Emacs: Xah Fly Keys

xah-fly-keys is more efficient than vim, or any keybinding set in history.

xah-fly-keys.el is a modal editing mode for emacs, like vi, but the design of key/command choice is based on command frequency statistics and ease-of-key score. Most frequently used commands have most easy keys.

If you have hand pain from using emacs, consider using xah-fly-keys. Never need to press Ctrl+x and never need to press Meta anymore.

Video Intro

If you like to watch a video intro, here it is.

Download

Download at https://github.com/xahlee/xah-fly-keys

Also on MELPA http://melpa.org/#/xah-fly-keys

MELPA Install

[see Emacs: How to Install Packages Using ELPA, MELPA]

After you installed from MELPA, put the following in your init:

(require 'xah-fly-keys)

(xah-fly-keys-set-layout 'qwerty) ; required

;; possible layout values:

;; 'azerty
;; 'azerty-be
;; 'colemak
;; 'colemak-mod-dh
;; 'dvorak
;; 'programer-dvorak
;; 'qwerty
;; 'qwerty-abnt
;; 'qwerty-no (qwerty Norwegian)
;; 'qwertz
;; 'workman
;; 'norman

(xah-fly-keys 1)

Manual Install

Put the file xah-fly-keys.el in ~/.emacs.d/lisp/

Put the following in your emacs init:

(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/lisp/")

(require 'xah-fly-keys)

(xah-fly-keys-set-layout 'qwerty) ; required

;; possible layout values:

;; 'azerty
;; 'azerty-be
;; 'colemak
;; 'colemak-mod-dh
;; 'dvorak
;; 'programer-dvorak
;; 'qwerty
;; 'qwerty-abnt
;; 'qwerty-no (qwerty Norwegian)
;; 'qwertz
;; 'workman
;; 'norman

(xah-fly-keys 1)

What Does Command Mode Do?

When in command mode:

• Right hand letter keys are moving cursor, in general. For example, i j k l , are arrows.
• Left hand letter keys are deleting/modifying text.

Key to Activate Command Mode

The command to activate command mode is Alt+x xah-fly-command-mode-activate .

By default, it has the following keys:

Alt+Space or Home or F8 or ▤Menu (the menu key is the key on Microsoft keyboards, usually besides right Ctrl)

Command Mode Visual Indicator

• When in command mode, the cursor shape is a black rectangle ▮ (won't work in some text terminal).
• When in command mode, the first character in emacs status bar (aka mode line) displays capital C.

Insert Mode

When in insert mode, keys insert characters. (or, whatever a letter key does in the current major mode. For example, in dired, m marks a file.)

Key to Activate Insert Mode

The command to activate insert mode is Alt+x xah-fly-insert-mode-activate.

When in command mode, f activates insertion mode.

When in command mode, Space Space also activates insertion mode.

Insert Mode Visual Indicator

• When in insert mode, the cursor shape is a i-beam ⌶. (won't work in some text terminal)
• When in insert mode, the first character in emacs status bar (aka mode line) displays capital I.

Leader Key for Commands

You NEVER need to press Ctrl+x.

For example,

• Ctrl+x b (switch-to-buffer) is Space f
• Ctrl+x Ctrl+f (find-file) is Space i e
• Ctrl+x 1 (delete-other-windows) is 3 while in command mode.

The first key in a key sequence we call it the “leader key”. For example, the Space is the leader key in Space f.

When in command mode, the Space is a leader key.

Globally, the leader key is the F9 key. For example, F9 f is switch-to-buffer. No need to switch to command mode first.

Here's example of frequently used ones.

• Space Space → xah-fly-insert-mode-activate
• Space Enter → execute-extended-command
• Space f → switch-to-buffer
• Space h → beginning-of-buffer
• Space n → end-of-buffer
• Space r → query-replace
• Space k r → query-replace-regexp

There are about 200 commands with leader key sequence. Most frequently used commands have 2 keys Other commands have 3 keys. Some rarely used have 4.

