remapping of ctrl/cmd keys on macos

[jesses-code-adventures]

hello! i'm migrating from iterm2, and am accustomed to being able to switch my ctrl/cmd keys on macos as attached. is this possible to do with the current keybind syntax in the ghostty config? i gave it a try but couldn't replicate the behaviour I have in iterm2 with these settings.

[berdon]

Fwiw, and this isn't a solution to your problem in Ghostty - but you might appreciate an OS remapping via:

hidutil property --set \
        '{"UserKeyMapping": [
                {"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000e0, "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000e3},
                {"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000e3, "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000e0}
        ]}' > /dev/null

Then this works everywhere and you don't have to worry about application support. Note: You would need to set this up to execute anytime you reboot.

[jesses-code-adventures]

I forgot to respond to this, but in my case the OS remapping is not an option as I only use the remap in my terminal application, I appreciate the help though

[jesses-code-adventures]

@berdon thank you! i'll give this a try next time i'm at my computer

[mitchellh]

Converted to a discussion, I like the idea of remapping modifiers and it has come up before. We don't have a way to do this at the Ghostty level. I'm curious how this ends up working in practice so I'll have to do more research.

[jesses-code-adventures]

Have been away over Christmas and New Years, but just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to look into this!

[chenzhiwei]

Hi, it will be great to see remap modifiers feature in Ghostty level.

[gregsexton]

As a quick work around I tried this:

keybind = cmd+a=text:\x1ba
keybind = cmd+b=text:\x1bb
keybind = cmd+c=text:\x1bc
keybind = cmd+d=text:\x1bd
keybind = cmd+e=text:\x1be
keybind = cmd+f=text:\x1bf
keybind = cmd+g=text:\x1bg
keybind = cmd+h=text:\x1bh
keybind = cmd+i=text:\x1bi
keybind = cmd+j=text:\x1bj
keybind = cmd+k=text:\x1bk
keybind = cmd+l=text:\x1bl
keybind = cmd+m=text:\x1bm
keybind = cmd+n=text:\x1bn
keybind = cmd+o=text:\x1bo
keybind = cmd+p=text:\x1bp
keybind = cmd+q=text:\x1bq
keybind = cmd+s=text:\x1bs
keybind = cmd+t=text:\x1bt
keybind = cmd+u=text:\x1bu
keybind = cmd+v=text:\x1bv
keybind = cmd+w=text:\x1bw
keybind = cmd+x=text:\x1bx
keybind = cmd+y=text:\x1by
keybind = cmd+z=text:\x1bz

But there are system shortcuts - Like Cmd-M to minimize the window - that take priority, so only some of these work.

[tedroden]

This works great for the non-system shortcut keys. TYSM.

[colout]

I love test-driving Ghostty, but this is a hard blocker for me adopting.

Unfortunately, I can't use this workaround since cmd+c(my most-used shortcut) is interpreted as "copy" no matter what I do.

If there was a workaround to this (like re-binding or un-binding the system and internal shortcuts), then I could programmatically generate an override for every key combination as I wait for an elegant solution.

I'm totally find with using a hacky workaround for now if it means I can start using Ghostty.

---

Edit: I found a few workarounds that might make Ghostty viable for me to test. I'm putting my workaround here in case this can hold over others while we work out a true fix:

1. "Disable" System Shortcuts - On Mac, you can change the keys for any system menu shorcut in System Settings -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortucts -> App Shortcuts, press + to add an override. Choose Ghostty as the application, add the title of the menu to change (like "Hide Ghostty") and give it some difficult to press shortcut that you'll never hit.

2. Keybinds - I added keybind overrides for all keys. The config below was generated by LLM so there might be some missing or incorrect, but I spot-checked my most-used binds:

keybind = cmd+a=text:\x01
keybind = cmd+b=text:\x02
keybind = cmd+c=text:\x03
keybind = cmd+d=text:\x04
keybind = cmd+e=text:\x05
keybind = cmd+f=text:\x06
keybind = cmd+g=text:\x07
keybind = cmd+h=text:\x08
keybind = cmd+i=text:\x09
keybind = cmd+j=text:\x0A
keybind = cmd+k=text:\x0B
keybind = cmd+l=text:\x0C
keybind = cmd+m=text:\x0D
keybind = cmd+n=text:\x0E
keybind = cmd+o=text:\x0F
keybind = cmd+p=text:\x10
keybind = cmd+q=text:\x11
keybind = cmd+r=text:\x12
keybind = cmd+s=text:\x13
keybind = cmd+t=text:\x14
keybind = cmd+u=text:\x15
keybind = cmd+v=text:\x16
keybind = cmd+w=text:\x17
keybind = cmd+x=text:\x18
keybind = cmd+y=text:\x19
keybind = cmd+z=text:\x1A

