I don’t have one. If I did, I want change the keycap.
Now… it’s called a meta key https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_key … and I use it exactly as one would on Windows, e.g. Meta-e starts the file explorer … but I added my shortcuts too e.g. :
meta+k for konsole
meta+f for FIP (online French radio, music only, no ads)
meta+F to stop FIP
meta+a to play the series I’m currently watching
meta+A to stop mpv (playing the current series)
meta+o to turn on my office lights
meta+l to turn off those lights
meta+ESC to turn off lights and suspend computer
meta+s for Spectacle to take a screenshot
and I have quite a others I can’t recall right now.
No problem, though I must admit I’m curious about your keyboard as it is quite uncommon to not have one. Are you using an older keyboard that lacks one or one of the “winkeyless” enthusiast mechanical keyboards or maybe a really small form factor keyboard?
On keyboards that lack a physical Meta key, its functionality may be invoked by other keys such as the Windows key or Macintosh’s Option key.[4] However, software often provides another workaround, such as using the Alt key (which does not exist on the Knight keyboard), or using the Esc key as a prefix (e.g., in Emacs). Because of these workarounds, the need for Meta – despite being the most-used additional modifier key – was less than for other modifier keys. It is more common today to use the Windows key to emulate the Super key.
I don’t have a physical keyboard with a Windows key to verify (gave that to a friend who need an ergonomic keyboard few weeks ago) but AFAICT xev or KDE Plasma again return meta when pressed on that key.
My interpretation of “Meta key, its functionality may be invoked by other keys such as the Windows key or Macintosh’s Option key” is that the Windows key is the meta key, isn’t it what it says?
KDE uses “meta” to refer to the Windows key. Emacs uses “meta” to refer to the Alt key. You are correct that GNOME calls the Windows key “Super”.
This causes some confusion, obviously we Linux users don’t want to call it the Windows key, so the best solution is to call the keys “Super” and “Alt”, those are unambiguous.
At first, around 1996, it was common practice to make the Windows key act as Meta. However, because of the existing alternative keys for Meta in Emacs, the reintroduction of a hardware Meta key binding did not prove exceptionally useful. This made Super the next most frequently emulated key of choice, and thus it became the standard assignment for the Windows key under X11.
Most Linux software and documentation calls these keys “Super” keys. However, they are still referred to as KEY_LEFTMETA and KEY_RIGHTMETA in the kernel,[5] and some documentation such as that of KDE Plasma refers to it as just the Meta key.[6][7] “Windows” and ⌘[8] are also used in documentation.
I don’t have one. If I did, I want change the keycap.
Now… it’s called a meta key https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_key … and I use it exactly as one would on Windows, e.g. Meta-e starts the file explorer … but I added my shortcuts too e.g. :
and I have quite a others I can’t recall right now.
As far as I am aware, the “Windows” key is generally mapped as the Super key, not he Meta key.
My bad then, as I mentioned before unfortunately I have no such keyboard available anymore.
No problem, though I must admit I’m curious about your keyboard as it is quite uncommon to not have one. Are you using an older keyboard that lacks one or one of the “winkeyless” enthusiast mechanical keyboards or maybe a really small form factor keyboard?
I’ve used Linux since 1998, and several DEs. I’ve never heard the Windows key referred to as a “meta” key.
Its the super key, the meta key is now Alt IIRC
Not according to Wikipedia (linked to initially already) nor KDE Plasma which I’m using :
The wikipedia page you linked says otherwise.
I don’t have a physical keyboard with a Windows key to verify (gave that to a friend who need an ergonomic keyboard few weeks ago) but AFAICT
xevor KDE Plasma again returnmetawhen pressed on that key.Also ZMK https://zmk.dev/docs/keymaps/list-of-keycodes list GUI as Meta
GUI (Windows / Command / Meta)and QMKLGUI(kc) G(kc), LCMD(kc), LWIN(kc)https://docs.qmk.fm/feature_advanced_keycodesMy interpretation of “Meta key, its functionality may be invoked by other keys such as the Windows key or Macintosh’s Option key” is that the Windows key is the meta key, isn’t it what it says?
KDE uses “meta” to refer to the Windows key. Emacs uses “meta” to refer to the Alt key. You are correct that GNOME calls the Windows key “Super”.
This causes some confusion, obviously we Linux users don’t want to call it the Windows key, so the best solution is to call the keys “Super” and “Alt”, those are unambiguous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_key_(keyboard_button)
Relevant section: