29 KiB
StumpWM — Keybindings
StumpWM — Keybindings
Keybinds
Buckle up, this chapter is going to be long, because me loves LOTS of keybinds.
First, let’s declare again we are using the default package stumpwm:
(in-package :stumpwm)
This will avoid us always repeating stumpwm:define-key or stumpwm:kbd
instead of simply define-key and kbd.
StumpWM behaves a bit like Emacs in terms of keybinds. You have keymaps, which are a collection of keybinds, which in turn call CLisp functions. However, unlike Emacs, you have to declare a lot of keymaps, because StumpWM cannot (yet) understand keybinds such as
(kbd "C-x c l")There are also two keymaps you need to be aware of:
-
*top-map* - This is the keymap available literally everywhere. With
this keymap, you can emulate most of your keybinds you have in other
window managers. For instance, I cannot live without
s-RETfor creating new shells, so I’ll bind it to*top-map*. But it’s good practice to avoid polluting*top-map*with too many keybinds. -
*root-map* - This keymap is the default keymap that is already
somewhat populated. It is available after hitting the prefix key set
with
set-prefix-keywhich we will see just below.
It is interesting to note that once you entered any keymap, except
*top-map*, if you hit ? you will see the list of available keybinds.
I’d like it if something similar to general in Emacs too could be
implemented: give any arbitrary name to the keybind you just declared
which would be displayed instead of the actual function or keymap
called by keybind. It would be nicer to see frames rather than
*my-frames-management-keymap*.
Anyway, as mentioned above, *root-map* is already pre-populated with
some cool stuff for you, and you can access it with a prefix which is
by default C-t. But if this doesn’t suit you, you can always redefine
it with set-prefix-key. I personally like to have my space key as a
leader key, but in order to not have it conflict with Emacs, I also
need to press the super key too.
(set-prefix-key (my/kbd "s-SPC"))
Also, let’s enable which-key:
(which-key-mode)
Lastly, before we get more into details, keep in mind that I use the
bépo layout, as I often say in my different documents. This means the
characters found in the numbers’ row when pressing shift are actually
the numbers themselves. Also, some characters are not recognized as is
by kbd, so we need to use a special name (not fun…). Below are the
following characters:
| Number | Character |
|---|---|
| 1 | " |
| 2 | « |
| 3 | » |
| 4 | ( |
| 5 | ) |
| 6 | @ |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | - |
| 9 | / |
| 0 | * |
So if you see any weird keybind involving these characters, this is because of my layout.
Something a bit annoying though is Lisp doesn’t know some characters by their actual name, rather by another one that I find too long and too bothersome to remember. So here’s a list, if you see any of the characters on the left column in my config, with the function described below, my actual config will use their name as specified in the right column.
| Character | Name |
|---|---|
« |
guillemotleft |
» |
guillemotright |
;; chars
(let ((filter (lambda (str)
(replace-regexp-in-string "^~\\|~$" "" str))))
(mapcar (lambda (row)
`(,(apply filter `(,(car row))) . ,(apply filter `(,(cadr row)))))
chars))(("«" . "guillemotleft") ("»" . "guillemotright"))
To convert these characters, I have my own macro which is a wrapper
around the function kbd.
(defun my/kbd (keys)
"Prepares KEYS for function `stumpwm:kbd'.
If a character declared in the car of a member of the variable char,
it is replaced with its cdr. This allows the user to input characters
such as « or » and have them replaced with their actual name when
`stumpwm:kbd' is called."
(kbd (let ((chars '<<chars-table-to-list()>>))
(dolist (row chars keys)
(setf keys (cl-ppcre:regex-replace-all (car row) keys (cdr row)))))))<<my-kbd-defun>><<my-kbd-defun>>Applications
When I speak about applications, I speak about programs and scripts in general. With these keymaps, I can launch programs I have often use for, but I can also launch some scripts as well as take screenshots.
First, let’s create my rofi scripts keymap.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
a |
exec awiki |
r |
exec rofi -combi-modi drun,window -show combi |
s |
exec rofi -show ssh |
p |
exec rofi-pass -t |
P |
exec rofi-pass |
e |
exec rofi-emoji |
m |
exec rofi-mount |
u |
exec rofi-umount |
w |
exec wacom-setup |
y |
exec ytplay |
Y |
exec rofi-ytdl |
*my-rofi-keymap*
Here’s the equivalent in Common Lisp.