keybind = cmd+up=text:\x1B[A
keybind = cmd+down=text:\x1B[B
keybind = cmd+right=text:\x1B[C
keybind = cmd+left=text:\x1B[D
keybind = cmd+home=text:\x1B[H
keybind = cmd+end=text:\x1B[F
keybind = cmd+page_up=text:\x1B[5~
keybind = cmd+page_down=text:\x1B[6~
keybind = cmd+escape=text:\x1B
keybind = cmd+enter=text:\x0D
keybind = cmd+tab=text:\x09
keybind = cmd+backspace=text:\x08

keybind = cmd+f1=text:\x1B[11~
keybind = cmd+f2=text:\x1B[12~
keybind = cmd+f3=text:\x1B[13~
keybind = cmd+f4=text:\x1B[14~
keybind = cmd+f5=text:\x1B[15~
keybind = cmd+f6=text:\x1B[17~
keybind = cmd+f7=text:\x1B[18~
keybind = cmd+f8=text:\x1B[19~
keybind = cmd+f9=text:\x1B[20~
keybind = cmd+f10=text:\x1B[21~
keybind = cmd+f11=text:\x1B[23~
keybind = cmd+f12=text:\x1B[24~

[gregsexton]

If it helps in the interim, these are the keybinds I use with alacritty. This might help get you closer to a full set.

  - { key: A,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1ba"                       }
  - { key: B,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bb"                       }
  - { key: C,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bc"                       }
  - { key: D,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bd"                       }
  - { key: E,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1be"                       }
  - { key: F,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bf"                       }
  - { key: G,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bg"                       }
  - { key: H,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bh"                       }
  - { key: I,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bi"                       }
  - { key: J,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bj"                       }
  - { key: K,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bk"                       }
  - { key: L,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bl"                       }
  - { key: M,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bm"                       }
  - { key: N,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bn"                       }
  - { key: O,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bo"                       }
  - { key: P,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bp"                       }
  - { key: Q,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bq"                       }
  - { key: R,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1br"                       }
  - { key: S,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bs"                       }
  - { key: T,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bt"                       }
  - { key: U,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bu"                       }
  - { key: V,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bv"                       }
  - { key: W,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bw"                       }
  - { key: X,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bx"                       }
  - { key: Y,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1by"                       }
  - { key: Z,         mods: Command,       chars: "\x1bz"                       }
  - { key: Key1,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b1"                       }
  - { key: Key2,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b2"                       }
  - { key: Key3,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b3"                       }
  - { key: Key4,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b4"                       }
  - { key: Key5,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b5"                       }
  - { key: Key6,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b6"                       }
  - { key: Key7,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b7"                       }
  - { key: Key8,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b8"                       }
  - { key: Key9,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b9"                       }
  - { key: Key0,      mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b0"                       }
  - { key: A,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bA"                       }
  - { key: B,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bB"                       }
  - { key: C,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bC"                       }
  - { key: D,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bD"                       }
  - { key: E,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bE"                       }
  - { key: F,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bF"                       }
  - { key: G,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bG"                       }
  - { key: H,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bH"                       }
  - { key: I,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bI"                       }
  - { key: J,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bJ"                       }
  - { key: K,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bK"                       }
  - { key: L,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bL"                       }
  - { key: M,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bM"                       }
  - { key: N,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bN"                       }
  - { key: O,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bO"                       }
  - { key: P,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bP"                       }
  - { key: Q,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bQ"                       }
  - { key: R,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bR"                       }
  - { key: S,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bS"                       }
  - { key: T,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bT"                       }
  - { key: U,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bU"                       }
  - { key: V,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bV"                       }
  - { key: W,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bW"                       }
  - { key: X,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bX"                       }
  - { key: Y,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bY"                       }
  - { key: Z,         mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1bZ"                       }
  - { key: Key1,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b!"                       }
  - { key: Key2,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b@"                       }
  - { key: Key3,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b#"                       }
  - { key: Key4,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b$"                       }
  - { key: Key5,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b%"                       }
  - { key: Key6,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b^"                       }
  - { key: Key7,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b&"                       }
  - { key: Key8,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b*"                       }
  - { key: Key9,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b("                       }
  - { key: Key0,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b)"                       }
  - { key: B,         mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x02"                  }
  - { key: D,         mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x04"                  }
  - { key: F,         mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x06"                  }
  - { key: T,         mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x14"                  }
  - { key: U,         mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x15"                  }
  - { key: Grave,     mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b`"                       }
  - { key: Period,    mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b."                       }
  - { key: Key8,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b*"                       }
  - { key: Key3,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b#"                       }
  - { key: Period,    mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b>"                       }
  - { key: Comma,     mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b<"                       }
  - { key: Minus,     mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b_"                       }
  - { key: Key5,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b%"                       }
  - { key: Key6,      mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b^"                       }
  - { key: Backslash, mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b\\"                      }
  - { key: Backslash, mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b|"                       }
  - { key: Semicolon, mods: Command      , chars: "\x1b;"                       }
  - { key: Semicolon, mods: Command|Shift, chars: "\x1b:"                       }
  - { key: Slash,     mods: Command      , chars: "\x1b/"                       }
  - { key: Q,         mods: Control,       chars: "\x11"                        }
  - { key: Slash,     mods: Control,       chars: "\x1f"                        }
  - { key: Return,    mods: Command,       chars: "\x1b\x0d"                    }

