Quick Tut for Adding a Custom Keyboard Layout to Linux (XKB)
Shimin Guo mentioned the BEAKL keyboard layout in a recent article on Medium – I was unaware of this layout myself but more importantly Shimin highlighted the process by which to add a custom BEAKL layout to Linux’s XKB configuration – basically a quick tutorial for creating custom layouts 🙂
Discovered https://www.shenafu.com/code/keyboard/beakl/index.php. It addresses all the pain points I had when using dvorak, namely awkward locations for symbols when coding and for abbreviated Linux commands like ls. I strongly agree with its philosophy that strong fingers should do more work.
It’s a little tricky to install this layout in Linux, because it’s not pre-installed like dvorak. After some search I figured out what files to change to add the new layout.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
