How can I make keyboard shortcuts register on key release, rather than on key press?

I want to have shortcuts like in Windows; Super opens the start menu, Super+S opens a search window, Super+E opens Thunar, etc.

I know how to set keyboard shortcuts, but when I set Super to open whiskermenu, whiskermenu also pops up in every other instance of Super+* shortcuts. I think this is because XFCE registers the shortcuts as they come, rather than waiting for simultaneous release (like in Windows).

How do I set that up?

2 Answers

You can achieve it this way:**

1. Install xbindkeys

   sudo apt install xbindkeys

2. Run the command:

   xbindkeys --key

   In the white box that appears, Press your key combination. Example Win + E will return the following :

   "(Scheme function)" m:0x50 + c:26 Mod2+Mod4 + e

   Now copy the last (or last second) line and use it as given below.

   In newer versions before you need to do this, which let you jump the next step:

   Please, create one with 'xbindkeys --defaults > /home/$USER/.xbindkeysrc'.
   or, if you want scheme configuration style,
   with 'xbindkeys --defaults-guile > /home/$USER/.xbindkeysrc.scm'

3. Create a new file .xbindkeysrc in your home Directory

   touch $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

   Open it

   nano $HOME/.xbindkeysrc

   Enter your required command and keys as given below

   "nautilus" release+Mod2+Mod4 + e

   (Note: Don't forget release , Replace "nautilus" with any command.)

   Similarly add all the requires command-key combinations one below the other

4. Now add xbindkeys to xinitrc:

   sudo nano /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

   add xbindkeys to the starting (1st line or before . /etc/X11/Xsession)

Reboot your system and you should get expected behavior

TIP: Make sure you don't set conflicting configurations in xbindkeys and your GUI method provided by your DE

For more examples, man xbindkeys.

You can fix it by install patched XOrg

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nrbrtx/xorg-hotkeys
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y