  # these are not representable usually so we use a custom encoding
  # that emacs knows how to decode.
  - { key: Grave, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2a\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Grave, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2a\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Grave, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2a\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Grave, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2a\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Key1, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2b\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: Key1, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2b\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Key1, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2b\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Key1, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2b\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Key2, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Key2, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Key2, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Key2, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Key3, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Key3, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Key3, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Key3, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2c\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Key4, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2d\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: Key4, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2d\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Key4, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2d\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Key4, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2d\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Key5, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Key5, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Key5, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Key5, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Key6, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Key6, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Key6, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Key6, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2e\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Key7, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2f\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: Key7, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2f\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Key7, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2f\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Key7, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x2f\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Key8, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Key8, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Key8, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Key8, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Key9, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Key9, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Key9, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Key9, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x30\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Key0, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x31\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: Key0, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x31\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Key0, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x31\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Key0, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x31\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Minus, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Minus, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Minus, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Minus, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Equals, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Equals, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Equals, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Equals, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x32\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Back, mods: Shift, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x33\x41\x1f" }
  - { key: Back, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x33\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: Back, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x33\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Back, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x33\x45\x1f" }
  - { key: Back, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x33\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Back, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x33\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Tab, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x34\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Tab, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x34\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Tab, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x34\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Tab, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x34\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Q, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x34\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Q, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x34\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: W, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x35\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: W, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x35\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: E, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x36\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: E, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x36\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: R, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x36\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: R, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x36\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: T, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x37\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: T, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x37\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Y, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x38\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Y, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x38\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: U, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x38\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: U, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x38\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: I, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x39\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: I, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x39\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: O, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3a\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: O, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3a\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: P, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3a\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: P, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3a\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: LBracket, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3b\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: LBracket, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3b\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: LBracket, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3b\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: LBracket, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3b\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: RBracket, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: RBracket, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: RBracket, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: RBracket, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Return, mods: Shift, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x61\x1f" }
  - { key: Return, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Return, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Return, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x65\x1f" }
  - { key: Return, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Return, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3c\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: A, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3e\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: A, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3e\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: S, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3e\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: S, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3e\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: D, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3f\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: D, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x3f\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: F, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x40\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: F, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x40\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: G, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x40\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: G, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x40\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: G, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x40\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: H, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x41\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: H, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x41\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: J, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x42\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: J, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x42\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: K, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x42\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: K, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x42\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: L, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x43\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: L, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x43\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Semicolon, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Semicolon, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Semicolon, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Semicolon, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Apostrophe, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Apostrophe, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Apostrophe, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Apostrophe, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x44\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Backslash, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x46\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Backslash, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x46\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Backslash, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x46\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Backslash, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x46\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Z, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x46\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Z, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x46\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: X, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x47\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: X, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x47\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: C, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x48\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: C, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x48\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: V, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x48\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: V, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x48\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: B, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x49\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: B, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x49\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: N, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4a\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: N, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4a\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: M, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4a\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: M, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4a\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Comma, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4b\x42\x1f" }
  - { key: Comma, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4b\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Comma, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4b\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Comma, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4b\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Period, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Period, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Period, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Period, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Slash, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x62\x1f" }
  - { key: Slash, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Slash, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Slash, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x4c\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Space, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x50\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Space, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x50\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Space, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x50\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Space, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x50\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x20\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Shift, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x21\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x22\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x24\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x25\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Apps, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x52\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Up, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x53\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Up, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x53\x44\x1f" }
  - { key: Up, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x53\x45\x1f" }
  - { key: Up, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x53\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Up, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x53\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Down, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: Down, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x24\x1f" }
  - { key: Down, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x25\x1f" }
  - { key: Down, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: Down, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: Left, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: Left, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x64\x1f" }
  - { key: Left, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x65\x1f" }
  - { key: Left, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: Left, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x54\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: Right, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x55\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Right, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x55\x44\x1f" }
  - { key: Right, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x55\x45\x1f" }
  - { key: Right, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x55\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Right, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x55\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: Home, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x57\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: Home, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x57\x44\x1f" }
  - { key: Home, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x57\x45\x1f" }
  - { key: Home, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x57\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: Home, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x57\x47\x1f" }
  - { key: End, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x23\x1f" }
  - { key: End, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x24\x1f" }
  - { key: End, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x25\x1f" }
  - { key: End, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x26\x1f" }
  - { key: End, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x27\x1f" }
  - { key: PageUp, mods: Shift, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x61\x1f" }
  - { key: PageUp, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x63\x1f" }
  - { key: PageUp, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x64\x1f" }
  - { key: PageUp, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x65\x1f" }
  - { key: PageUp, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x66\x1f" }
  - { key: PageUp, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x58\x67\x1f" }
  - { key: PageDown, mods: Shift, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x59\x41\x1f" }
  - { key: PageDown, mods: Shift|Control, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x59\x43\x1f" }
  - { key: PageDown, mods: Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x59\x44\x1f" }
  - { key: PageDown, mods: Shift|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x59\x45\x1f" }
  - { key: PageDown, mods: Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x59\x46\x1f" }
  - { key: PageDown, mods: Shift|Control|Command, chars: "\x1b\x1f\x59\x47\x1f" }

