Personally nothing but when I look at it I wonder if the big bang could actually have been a white hole.
Same as I do on Windows. When I want to open an application I press it and type in the name. For example: Windows, C, M, D, Enter (I type CMD even on Linux).
As yet another modifier key. I use XFCE, so if I bind it to the applications menu, the applications menu will also pop up every time I use any other keybinding involving the Super key, which is less than ideal.
I don’t know how controversial this would be, I wouldn’t mind making it like the command key in MacOS either.
modifier for window manager nav and general OS controls like
wofi/rofiThe “Windows” key is just called “Meta” key in Linux. It’s used for hotkeys, especially stuff that has to do with window management. I also set a simple press on it without other keys, which would open up “krunner” (to search or run apps).
KDE mostly calls it Meta, GNOME calls it “Super”.
I’ve also seen GUI used (e.g. by QMK)
Right, I completely forgot about “Super”. It might even be the more common term.
This is the only thing I thank Microsoft for. Thanks for giving us this useful shortcut key. (Use it for almost every shortcut of my desktop btw)
by holding it i can grab a window anywhere to drag it
Oh, yeah, and holding the right mouse and dragging to resize the window.
Hold super and right-click a window to resize it. Ymmv
Just general command key for shortcuts?
It is probably my most pressed button because of this, also i changed the keycap to eye of horus.
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.
Its the super key, the meta key is now Alt IIRC
Relevant section:
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.
Not according to Wikipedia (linked to initially already) nor KDE Plasma which I’m using :
The wikipedia page you linked says otherwise.
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
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.
I’ve used Linux since 1998, and several DEs. I’ve never heard the Windows key referred to as a “meta” key.
Compose key
I use “PrintScreen” for that …
how many times have you torn a muscle attached to your right pinky?
One-handed locking my PC as I leave my desk with Windows-L.
The default for Gnome. It’s a really useful app switcher.
Came here to say this. Basically, the same way it’s used in Windows. I hit the key, type a few characters and I launch the app I seek.
Exactly. I love Gnome for this.
Mostly the same as Windows, ie for opening the application launcher menu, as well as for a variety of global shortcuts.
Left button for global shortcuts, right button for Compose
I use it as a modifier key for all of the shortcuts I create since nothing uses it by default.
It’s my Super key. It’s used for like everything in my DE (Hyprland).
