keymodes

Description

This patch provides key modes (like in Vim). There are two key modes:

  1. COMMANDMODE: In this mode any key is grabbed and only the registered command keys have any effect.
  2. INSERTMODE: This is the normal key mode, in which the original key bindings of dwm and applications are effective and text can be entered.

With key modes you can use any key binding for window management without risking conflicts with existing key bindings in applications or have a Vim-style dwm.

There are two different patches:

Configuration

  1. Download the favoured patch and apply it according to the general instructions. If you choose vim-keymodes you will have to apply the flextile patch first.
  2. Transfer the changes made by the patch in config.def.h to your config.h, if needed; please see the patch file for details.
  3. Verify the following lines in the aforementioned arrays; the key bindings are set in reference to a german keyboard layout. The entries in the cmdkeys array are defined like those in the original keys array of dwm and take precedence over the key bindings defined in the commands array. The modifier and keysym definitions in the commands array are themselves arrays with four entries, whereas the first entry in the modifier array corresponds to the first entry in the keysym array and so forth. You can find an example configuration [here][dwm-keymodes-vim-config.h].
static Key keys[] = {
	/* modifier             key                 function       argument */
	{ MODKEY,               XK_Escape,          setkeymode,    {.ui = COMMANDMODE} },

static Key cmdkeys[] = {
	/* modifier             keys                function       argument */
	{ 0,                    XK_Escape,          clearcmd,      {0} },
	{ ControlMask,          XK_c,               clearcmd,      {0} },
	{ 0,                    XK_i,               setkeymode,    {.ui = INSERTMODE} },
};
static Command commands[] = {
	/* modifier (4 keys)    keysyms (4 keys)    function       argument */
	...
};

Usage

With this patch dwm starts in COMMANDMODE and you can use the key bindings as defined in the commands array in config.h. Press Escape or CTRL+c to abort a command input and press i (in the default configuration) to enter INSERTMODE and use dwm normally with the key bindings defined in the keys array, navigate in applications and insert text. To get from INSERTMODE to COMMANDMODE press ALT+Escape (in the default configuration).

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