(defvar *my-rofi-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=rofi-scripts)>>
m))Let’s also create a keymap for screenshots.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
d |
exec flameshot gui -d 3000 |
s |
exec flameshot full |
S |
exec flameshot gui |
*my-screenshot-keymap*
Here’s the equivalent in Common Lisp.
(defvar *my-screenshot-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=screenshot-keymap)>>
m))We can now define our applications keymap which will reference both the above keymaps.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
b |
firefox |
B |
exec qutebrowser |
d |
exec discord |
e |
exec emacsclient -c |
g |
exec gimp |
n |
exec nemo |
r |
'*my-rofi-keymap* |
s |
'*my-screenshot-keymap* |
w |
exec select-pape |
*my-applications-keymap*
This translates to:
(defvar *my-applications-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=application-keymap)>>
m))The application keymap can now be bound to the root map like so:
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "a") '*my-applications-keymap*)
I will also bind to the top map s-RET in order to open a new terminal
window. The screenshot keymap is also bound to the ScreenPrint key,
and the XF86Mail key opens mu4e in Emacs.
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-RET") "term")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "Print") '*my-screenshot-keymap*)
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "XF86Mail") "exec emacsclient -c -e \"(mu4e)\"")End of Session, Powering Off, and the Likes
The module end-session provides functions for gracefully ending the
user session, powering off, restarting, and suspending the computer.
It also provides a function that interactively asks what the user
wishes to do.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
q |
end-session |
l |
logout |
s |
suspend-computer |
S |
shutdown-computer |
r |
loadrc |
R |
restart-hard |
C-r |
restart-computer |
*my-end-session-keymap*
This translates to:
(defvar *my-end-session-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=end-session-keymap)>>
m))
Which is bound in the root map to q:
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "q") '*my-end-session-keymap*)Groups
A basic keybind I need for groups is to be able to switch from one another. I’m very used to the ability of being able to jump between them with the keybind Super + number of the group, so let’s define this:
(mapconcat (lambda (group)
(let ((group-nbr (nth 1 group)))
(format "%S" `(define-key
,(make-symbol map)
(my/kbd ,(format "%s-%s"
mod
(if (string= "yes" convert)
(format "<<num-to-char(num=%s)>>" group-nbr)
(number-to-string group-nbr))))
,(format "%s %d" action group-nbr)))))
groups
"\n")"(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd \"s-1\") \"gselect 1\") (define-key *top-map* (my/kbd \"s-2\") \"gselect 2\") (define-key *top-map* (my/kbd \"s-3\") \"gselect 3\") (define-key *top-map* (my/kbd \"s-4\") \"gselect 4\") (define-key *top-map* (my/kbd \"s-5\") \"gselect 5\")"
<<group-keybind-gen(mod="s", action="gselect", convert="yes")>>(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-<<num-to-char(num=1)>>") "gselect 1")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-<<num-to-char(num=2)>>") "gselect 2")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-<<num-to-char(num=3)>>") "gselect 3")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-<<num-to-char(num=4)>>") "gselect 4")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-<<num-to-char(num=5)>>") "gselect 5")
Another batch of keybinds I use a lot is keybinds to send the
currently active window to another group, using Super + Shift + number
of the group. As mentioned before, due to my keyboard layout Shift +
number is actually just number for me (e.g. Shift + " results in 1),
so there’s no need to convert the group number to another character.
<<group-keybind-gen(mod="s", action="gmove-and-follow", convert="no")>>(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-1") "gmove-and-follow 1")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-2") "gmove-and-follow 2")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-3") "gmove-and-follow 3")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-4") "gmove-and-follow 4")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-5") "gmove-and-follow 5")
If I want to send a window to another group without following it, I’ll
use s-S-C-<group number>, which gives us the following:
<<group-keybind-gen(mod="s-C", action="gmove-and-follow", convert="no")>>(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-1") "gmove-and-follow 1")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-2") "gmove-and-follow 2")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-3") "gmove-and-follow 3")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-4") "gmove-and-follow 4")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-5") "gmove-and-follow 5")
And if I want to bring the windows of another group into the current
group, I’ll use s-C-<group number>:
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-<<num-to-char(num=1)>>") "gmove-and-follow 1")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-<<num-to-char(num=2)>>") "gmove-and-follow 2")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-<<num-to-char(num=3)>>") "gmove-and-follow 3")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-<<num-to-char(num=4)>>") "gmove-and-follow 4")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-C-<<num-to-char(num=5)>>") "gmove-and-follow 5")
StumpWM also has already a nice keymap for managing groups called
*groups-map*, so let’s bind it to *root-map* too! (It’s actually
already bound, but since I plan on erasing *root-map* in the near
future before binding stuff to it, I prefer to bind it already)
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "g") '*groups-map*)
And a binding to vgroups is done on *groups-map* in order to regroup
similar keybinds.
