this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2025
23 points (87.1% liked)

Linux

53363 readers
517 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Hey everyone,

as a longtime-Mac user who got used to the typical Mac-keyboard layout and using a Logitech MX Keys (Mac only) I was wondering if there is any chance of adopting the Mac-layout 1:1 on one of my favourite Linux-distros using KDE (desktop PC) without mapping each single key to match the Mac-key?

Is there any base tool I can use for this or any tool I can download to accomplish this?

Thanks in advance!

top 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] snroh@lemm.ee 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

there is, either by manually remapping everything using Plasma's keyboard settings or using one of the many Kinto variants.

advice from someone who made the same switch - don't do it. start adapting and relearning. muscle memory is a pain, but it's tameable. you're not going back, there's no point in retaining useless skill.

[–] SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 4 days ago

I've used Mac keyboard layout successfully on Linux. "Input Remapper" for one beligerent key that refused to work otherwise.

I did not remap command and Ctrl keys, is that what you are referring to? I found learning the DE- keymappings helped me navigate the different DEs better (I used GNOME and KDE) and it was less error prone since some apps would hardcode some keys that were nonesensical as Mac layout.

[–] quaff@lemmy.ca 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Checkout Toshy. This has been a life saver for me.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

do you know of any similar projects in the opposite direction? (ie linux to mac)

[–] SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Does XCode still have Emacs shortcuts? Otherwise I recommend learning the platform specific shortcuts. It gives a much better idea what the platform can do for you.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I use vim; hence the difficulty w remapping the keys and the Mac's belong to my employers.

I would never buy a Mac and I only use Linux so it doesn't make sense to grow accustomed to Mac's quirks; especially so since only every other employer provides Mac's.

[–] SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Oh I see. Sorry I misunderstood your usecase. Then customising XQuartz (Apples X11 Server) or just running a VM with a shared folder seems to be the best option (if your employer allows them).

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

i hadn't thought of that; thanks for the idea!

[–] SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

A Tip: some IT departments allow software from the Mac app store, so I would recommend UTM for easy Linux virtualization . Other apps have better features, but are a little more involved to set up.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

My job requires me to work w KVM/QEMU utilities on x86 architecture and utm is dog slow since I have an m2 MacBook.

Instead I use ssh into X86 servers; hence the keyboard mapping woes

[–] Botzo@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Obviously you should relearn everything. Heck, pick up the Dvorak or Colemak keyboard layout while you're at it!

/s

That toshy thing looks like the right way to go. Wild that this is such a complex issue.

I had to go the other direction (Linux -> apple) for a bit and ended up remapping the caps lock key to command so I could approximate "normal" reflexive (pinky-based) shortcuts. It did sort of simplify copy-pasting in terminals.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I had to go the other direction (Linux -> apple)

same here but permanently since i can only chose between mac and windows for work laptops since leaving the few employers that support linux laptops.

i had to remap the globe/fn key to control since it sits in the control space and i struggle daily with copy/paste and i REALLY MISS the scroll-wheel-click/shift-insert copy/paste; i have to use a context menu for both.

[–] SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

But on Mac if you already selected it, why not drag it to copy? (No mod key in terminal, alt key for all other cases)

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I switch between multiple desktops w one dedicated to the terminal and dragging doesn't seem to work when switching to another desktop

[–] SL3wvmnas@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Oh that's sad. Last version of MacOS I used was 11 or 12, and things like keyboard shortcuts and mouse behaviour stopped working randomly there too. Guess the detoriation of their GUI hasn't slowed down.

For what it's worth I used some drag and drop shelf tool, closed source, a mix of macboard and dropover, can't find it right now.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago

detoriation of their gui is a great way to put it; i've been using mac's on and off for since 2004 and their gui used to be top notch, but it it feels that all the user experience changes that have been foisted upon mac's gui is done so without consideration for their original gui's so now they're in this strange, semi-working state.

[–] whysofurious@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago

Off-topic, but for someone who recently switch to hhkb layout, I find it way more comfortable to activate shortcuts with caps-lock (Ctrl in hhkb) pinky rather than with regular command.