Use Which-Key-mode to Help Learn Leader Sequence

When learning xah-fly-keys, i recommend using which-key at https://github.com/justbur/emacs-which-key

With which-key on, when you press a leader key, subsequent keys and commands are displayed.

Emac's M-x

When in command mode:

• a → execute-extended-command.
• Space Return → execute-extended-command.

NEVER Need to Press Meta

Any emacs command that has a Meta keybinding also have a keybinding without Meta in xah-fly-keys.

For example:

• Alt+f (forward-word) is o while in command mode.
• Alt+% (query-replace) is Space r while in command mode.

To find the key, Alt+x describe-key, then press the meta key combination. Emacs will print all its keybinding.

Standard Control Key Shortcuts

The following standard keys are supported by default. (they can be disabled.)

• Ctrl+Tab → xah-next-user-buffer
• Ctrl+Shift+Tab → xah-previous-user-buffer
• Ctrl+v → Paste. yank
• Ctrl+w → xah-close-current-buffer
• Ctrl+z → undo
• Ctrl+n → xah-new-empty-buffer
• Ctrl+o → open. find-file
• Ctrl+s → save-buffer
• Ctrl+Shift+s → Save As. write-file
• Ctrl+Shift+t → xah-open-last-closed
• Ctrl++ → zoom-in. text-scale-increase
• Ctrl+- → zoom-out. text-scale-decrease

It is not necessary to use these key shortcuts. These commands all have keys that do not need Ctrl.

The only time you need to press Ctrl key are:

• Ctrl+c for major mode commands.
• Ctrl+g for cancel.
• Ctrl+q for quoted-insert.
• Ctrl+h for help.

isearch

When in command mode, n starts isearch-forward.

When in isearch:

• Ctrl+y to paste.
• left/right arrow keys ← → do search backward/forward.
• up/down arrow keys ↑ ↓ do previous/next search history.
• Return exit isearch and leave cursor at the current location.
• Ctrl+g exit isearch and leave cursor at original location.

Dired Mode, Org Mode, Single Keys

In plain GNU Emacs, in some modes, typing a letter key does not insert letter, but runs a special command. For example, in dired, m for mark, u for unmark.

With xah-fly-keys, when in insert mode, typing letter key will do whatever of that mode's commands.

Xah Fly Keys Tutorial

Emacs: Xah Fly Keys Tutorial

Customization

Emacs: Xah Fly Keys Customization

Batman Keyboards

xah-fly-keys is designed for any keyboard. I made sure it works well for • normal PC keyboards, • Apple Keyboards ⌨, • Laptop Keyboards, and works well in both text terminal or graphical user interface.

If you have a batman keyboard, much merrier.

Here's suggested optimal configuration.

Kinesis/Ergodox layout for xah-fly-keys

Gergo Keyboard, xah fly keys layout at Gergo Keyboard

xah-fly-keys with Ultimate Hacking Keyboard

xah-fly-keys with Truly Ergonomic Keyboard

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it compare to ergoemacs-mode?

ergoemacs-mode remaps the most frequently used emacs commands to use Alt+key, with key choice based on frequency of command call.

ergoemacs-mode is part of FSF GNU Emacs, in ELPA repository. (but you should probably download the version from MELPA, because it's usually more up-to-date.)

If you don't like modal ways, I recommend ergoemacs-mode.

https://ergoemacs.github.io/ (ergoemacs-mode is lead by Matthew Fidler.)

Chat Forum

• very active: xahlee club discord
• not very active: https://www.reddit.com/r/xahflykeys/ , created the subreddit on 2018-10-07. Post your questions, answers, experiences, wishlist, comparisions, criticisms, or your blogs about it there.

History

Emacs: Xah Fly Keys History

See also: on vi Keybinding vs Emacs Keybinding

Testimonial

Xah Fly Keys Testimonial