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+---
+title: Kanata: advanced keyboard configuration
+date: 2023-01-20 18:11:00
+tags:
+  - linux
+  - logitech
+  - keyboard
+  - layout
+  - rust
+---
+
+
+[Kanata](https://github.com/jtroo/kanata/) is a software keyboard remapper that aims to improve keyboard comfort and usability with advanced customization.
+Keyboard remappers are a good alternative to running a custom keyboard with QMK/ZMK, and have two main advantages: they work on any keyboard, and you can configure them to launch any command or program you want, not just key presses.
+On the other hand, you need to configure them on every PC/OS you're using your keyboard with, and all the processing is done on software on top of the OS, so there may be glitches and performance issues.
+
+The project was inspired by the more popular [KMonad](https://github.com/kmonad/kmonad), and the author cites some of the [differences](https://github.com/jtroo/kanata/blob/main/docs/kmonad_comparison.md).
+Both projects use a very similar configuration format based on lisp.
+The configuration consists of a set of general options, a base key configuration, a series of layers, and macros that can be used within those layers.
+[Here's a very complete config that serves as documentation](https://github.com/jtroo/kanata/blob/main/cfg_samples/kanata.kbd).
+
+
+One big disadvantage of the lispy configuration is that you need to specify your hardware layout/all your keys, and repeat that every time you define a new layer.
+The result visually maps to your keyboard, but can be very verbose/big if you need really few changes.
+
+[Keyd](https://github.com/rvaiya/keyd/) is another alternative with a more declarative configuration format, which might lend itself to smaller.
+
+
+For now I'm just trying it out, and getting a feel for using fewer keys before I build my own ZMK keyboard.
+I particularly like the option of using mod-keys on the home row (e.g., having A work as a CTRL when held).
+Mod-tap, tap-dancing and the like are very common techniques in sub-40% layouts, where there simply aren't enough keys for all the letters and symbols.
+In a regular-sized keyboard, these techniques can also help you stay on the home row and type more comfortably.
+At least, that's the idea.
+We'll see if I like it enough to stick with it.
+
+For now, here's my very simple config:
+
+
+```lisp
+(defcfg
+  ;; Your keyboard device will likely differ from this.
+  linux-dev  /dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_USB_Receiver-if02-event-mouse
+
+  ;; Windows doesn't need any input/output configuration entries; however, there
+  ;; must still be a defcfg entry. You can keep the linux-dev entry or delete
+  ;; it and leave it empty.
+)
+
+(defsrc
+  grv  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =    bspc
+  tab  q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]    
+  caps a    s    d    f    g    h    j    k    l    ;    '    ret
+  lsft \ z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    /    rsft
+  lctl lmet lalt           spc            ralt rmet rctl
+)
+
+
+(deflayer qwerty
+  grv  _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
+  _  _    @warrows    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    
+  lctrl     @alctrl    @slsft    @dlalt    @flmet    _    _    @jrmet    @kralt    @lrsft    @;rctrl    _ _
+  _ _ _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
+  _ _ _           @smartspace            _ _ _
+)
+
+(deflayer arrows
+  _  _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
+  _  _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    
+  _     _    _    _    @flmet    _    left down up rght _ _ _
+  _ _ _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
+  _ _ _           @smartspace            _ _ _
+)
+
+(deflayer colemak
+  grv XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    XX    _
+  tab         q       w       f       p       b       j       l       u       y       ;       [       ]    
+  lctrl   @alctrl @rlsft      @slalt      @tlmet      g       m       @nrmet      @eralt      @irsft      @orctrl      '       ret
+  lsft    XX z       x       c       d       v     k       h       ,       .       /       rsft
+  XX XX XX           @smartspace            XX XX XX
+)
+
+(deflayer magic
+  _  @clmk    @qwerty    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
+  _  _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    
+  _     tab    A-tab    _    _    _    _    bspc  esc   _ ret    _  _
+  _ _ _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _
+  _ _ _           _            _ _ _
+)
+
+(defalias
+  warrows (tap-hold 200 200 w (layer-toggle arrows))
+
+  alctrl (tap-hold 200 200 a lctrl)
+  slsft (tap-hold 200 200 s lsft)
+  dlalt (tap-hold 200 200 d lalt)
+  flmet (tap-hold 200 200 f lmet)
+
+  jrmet (tap-hold 200 200 j rmet)
+  kralt (tap-hold 200 200 k ralt)
+  lrsft (tap-hold 200 200 l rsft)
+  ;rctrl (tap-hold 200 200 ; rctrl)
+
+  rlsft (tap-hold 200 200 r lsft)
+  slalt (tap-hold 200 200 s lalt)
+  tlmet (tap-hold 200 200 t lmet)
+  nrmet (tap-hold 200 200 n rmet)
+  eralt (tap-hold 200 200 e ralt)
+  irsft (tap-hold 200 200 i rsft)
+  orctrl (tap-hold 200 200 o rctrl)
+  clmk (layer-switch colemak)
+  qwerty (layer-switch qwerty)
+
+  smartspace (tap-dance 200 (
+      (tap-hold 300 300 spc (layer-toggle magic))
+      (tap-hold 300 300 (one-shot 300 lalt) spc)
+      a
+      ))
+
+  )
+```