[jesses-code-adventures]

Although these are workable solutions, it feels like it's not quite in line with the low/zero config goal in ghostty and it still seems that a ghostty-level setting would be preferable, imho

[frobware]

It would be helpful to extend this feature to support the Option and Command keys on macOS. This would enable a more “natural” usage of emacs -nw by allowing the Command key to serve as the Meta key. While I currently use cmd-key-happy to achieve this for multiple applications, I resort to it only because those apps lack an inbuilt option to swap keys. For example, as an Alacritty user, I previously modified winit to achieve this functionality, but a more generalised approach for handling modifier keys would be a significant improvement.

[jesses-code-adventures]

Agreed, would be great to see this

[harkabeeparolus]

In case anyone wonders why you might want to remap modifier keys, here's the reason: Historically, PCs followed traditional Unix terminals in making the Control keys significant for frequent UI interaction. The first Macintoshes didn't even have Control keys! It was added later, primarily for uncommon modifiers, secondary mouse clicks, and compatibility. Macs, instead, use the Command ⌘ key for most shortcuts, mirroring the functionality of Ctrl on PCs (e.g., Save is Ctrl+S on PC and Command-S on Mac). As a result, the frequently used Command keys have a prominent location on Mac-only keyboards, just as Control keys are central on PC and Unix keyboards.

On Windows, you'll stay on the Control keys for all shortcuts, and your Terminal emulator will just work. On Mac, you'll be using the Command keys for all OS shortcuts, and then in Terminal emulators you must switch to Control instead. This is a little uncomfortable on Apple keyboards since Control is off to one side, but you can manage. Globally remapping Caps Lock to Control is common for seasoned Mac users. 😊 However, these differences can be especially awkward for users switching regularly or transitioning between Mac and Windows, since you'll have to fight your muscle memory to perform common operations. When using external ("mechanical") keyboards, this becomes even more of a problem, especially ergonomic keyboards where certain keys are much easier to reach than others.

For me, this creates the perfect storm. I work professionally across Mac, Windows, and Linux, and I rely on fancy ergonomic keyboards to keep my hands from hurting. iTerm2's functionality to remap the modifiers only in the Terminal window is crucial, allowing me to have consistent OS and Terminal shortcuts, and work comfortably, despite platform differences.

[jesses-code-adventures]

Thanks for the additional context, I have the same use case as you regarding relying on a fancy ergonomic keyboard and wanting consistent OS/terminal shortcuts.

[mitchellh]

Okay, I'd like to accept this proposal, but lets bikeshed on config.

Given the modifiers are fixed, I propose something like the following:

key-remap = ctrl=super
key-remap = left_control=right_alt

etc. This would only work for modifiers. The configuration style leaves open the possibility of remapping other keys but thats a significantly more challenging effort due to keyboard layouts.

If a non-sided modifier is specified (i.e. ctrl=super) then left is swapped with left and right with right.

I'm also fine initially making key-remap work only for macOS, since I think there will be some challenges with IME on Linux that we need to clean up first. But the configuration should eventually work there so there's no macos- prefix.

Thoughts?

[jesses-code-adventures]

I'm a fan of this approach to the config, especially like the ability to be non-specific when it comes to LHS vs RHS. Others may have more bikeshedding to throw in, but this seems like a logical proposal to me.

[harkabeeparolus]

I believe Macs have the most urgent need for app-specific options to remap modifiers, so I fully support this strategy. And for what it's worth, I also agree with the proposed syntax being reasonable, and future-proof.

[jsphbtst]

Is it irresponsible to say "just ship it" and let's see what happens? Excited for this to drop!

[flurie]

How would this compose with keybind configs? Consider the following scenario:

key-remap = ctrl=super
key-remap = super=ctrl
keybind = super+f=write_screen_file:open

What do we expect to happen here?