A thoroughly annotated example on keyboard remapping with evdev/uinput.

example_remap.py

#!/usr/bin/python3

# CC0, originally written by t184256.

# This is an example Python program for Linux that remaps a keyboard.
# The events (key presses releases and repeats), are captured with evdev,
# and then injected back with uinput.

# This approach should work in X, Wayland, anywhere!

# Also it is not limited to keyboards, may be adapted to any input devices.

# The program should be easily portable to other languages or extendable to
# run really any code in 'macros', e.g., fetching and typing current weather.

# The ones eager to do it in C can take a look at (overengineered) caps2esc:
# https://github.com/oblitum/caps2esc


# Import necessary libraries.
import atexit
# You need to install evdev with a package manager or pip3.
import evdev  # (sudo pip3 install evdev)


# Define an example dictionary describing the remaps.
REMAP_TABLE = {
    # Let's swap A and B...
    evdev.ecodes.KEY_A: evdev.ecodes.KEY_B,
    evdev.ecodes.KEY_B: evdev.ecodes.KEY_A,
    # ... and make the right Shift into a second Space.
    evdev.ecodes.KEY_RIGHTSHIFT: evdev.ecodes.KEY_SPACE,
    # We'll also remap CapsLock to Control when held ...
    evdev.ecodes.KEY_CAPSLOCK: evdev.ecodes.KEY_LEFTCTRL,
    # ... but to Esc when pressed solo, xcape style! See below.
}
# The names can be found with evtest or in evdev docs.


# The keyboard name we will intercept the events for. Obtainable with evtest.
MATCH = 'AT Translated Set 2 keyboard'
# Find all input devices.
devices = [evdev.InputDevice(fn) for fn in evdev.list_devices()]
# Limit the list to those containing MATCH and pick the first one.
kbd = [d for d in devices if MATCH in d.name][0]
atexit.register(kbd.ungrab)  # Don't forget to ungrab the keyboard on exit!
kbd.grab()  # Grab, i.e. prevent the keyboard from emitting original events.


soloing_caps = False  # A flag needed for CapsLock example later.

# Create a new keyboard mimicking the original one.
with evdev.UInput.from_device(kbd, name='kbdremap') as ui:
    for ev in kbd.read_loop():  # Read events from original keyboard.
        if ev.type == evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY:  # Process key events.
            if ev.code == evdev.ecodes.KEY_PAUSE and ev.value == 1:
                # Exit on pressing PAUSE.
                # Useful if that is your only keyboard. =)
                # Also if you bind that script to PAUSE, it'll be a toggle.
                break
            elif ev.code in REMAP_TABLE:
                # Lookup the key we want to press/release instead...
                remapped_code = REMAP_TABLE[ev.code]
                # And do it.
                ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, remapped_code, ev.value)
                # Also, remap a 'solo CapsLock' into an Escape as promised.
                if ev.code == evdev.ecodes.KEY_CAPSLOCK and ev.value == 0:
                    if soloing_caps:
                        # Single-press Escape.
                        ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, evdev.ecodes.KEY_ESC, 1)
                        ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, evdev.ecodes.KEY_ESC, 0)
            else:
                # Passthrough other key events unmodified.
                ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, ev.code, ev.value)
            # If we just pressed (or held) CapsLock, remember it.
            # Other keys will reset this flag.
            soloing_caps = (ev.code == evdev.ecodes.KEY_CAPSLOCK and ev.value)
        else:
            # Passthrough other events unmodified (e.g. SYNs).
            ui.write(ev.type, ev.code, ev.value)

@parkerlreed: 1) sure, you can use anything, you'll just be bound to X with xtest 2) did I understand correctly that the keyboard has hardware-generated repeats, you strip them, but something else down the line adds software-generated ones? Maybe all you need is a simple xset r rate ... or an equivalent in your DE/compositor settings.

The xset rate sets a hard rate and works but still doesn't respect the raw evdev rate. It's always constant.

X11/libinput itself is capping it at whatever is set.

And yeah I know it's less agnostic at that point. I've been poking at xtest/xlib without any luck. I'm sure this can be done but still trying to find out how.

Also with your script I believe it's reading at the evdev rate which is great, but python-evdev creating the uinput node is just passing back into libinput which negates everything as I mentioned. Yeah the keyboard itself has it's own rate in hardware which is certainly odd. I don't think many if any newer hardware does this. I'm using an AT keyboard passively converted to PS/2.

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Focus_FK-5001

The keyboard can switch on the fly what rate sends, but the software end (X11/libinput) is basically acting as a bottleneck at that point. This is why I'm attempting to use this to bypass that completely. python-xlib is newer and has a package and python-xtest is older and does not but seems more likely to work. I'll have to mess around and see what I can come up with.

Example of the raw events https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/318262911846055936/647244328904949760/simplescreenrecorder-2019-11-21_20.17.13.mp4

Is it possible to remap a key to a Unicode code point or a sequence of (UTF-8-encoded) bytes?

@hacksterous

Is it possible to remap a key to a Unicode code point or a sequence of (UTF-8-encoded) bytes?

You can mapping input events to executing arbitrary python code. So, if you figure out how to input these using python, then sure.

Hey, this works like a charm, thanks! Is it possible to map a key to a combination of keys (like A to Shift+A)? If yes, how?

Hey, this works like a charm, thanks! Is it possible to map a key to a combination of keys (like A to Shift+A)? If yes, how?

The way you press them on your keyboard. So, something like

ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, evdev.ecodes.KEY_RIGHTSHIFT, 1)
ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, evdev.ecodes.KEY_A, 1)
ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_SYN, evdev.ecodes.SYN_REPORT, 0)  # not sure if needed, may work without it
ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, evdev.ecodes.KEY_A, 0)
ui.write(evdev.ecodes.EV_KEY, evdev.ecodes.KEY_RIGHTSHIFT, 0)