminal, text editors) cycle through application instances.

Description	Linux IBM Keyboard	MacOS Keyboard	Mouse Action
Tab/app window left/right	ALT+L/R	CMD+L/R	Thumb U/D
	ALT+</>	CMD+</>
Switch to tab 1	ALT+1	CMD+1
Cycle Tabs	CTRL+Tab	CTRL+Tab
Open Tab	CTRL+t	CTRL+t	CTRL+ALT/CMD+Thumb U
Close Tab	CTRL+w	CTRL+w	CTRL+ALT/CMD+Thumb D

Applications

Programs and utilities used while working. This modifiers work blind without needing to now if its mac or linux


|Description              |Linux IBM Keyboard         | MacOS Keyboard            |
|-------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
|Main Terminal            |`CTRL`+`Esc`               |`CTRL`+`Esc`               |
|Second Terminal          |`SHIFT`+`Esc`              |`SHIFT`+`Esc`              |
|Calulator                |`SHIFT`+`Tab`              |`SHIFT`+`Tab`              |
|Main browser             |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`Space` (xx-) |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`Space` (xx-) |   
|Secondary browser        |`WIN`+`ALT`+`Space`  (-xx) |`ALT`+`CMD`+`Space`  (-xx) |  
|Mail                     |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`Space` (x-x) |`CTRL`+`CMD`+`Space` (x-x) |  
|Messenger                |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`ALT`+`Space` |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`CMD`+`Space` |  


Productivity
------------

Common shortcuts for working in desktop environment


|Description              |Linux IBM Keyboard         | MacOS Keyboard              |
|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|
|Screen Shot (full screen)|`CTRL`+`SHIFT`+`?`  (x--)  |`CMD`+`SHIFT`+`3`    (--x)   |
|Screen Shot (area)       |`CTRL`+`SHIFT`+`s`  (x--)  |`CMD`+`SHIFT`+`4`    (--x)   |
|                         |`CTRL`+`Print`      (x--)  |                             |
|Copy/Cut/Paste           |`CTRL`+`c/x/v`      (x--)  |`CMD`+`c/x/v`        (--x)   |
|Show clipboard history   |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`v`    (x--)  |`CMD`+`ALT`+`v`      (--x)   |
|Search and Run           |`CTRL`+`Space`      (x--)  |`CMD`+`Space`        (--x)   |
|Zoom Text                |`CTRL`+`+/-`        (x--)  |`CMD `+`+/-`         (--x)   |


## System


### Applications

|Description              |Linux IBM Keyboard         | MacOS Keyboard           |
|-------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|
|Switch application       |`ALT`+`Tab` (--x)          |`CMD`+`Tab`  (--x)        |
|Cycle application windows|`ALT`+`</>` (--x)          |`CMD`+`</>`  (--x)        |
|Exit application         |`ALT`+`F4`  (--x)          |`CMD`+`F4`   (--x)        |
|New application window   |`CTRL`+`n`  (x--)          |`CMD`+`n`    (--x)        |

### Finder/ File manager settings

|Description              |Linux IBM Keyboard         | MacOS Keyboard           |
|-------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|
|Directory Up             |`CTRL`+`U`         (x--)   |`CMD`+`U`         (--x)   |
|Show hidden files        |`CTRL`+`h`         (x--)   |`CMD`+`h`         (--x)   |
|Create directory         |`CTRL`+`SHIFT`+`d` (^x--)  |`CMD`+`SHIFT`+`d` (^--x)  |
|Create file              |`CTRL`+`SHIFT`+`f` (^x--)  |`CMD`+`SHIFT`+`f` (^--x)  |

### System (xxx)

|Description              |Linux IBM Keyboard         | MacOS Keyboard           |
|-------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|
|Lock screen              |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`ALT`+`Up`    |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`CMD`+`Up`   |
|Sleep                    |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`ALT`+`Right` |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`CMD`+`Down` |
|Restart computer         |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`ALT`+`Left`  |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`CMD`+`Left` |
|Shut down                |`CTRL`+`WIN`+`ALT`+`Down`  |`CTRL`+`ALT`+`CMD`+`Right`|