(define-key *groups-map* (my/kbd "G") "vgroups")
I grew accustomed to s-ESC bringing me to the previous group when
using AwesomeWM, so let’s define that:
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-ESC") "gother")Frames and Windows management
As you’ll see, I have loads of keybinds related to frames and windows
management. They are all categorized in a specific keymap, called
*my-frames-management-keymap*. But before that, let’s define the
keymap *my-frames-float-keymap*, with keybinds dedicated to actions
related with floating windows and frames.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
f |
float-this |
F |
unfloat-this |
u |
unfloat-this |
C-f |
flatten-floats |
*my-frames-float-keymap*
We can now pass onto *my-frames-management-keymap*. My keybinds are organized this way:
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
c |
move-focus left |
t |
move-focus down |
s |
move-focus up |
r |
move-focus right |
C |
move-window left |
T |
move-window down |
S |
move-window up |
R |
move-window right |
C-c |
exchange-direction left |
C-t |
exchange-direction down |
C-s |
exchange-direction up |
C-r |
exchange-direction right |
/ |
hsplit-and-focus |
- |
vsplit-and-focus |
h |
hsplit |
v |
vsplit |
H |
hsplit-equally |
V |
vsplit-equally |
. |
iresize |
+ |
balance-frames |
d |
remove-split |
D |
only |
e |
expose |
f |
fullscreen |
F |
'*my-frames-float-keymap* |
i |
info |
I |
show-window-properties |
m |
meta |
s |
sibling |
u |
next-urgent |
U |
unmaximize |
*my-frames-management-keymap*
As you can see, with the binding to F, we make use of the
*my-frames-float-keymap* keymap declared above, which means if we find
ourselves in *my-frames-management-keymap*, pressing F will bring us
in *my-frames-float-keymap*.
(defvar *my-frames-float-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=frames-float)>>
m))
(defvar *my-frames-management-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=frames-and-window-management)>>
m))
Let’s bind *my-frames-management-keymap* in *root-keymap*:
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "w") '*my-frames-management-keymap*)
That way, if we want for instance to split our current frame
vertically, we’ll be able to type s-SPC w - and vsplit will be called.
I also bound a couple of these functions to the top keymap for easier access:
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
s-c |
move-focus left |
s-t |
move-focus down |
s-s |
move-focus up |
s-r |
move-focus right |
s-C |
move-window left |
s-T |
move-window down |
s-S |
move-window up |
s-R |
move-window right |
s-M-c |
exchange-direction left |
s-M-t |
exchange-direction down |
s-M-s |
exchange-direction up |
s-M-r |
exchange-direction right |
*top-map*
This translates to:
<<keybinds-gen(map="*top-map*", keybinds=top-window-map)>>
Being a bépo layout user, the hjkl keys don’t exactly fit me, as you
might have noticed with my use of ctsr which is its equivalent. Due to
this, the interactive keymap for iresize is not ideal for me, let me
redefine it:
(define-interactive-keymap (iresize tile-group) (:on-enter #'setup-iresize
:on-exit #'resize-unhide
:abort-if #'abort-resize-p
:exit-on ((kbd "RET") (kbd "ESC")
(kbd "C-g") (kbd "q")))
((my/kbd "c") "resize-direction left")
((my/kbd "t") "resize-direction down")
((my/kbd "s") "resize-direction up")
((my/kbd "r") "resize-direction right"))
As with groups management, I grew used to s-TAB in AwesomeWM bringing
me back to the previously focused window, and I also grew used to s-o
doing the same thing.
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-TAB") "other-window")
(define-key *top-map* (my/kbd "s-o") "other-window")Windows management
When it comes to windows management, I will treat them a bit like I do with Emacs’ buffers.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
b |
windowlist |
d |
delete-window |
D |
delete-window-and-frame |
k |
kill-window |
n |
next |
o |
other-window |
p |
prev |
*my-buffers-management-keymap*
(defvar *my-buffers-management-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=window-management)>>
m))
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "b") '*my-buffers-management-keymap*)Media and Media Control
My music is managed through MPD, and I often use playerctl commands in
order to interact with it without any GUI application. So, we’ll see a
lot of its usage here, and numerous commands used here come from the
mpd minor mode loaded above.
