Some OSes (I know at least Linux does) support what's called "two-shift caps lock": if you hit both shifts, together, you get caps-locks. If you hit only one (on either side), you get a normal shift key.<p>This frees up the CapsLock-the-key for whatever you want, <i>and</i> you get to keep CapsLock-the-function. (And, you don't have to "move" it, such as in the "Swap CapsLock and Control" schemes: you get to have normal Control, CapsLock key for whatever you want, <i>and</i> the capslock functionality.)<p>I mapped my CapsLock key to "Level3 shift" at home, and mapped various interesting characters into the homerow, and space. I figured "_" is a word separator, and space bar is for separating words, so Level3+Space = "_". Level3 + the home row is stuff like ()[]{}; things that are normally way out.<p>Not sure how good the layout is, since I'm still trying to get used to it, and old habits die <i>really</i> hard. I was heavily inspired by the Neo keyboard layout[1].<p>[1]: <a href="http://neo-layout.org/index_en.html" rel="nofollow">http://neo-layout.org/index_en.html</a>
Am I the only one who actually uses caps-lock for its intended purpose on a regular basis? I use it pretty much any time I have to type more than two capital letters in a row, which is frequently when I'm programming.
On windows, I have capslock mapped thusly:<p>If pressed and released without another keypress in between, it sends ESC.<p>If pressed in combination with another key, it's CTRL.<p>I haven't found a way to do this dual mapping on OSX, so it's just CTRL there. I use AutoHotKey for this on windows.
This is problematic for Emacs users: You can't put Switch Lang there, you need Control there!<p>However, you could bind this to lcontrol, and get the capslock light to turn on when it goes.<p>Also, am I the only one who at some point rebound ralt to rshift? I've stopped doing it now. I don't know what I was thinking.
I mapped caps lock to ctrl on Windows and to command on MacOS. Using the system wide default shortcuts feels much easier this way, because caps lock is on the same middle row where my fingers usually rest.<p>I got this idea from the custom layout of the HHKB keyboard: <a href="https://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/doc/hhkbp2_basic_layout1500.png" rel="nofollow">https://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/doc/hhkbp2_basic_layout1...</a>
Speaking of multilinguals - note that Swiss people actually <i>need</i> capslock to type things like 'Ö' because if you press SHIFT + 'ö' then you get 'é' on a Swiss layout (well, I guess you could type '¨' first and then 'O', that also assembles to 'Ö'). Gotta accomodate for both German and French. Just a bit of trivia you might not have known.
I use Caps Lock as an extra general-purpose function key (F20), which I can then bind as I please depending on the application.<p>Mapping it as an extra modifier seems a tad unergonomic. Ideally, each modifier key should be located on either side of the keyboard, so that you can always engage it with the opposite hand. To that end, I also remap the Menu key on my MS Natural Keyboard[1] to act as a second Super modifier.<p>Furthermore, since I'm multilingual and need an AltGr modifier on both sides as well, I map the combo Ctrl+Super to act as AltGr. See my US+International XKB keymap[2] should you happen to want a similar setup on Linux.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboards/natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/b2m-00012" rel="nofollow">https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboar...</a><p>[2] <a href="https://gist.github.com/ucs1/fe673a3606442911dbd7d016a3726465" rel="nofollow">https://gist.github.com/ucs1/fe673a3606442911dbd7d016a372646...</a>
Caps_Lock should be mapped to Control_L so you can type it in the home row with less stress to the hand/fingers. (no twisting)<p>Additionally, one of the better changes I made years ago was mapping redundant/useless modifiers to the bucky bits[1] in my ~/.Xmodmap.<p><pre><code> Phys Key | New Modifier Mapping
-----------------------------------
CapsLock | Control
Alt_L | Meta
Alt_R | Alt (mod4)
Win_L | Super (mod3)
Win_R | Hyper (mod5)
</code></pre>
To my surprise, quite a few programs support the higher modifier bits.<p>[1] <a href="http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/B/bucky-bits.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/B/bucky-bits.html</a>
Under windows you don't need to use 3d party apps.<p>Regedit HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method\Hot Keys\Your_Language_IME<p>Set the key modifier to 00 and set the virtual key to the key you want caps lock is 04 iirc.
<a href="https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd375731(v=vs.85).aspx" rel="nofollow">https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd3...</a><p>I think there was also a way to hack it through HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Toggle but I'm not sure if it's used anymore.
I actually think you can take it a step further. I have my caps lock mapped to esc on single press and as opt + control when held but I also use something I call sticky keys that allow me to keep my hands on the keyboard and on the home row at all times.<p>[Here it is and how I use it.](<a href="https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/tree/master/karabiner" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/dotfiles/tree/master/karab...</a>)
As an "academic" touch typer, I use Caps Lock as intended (for typing more than 2 all-caps letters in a row), however since I need that much less frequently than Ctrl, I swap Ctrl and Caps Lock on every computer that I call home. As far as switching between 3 keyboard layouts (dvp, Armenian, Russian), I map that to Option+Command+Space, but now that I think about it there's probably a better combination to be found.
I mapped caps lock to left click and then used eviacam to control the mouse pointer with my face. No more keyboard<->mouse back and forth. Works great!
Well this is just magic. I had set it up to Ctrl+Space since I speak Spanish, English and learning Japanese. I am not fluent enough in Japanese yet, but it becomes a burden when trying to write a website in Spanish.<p>You can just do this instead in Ubuntu: Text Entry Settings => click on "Switch to the next source using" => Caps Lock
I've been doing this for a while. I agree it's the most natural map for a multi-lingual ({en-US, zh-CN, ja-JP} here).<p>AutoHotkey on Windows 10:<p><pre><code> CapsLock::#Space
+CapsLock::+#Space</code></pre>