SOWA

Custom keyboard layout. Powered by kanata keyboard remapper.

Quick start

See Linux setup docs.

There are 2 config files: sowa.kbd for TKL-87 keyboard, sowa-60.kbd for 60% keyboard.

kanata --cfg sowa.kbd

Features

• 2 layouts: default QWERTY, custom SOWA layout;
• complimentary ЙЦУКЕН layout;
• custom layers: shortcuts, punctuation, etc;
• small QoL features like capitalize a word or sticky keys.

Usage tips

Use ~ (or ralt) to switch layers:

• ~ + q switch to QWERTY, ~ + 1 switch to SOWA
• ~ + 2 live reload kanata config

Use tab for 60% keyboard:

• tab + r live reload kanata config
• tab + q switch to QWERTY layout
• tab + w switch to SOWA layout

Adding/restoring ЙЦУКЕН/cyrillic layout

Any custom layout reshuffles keys for other languages. To be able to use (almost!) default Russian ЙЦУКЕН layout you have to do the following:

1. Add new symbols (r1 or r2) to system:

• r1 refers to ЙЦУКЕН layout;
• r2 refers to custom cyrillic layout.

sudo ln -sr r1 /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/

2. Add new rules to system:

sudo micro /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.xml

Paste these lines (with proper name r1 or r2) somewhere near Russian layouts (tip! search for <description>Russian</description> to locate those rules):

<!-- SOWA -->
<layout>
  <configItem>
    <name>r1</name>
    <shortDescription>Russian (SOWA)</shortDescription>
    <description>Russian (SOWA)</description>
    <languageList>
      <iso639Id>rus</iso639Id>
    </languageList>
  </configItem>
</layout>

3. Add new Russian (SOWA) layout in settings (or setxkbmap) as usual (setxkbmap -layout us,r1).

Links

• Linux: How to make your own keyboard layout by Florin Lipan;

TODO

• pick proper name for custom layout;
• add fancy images with layout and heatmaps;
• switch K and J keys;
• add philosophy, pros/cons section;
• how to add (restore) RU layout;
• describe differences to RU layout coz it's wider too;
• add r2 layout description;