First, let’s declare an interactive keymap in order to easily change several times in a row either the current song playing or the volume of MPD.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
c |
mpd-prev |
t |
mpd-volume-down |
s |
mpd-volume-up |
r |
mpd-next |
mpc
This can be translated in CommonLisp as:
<<interactive-gen(name="mpc-interactive", keys=inter-mpc)>>
We need to indicate also how much the volume is affected by
mpd-volume-down and mpd-volume-up.
(setf *mpd-volume-step* 2)Another one will be defined for the general audio of my computer. And I know it isn’t technically media keybinds, but I’ll add in keybinds for my screen’s backlight.
| Keys | Function |
|---|---|
c |
exec xbacklight -perceived -dec 2 |
t |
exec amixer -q set Master 2%- unmute |
s |
exec amixer -q set Master 2%+ unmute |
r |
exec xbacklight -perceived -inc 2 |
m |
exec amixer -q set Master 1+ toggle |
<<interactive-gen(name="media-interactive", keys=inter-media)>>Then, let’s declare a keymap for our media controls.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
a |
mpd-search-and-add-artist |
A |
mpd-search-and-add-album |
f |
mpd-search-and-add-file |
F |
mpd-add-file |
g |
mpd-search-and-add-genre |
t |
mpd-search-and-add-title |
*my-mpd-add-map*
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
a |
mpd-browse-artists |
A |
mpd-browse-albums |
g |
mpd-browse-genres |
p |
mpd-browse-playlist |
t |
mpd-browse-tracks |
*my-mpd-browse-map*
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
. |
media-interactive |
« |
exec playerctl previous |
» |
exec playerctl next |
a |
'*my-mpd-add-map* |
b |
'*my-mpd-browse-map* |
c |
mpd-clear |
m |
mpc-interactive |
p |
exec playerctl play-pause |
s |
exec playerctl stop |
u |
mpd-update |
n |
exec kitty ncmpcpp -q |
v |
exec kitty ncmpcpp -qs visualizer |
*my-media-keymap*
Let’s translate this table in CommonLisp:
(defvar *my-mpd-add-map*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=mpd-add-map)>>
m))
(defvar *my-mpd-browse-map*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=mpd-browse-map)>>
m))
(defvar *my-media-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=media-management)>>
m))
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "m") '*my-media-keymap*)
I will also define on *top-map* some basic volume management keybinds
so that they are immediately accessible. Again, this isn’t technically
media-related, but I’ll add keybinds for my screen’s backlight.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
XF86AudioPlay |
exec playerctl play-pause |
XF86AudioPause |
exec playerctl pause |
XF86AudioStop |
exec playerctl stop |
XF86AudioPrev |
exec playerctl previous |
XF86AudioNext |
exec playerctl next |
XF86AudioRewind |
exec playerctl position -1 |
XF86AudioForward |
exec playerctl position +1 |
XF86AudioRaiseVolume |
exec pamixer -i 2 |
XF86AudioLowerVolume |
exec pamixer -d 2 |
XF86AudioMute |
exec pamixer -t |
XF86MonBrightnessDown |
exec xbacklight -perceived -dec 2 |
XF86MonBrightnessUp |
exec xbacklight -perceived -inc 2 |
<<keybinds-gen(map="*top-map*", keybinds=media-top-level)>>Misc
Finally, some misc keybinds on the root map which don’t really fit anywhere else:
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
SPC |
colon |
B |
beckon |
C-b |
banish |
l |
exec plock |
r |
reload |
*root-map*
<<keybinds-gen(map="*root-map*", keybinds=misc-root-map)>>
From time to time, I need to switch between different keyboard
layouts, especially to the US QWERTY layout when I’m playing some
games and the bépo layout most of the time. I’ll use the command
switch-layout defined above.
| Keychord | Function |
|---|---|
b |
exec setxkbmap fr bepo_afnor |
u |
exec setxkbmap us |
*my-keyboard-layout-keymap*
(defvar *my-keyboard-layout-keymap*
(let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
<<keybinds-gen(map="m", keybinds=keyboard-layout-map)>>
m))
(define-key *root-map* (my/kbd "k") '*my-keyboard-layout-keymap*)