Linux (Fedora/GNOME) Shavian Keyboard Setup

README.md

Summary

This document illustrates how to set up a Shavian keyboard on a Linux system without installing any new software, integrating it with the desktop environment. This will probably work on any modern linux variant, however it was developed and tested on Fedora Silverblue 40 with a GNOME desktop. This process involves user configuration rather than system wide configuration.

The keyboard implemented has a layout identical to the Shaw Imperial keyboard listed on https://shavian.info/keyboards/.

Process

1. mkdir -p $HOME/.config/xkb/{rules,symbols}
2. Put the file named shavian in the $HOME/.config/xkb/symbols directory
3. Put the file named evdev.xml in the $HOME/.config/xkb/rules directory
4. Open the activity bar and search for "keyboard" (this opens the settings dialog and chooses "Keyboard")
5. Click on "Add Input Source..."
6. Click on the three vertical dots at the bottom (for more choices)
7. In the search box type Shaw and click on "Other"
8. Click on "Shaw Imperial".

You should now see two input sources in the list. Close your windows and log out/log back in.

When you log in again, there should be a selector in the upper right hand corner next to the network/sound/power icons. Use the dropdown under the selector to pick which keyboard layout you would like to use.

In the Settings -> Keyboard window, you have the opportunity to select whether the entire system switches to the selected mapping, or whether each window can individually be associated with its own keyboard mapping.

Verify

From the Settings -> Keyboard window, if you click the three vertical dots next to the Shaw Imperial input source, you will be offered the option to "View Keyboard Layout". This will open a window that will show you which keys are mapped to which symbols. You can click on the SHIFT key (in the layout window) to see what symbols are mapped to the capital keys.

evdev.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE xkbConfigRegistry SYSTEM "xkb.dtd">
<xkbConfigRegistry version="1.1">
  <layoutList>
    <layout>
      <configItem>
        <name>shavian</name>
        <shortDescription>shavian</shortDescription>
        <description>Shaw Imperial</description>
      </configItem>
    </layout>
  </layoutList>
</xkbConfigRegistry>

shavian

default partial alphanumeric_keys
xkb_symbols "basic" {
    include "us(basic)"
    name[Group1]= "Shaw Imperial";

    key <TLDE>  {[ U00B7,           grave]}; // NAMER DOT

    key <AE01>  {[ U10476,          1]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER OIL
    key <AE02>  {[ U1046C,          2]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER OUT
    key <AE03>  {[ U1046B,          3]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER WOOL
    key <AE04>  {[ U1045C,          4]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER GAG
    key <AE05>  {[ U10456,          5]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER SURE
    key <AE06>  {[ U10457,          6]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER CHURCH
    key <AE07>  {[ U10459,          7]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER HUNG
    key <AE08>  {[ U10458,          8]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER YEA
    key <AE09>  {[ U10461,          9]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER JUDGE
    key <AE10>  {[ U10454,          0]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER THIGH

    key <AD01>	{[ U1046D,	    U10478]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER AH <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER ARE
    key <AD02>	{[ U10477,	    U10479]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER AWE <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER OR
    key <AD03>	{[ U10475,          U1047F]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER OOZE <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER YEW
    key <AD04>	{[ U10471, 	    U1047A]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER AGE <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER AIR
    key <AD05>	{[ U10473,	    U1047B]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER UP <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER ERR
    key <AD06>	{[ U10453,	    yen]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER FEE 
    key <AD07>	{[ U1045E,	    EuroSign]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER THEY
    key <AD08>	{[ U10464,	    question]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER LOLL
    key <AD09>	{[ U10465,	    degree]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER MIME
    key <AD10>	{[ U10452,	    percent]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER KICK
    key <AD11>	{[ U10462,          semicolon]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER WOE
    key <AD12>	{[ U10463,          apostrophe]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER HA-HA

    key <AC01>	{[ U1046A,	    at]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER ON
    key <AC02>	{[ U10468,	    asterisk]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER ASH
    key <AC03>	{[ U10466,	    dollar]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER IF
    key <AC04>	{[ U10469,	    U1047C]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER ADO <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER ARRAY
    key <AC05>	{[ U10467,	    U00A3]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER EGG <SHIFT> Great Britain Pound
    key <AC06>	{[ U10450,	    numbersign]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER PEEP
    key <AC07>	{[ U1046F,	    ellipsis]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER NUN
    key <AC08>	{[ U10451,	    guillemotleft]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER TOT
    key <AC09>	{[ U1046E,	    guillemotright]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER ROAR
    key <AC10>	{[ U10455,          colon]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER SO
    key <AC11>	{[ U1045B,          quotedbl]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER DEAD
    key <BKSL>	{[ U10460,          backslash]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER MEASURE

    key <AB01>	{[ U1047E,	    U1047D]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER IAN <SHIFT> SHAVIAN LETTER EAR
    key <AB02>	{[ U10472,	    exclam]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER ICE
    key <AB03>	{[ U10474,	    asciicircum]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER OAK
    key <AB04>	{[ U10470,	    parenleft]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER EAT
    key <AB05>	{[ U1045A,	    parenright]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER BIB
    key <AB06>	{[ U1045D,	    endash]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER VOW
    key <AB07>	{[ U1045F,	    emdash]}; // SHAVIAN LETTER ZOO
};