Evdoublebind, via evdev, provides double bind keys: keys which are overloaded with functionality acting as a modifier when held but another key when tapped alone. Although other applications strive for the same core functionality, Evdoublebind is unique in that it...

• Runs at a low level interfacing evdev directly so that it is display server agnostic even working in a TTY.
• The main program is very simple and small, written in C with no dependencies which when compiled statically with musl and stripped produces a ~5kb binary on linux.
• Introduces as little latency as possible, allowing regular key events to be processed by system directly without redirection or a virtual input device.

Evdoublebind has gone through a major refactor to be easier setup the old simpler version can be found on it own branch.

Further information

• Making Low Level Keyboard Hacks Easy to Use June 24, 2019
• Evdoublebind and My Ergonomic Key Bindings June 10, 2019

Installation

Compiling from Source

Install dependencies:

• libxkbcommon (for evdoublebind-inspect/-make-config)
• linux-headers (for <linux/input.h>)
• musl (optional: for smaller/faster binary)

Run these commands:

make
#or make musl-static

sudo make install

To run install the XKB rule-set with the evdoublebind:mapping into the user xkb folder,~/.xkb, option run

~/install_xkb_rule.sh

Usage

evdoublebind-inspector

Outputs keyboards events from /dev/input to aid with configuration of evdoublebind.

> sudo evdoublebind-inspector 
Found 2 Possible Keyboards.
---
/dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-event-kbd
/dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-if01-event-kbd
---
[/dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-event-kbd]{
   EVDEV: keycode:28 name:KEY_ENTER;
   XKB: key[36]:<RTRN> keysym:Return;
}
[/dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-event-kbd]{
   EVDEV: keycode:31 name:KEY_S;
   XKB: key[39]:<AC02> keysym:s;
}

evdoublebind-make-config

Generates input arguments for evdoublebind from a config that specify keys interms of XKB keyname and keysyms. Can be configured for different layouts see evdoublebind-make-config -h.

Example config,

unused : <FK19> <FK20> <FK21> <FK22> <FK23> <FK24> <I159> <I160>
kbd : /dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-event-kbd
kbd : /dev/input/by-id/some-other-keyboard
<CAPS> : Hyper_L   | Escape             #Tap Caps -> Escape
                                        #Hold Caps -> Hyper
<LFSH> : Shift_L   | backslash          #Tap Left Shift -> \
<RTSH> : Shift_R   | ampersand          #Tap Right Shift -> &
<LALT> : Alt_L     | asciicirum         #Tap Left alt -> ^
<SPCE> : Control_L | space              #Hold Space -> control
39     : Super_L   | semicolon colon    #Hold Semicolon -> Super

evdoublebind

The main program, evdoublebind takes two arguments the path of a input dev node, ex. /dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-event-kbd and a keycode mapping, ex. 58:189,42:190,54:191, which is a comma seperated list of mappings base key on the left and tap key on the right.

evdoublebind "/dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_Logitech_G710_Keyboard-event-kbd" "58:189,42:190,54:191"

or

evdoublebind-make-config basic.conf | while read args; do
  sudo ../build/evdoublebind $args &
done

Simple Example Script

The following the following script will setup capslock as control where tapping capslock insert escape. The script works on X11 envoirments where setxkbmap is respected, I know it works on i3wm and sway.

#!/bin/sh
#First install the XKB rule set if havn't yet
#./install_xkb_rule.sh

 echo 'unused : <FK19> <FK20> <FK21> <FK22> <FK23> <FK24>' > basic.conf

# find keyboards, THIS MAY FIND TO MANY KEYBOARDS!!! for real setup please
# run `evdoublebind-inspector` to identify your actual keyboards
echo "sudo evdoublebind-inspector -k : to get keyboards"
sudo evdoublebind-inspector -k | awk '{print "kbd:" $1;}' >> basic.conf
echo '<CAPS> : Control_L   | Escape' >> basic.conf

# Generate XKB_option will go in `~/.xkb/symbols/evdoublebind` and `evdb.in`.
evdoublebind-make-config -c evdb.args basic.conf || exit #abort on failure

#make sure no other instances are running
killall evdoublebind

#Start evdouble-bind
cat evdb.args | while read args; do
    evdoublebind $args &
done

# Alternatively you could generate the arguments from the config
# and pass them directly
# evdoublebind-make-config basic.conf | while read args; do
#     sudo ../build/evdoublebind $args &
# done

#SET XKB ON X11
setxkbmap -I$HOME/.xkb -rules 'evdev-doublebind' -option evdoublebind:mapping\
 -print | xkbcomp -w 2 -I$HOME/.xkb - $DISPLAY
echo "it is 'normal' for xkbcomp to output some warnings."
# SET XKB ON SWAY, you'll probably want to specify your keyboard directly
# for actual use instead of the '*'.
#swaymsg input '*' xkb_rules evdev-doublebind 
#swaymsg input '*' xkb_options evdoublebind:mapping