this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2025
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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!

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day 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)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day 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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 23 hours 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 17 hours 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).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 17 hours 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours 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