i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

i3 FAQ - Individual question feedhttps://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:01:43 +0000Why does the default config use jkl; instead of hjkl?https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/Many applications mimic the VI in that they use hjkl for movement, but i3 uses jkl; (shifted by one to the right). What’s the reason?Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:04:41 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/Answer by Michael for Many applications mimic the VI in that they use hjkl for movement, but i3 uses jkl; (shifted by one to the right). What’s the reason? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?answer=705#post-id-705i3 uses jkl; because these keys make up the "home row" underneath your right hand when touch typing. That is, your fingers should be in that position anyway, so you don’t need to move them when switching windows. Note that hjkl was most likely chosen just for historic reasons, not for ergonomic reasons: http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-uses-hjkl-as-arrow-keys/ Therefore, i3’s choice is more ergonomic, IMO. Also, if you really want to change them, it is really simple, and gives you a good reason to dive into i3’s configuration file :-).Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:07:04 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?answer=705#post-id-705Comment by Michael for i3 uses jkl; because these keys make up the "home row" underneath your right hand when touch typing. That is, your fingers should be in that position anyway, so you don’t need to move them when switching windows. Note that hjkl was most likely chosen just for historic reasons, not for ergonomic reasons: <a href="http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-uses-hjkl-as-arrow-keys/">http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-...</a> Therefore, i3’s choice is more ergonomic, IMO. Also, if you really want to change them, it is really simple, and gives you a good reason to dive into i3’s configuration file :-). https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?comment=706#comment-706As an aside, I personally don’t use hjkl anywhere, but instead use the arrow keys on level 4 of http://www.neo-layout.org/ (an alternative keyboard layout optimized for ergonomics).Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:07:39 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?comment=706#comment-706Comment by rsidd for i3 uses jkl; because these keys make up the "home row" underneath your right hand when touch typing. That is, your fingers should be in that position anyway, so you don’t need to move them when switching windows. Note that hjkl was most likely chosen just for historic reasons, not for ergonomic reasons: <a href="http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-uses-hjkl-as-arrow-keys/">http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-...</a> Therefore, i3’s choice is more ergonomic, IMO. Also, if you really want to change them, it is really simple, and gives you a good reason to dive into i3’s configuration file :-). https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?comment=889#comment-889i3's jkl; is ergonomic for qwerty keyboard users, but many people use other layouts like qwertz (Germany) or azerty (France). In all those layouts "hjkl" works (those keys are in the same locations as on US-qwerty. But it is indeed easy to change.Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:29:46 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?comment=889#comment-889Comment by Michael for i3 uses jkl; because these keys make up the "home row" underneath your right hand when touch typing. That is, your fingers should be in that position anyway, so you don’t need to move them when switching windows. Note that hjkl was most likely chosen just for historic reasons, not for ergonomic reasons: <a href="http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-uses-hjkl-as-arrow-keys/">http://www.catonmat.net/blog/why-vim-...</a> Therefore, i3’s choice is more ergonomic, IMO. Also, if you really want to change them, it is really simple, and gives you a good reason to dive into i3’s configuration file :-). https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?comment=890#comment-890@rsidd: i3-config-wizard (launched on first start of i3) generates a config file which uses the key positions of jkl;, no matter how these keys are labeled, so your point is moot :)Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:01:43 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?comment=890#comment-890Answer by rsidd for Many applications mimic the VI in that they use hjkl for movement, but i3 uses jkl; (shifted by one to the right). What’s the reason? https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?answer=888#post-id-888i3's jkl; is ergonomic for qwerty keyboard users, but many people use other layouts like qwertz (Germany) or azerty (France). In all those layouts "hjkl" works (those keys are in the same locations as on US-qwerty) Meanwhile, most people who are likely to use i3 are likely to be used to vim keybindings anyway. So I'd vote for hjkl as the default -- but it is true that changing it is easy (that's the first thing I did, I've now been using i3 for a week).Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:25:56 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/704/why-does-the-default-config-use-jkl-instead-of-hjkl/?answer=888#post-id-888