If you are like me a geek of prefering to use keyboard to operate your Windows system, then here is the right place for you.

The goal of MetaKB is described by the below gif:

MetaKeyboard is based on AutoHostKey.

Quick start

• clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/metaseed/metaKeyboard.git

• go to folder metaKeyboard and run metaKeyboard.exe

Description

MetaKB redefined the CapsLock key as a function key:

• If you press it, it act like the ESC key;
• If you hold it and press another key, it acts like another FUNCTION key (like: <kbd>ctrl</kbd>, <kbd>alt</kbd>) for you.

you can press CapsLock+` to toggle between normal CapsLock function and the new function key function.

below we use 'CL' to stands for the redefined CapsLock key

Keyboard Map

arrow keys are defined same as Vim

Direction Keys Mapping Table

| Key | Map | Note | | ---- | ---------- | ---- | | CL+h | Left | | CL+j | Down | | CL+k | Up | | CL+l | Right | | CL+i | Home | | CL+o | End | | CL+u | PageUp | | CL+n | PageDown |

The LAlt(left Alt) key combined with the keys in this table gives you a shortcut: i.e. if you want to press Alt+Up you could just press LAlt+k, no need to press Alt+CL+k together.

Note: the RAlt still act as normal Alt key.

Other Remapped Keys

| Key | Map | Note | | -------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | CL+1..= | F1..F12 | F1 -> CL+1 ... F10 -> CL+0, F11 -> CL+ -, F12 -> CL+= | | CL+Backspace | Delete | | CL+; | Context Menu | show context menu, like mouse right click | | CL+b | pause/Break | | CL+p | PrintScreen | | CL+[ | mouse left button click | | CL+] | mouse right button click |

Function and Software

Frequently Used Function

| Key | Map | Note | | ------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | Win+f | go to FileExplorer's files pane | move focus to files pane of FileExplorer to manage files | | Win+n | go to FileExplorers navigation pane | move focus to navigation pane of FileExplorer to manage files | | CL+\ |copy file full path| when in FileExplorer | | Ctrl+Alt+c | copy and search with search engine | press ctrl+c and search with Google | | Ctrl+Alt+n | create new file in the folder | | Win+v | open virtual machine manager | configurable, default is Hyper-V |

MetaKB related

| Key | Function | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Ctrl+Win+Alt+l | reload the metaKB software, environment variables and path would be updated | | Ctrl+Win+Alt+c | close the metaKB software |

Frequently Used Software

| Key | Map | Note | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | CL+c | open the folder with code editor | configuralbe, default is VSCode | | CL+d | show/hide your word dictionary software | in your favorite dictionary software config the hotkey shift+alt+d to toggle the software, and make sure to config your dictionary software auto start when windows starting. | | CL+e | edit file with configured editor | configurable, default is gvim | | CL+f | search in folder | configurable, default is everything in the software folder | | CL+t | open terminal | configurable, default is Cmder in the software folder | | CL+w | open web explorer and navigate to your searchEngine | configurable, default is Google | | CL+shift+w | open web explorer and navigate to your searchEngineSecondary | configurable, default is Bing | | CL+m s | start screen capture tool | after starting, use the shortcut key config in the software to trigger screen capture. | | CL+m Alt+s | start screen gif recorder | configurable, default is ScreenToGif in the software folder | | CL+m t | open task manager | configurable, default is ProcessExplorer in the software folder | | CL+m r | screen ruler | configurable, default is aruler in the software folder | | CL+m v | open all *.sln files in the folder with visualStudio | configurable |

configurable means could be configured in config.ini file

Tricks

1. in file explorer, find the frequently used button on the Ribbon, and right click, select Add to quick access toolbar, base on the order, you can press Alt+1..to trigger this command. for example, I usually add the checkbox Navigation pane to the quick access bar so I can press Alt+1 to show/hide it.

Development

Debug

to run the index.ahk file your need to install AutoHotkey, and run the follow command in the repository folder:

mklink config.ini .\metaKeyboard\config.ini /H
mklink software .\metaKeyboard\software /J

Other Useful Programs and configuration

1. VSCode with plugins: Settings Sync, vim, metaGo....; configuration file is: GITHUB GIST: https://gist.github.com/metasong/b227db6a892b4c3ec1bb4900bc54977b. after install vscode and install the Settings Sync plugin, and sync settings with the gist file.
2. VisualStudio: the shortcut keys are reconfigured, configuratin is VSCode.vsk in the ./software/VisualStudioShortcut foler. Copy the VSCode.vsk into the folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE or create a symble link point to to the VSCode.vsk pointing to it. and select the VSCode keyboard mapping scheme in your VS options: Environment/Keyboard config page. VS Extensions used: AceJump, Hide Main Menu Hot Commands for Visual Studio, Hot Keys - Keyboard Shortcuts, MixEdit, Resharper Ultimate,Visual Commander, VsVim
3. ClipJump
4. Git for Windows, except git tools, it provides a lot useful tools

Appendix: Windows Useful Shortcuts

Common

| Key | Note | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Alt+Tab | to switch between open apps, and using LAlt+h,j,k or l to select active app. | | Ctrl+Z/Y | Undo/Redo. | | Alt+F4(Alt+CL+4) | Close active app. | | Alt+Space | show system menu, n(miNimize),r(Restore),x(maXimize),c(Close) window | | Win+L | Lock Windows. | | Win+D | Show desktop. | | Win+I |