Intentio

Config files for a shortcut system based on Karabiner (via Goku), Yabai, and Übersicht (via Nero.)

Intentio is a layer-based shortcut system for macOS that leverages Karabiner to launch applications quickly, control Yabai tiling window manager, and standardize some media keys. In addition, Yabai's state is monitored with Nero, an Übersicht widget.

Table of contents

• Requirements
• Installation
• Components
• Layers
  • Windows layer
  • Spaces layer
  • Media layer
  • Launch layer
• Monitoring
• License
• Contacts

Requirements

• Goku: EDN → JSON translator for Karabiner
• Karabiner: keyboard customizer
• Yabai: tiling window manager
• Übersicht: desktop widgets
• Nero: Übersicht widget to monitor the state of Yabai

Familiarizing with each project before diving deep into the configuration files is encouraged.

Installation

Intentio is a highly customized configuration that doesn't have to be fully embraced: cloning the repo and symlinking all current files to the .config folder is not advised, as you'd have to stick to my workflow.

Just pick the parts you find relevant, copy/paste particular snippets, or adapt the logic of this project to your own needs!

Components

Intentio offers:

• A karabiner.edn (translated to a karabiner.json via Goku) that simplify the creation of rules for Karabiner
• A yabairc config file for Yabai
• A collection of shell scripts (shscripts folder) to handle complex actions for Yabai, and the refresh of Nero

Layers

Rather than relying on complex shortcuts and polluting modifiers' actions, Intentio leverages the concept of layers to separate concerns as much as possible. Layers are defined in Goku's EDN file and activated by pressing a trigger key.

All images below have been created with Keyboard Layout Editor.

Windows layer

The windows layer focuses on triggering Yabai window-related commands and, in a few cases, some custom shell scripts.

Trigger	Hotkey	Action	Target
z	1 2 .. 0	Move window to space (n)	Yabai
z	hyphen	Move window to new space (without focus)	Yabai
z	equal_sign	Move window to new space (with focus)	Yabai
z	delete_or_backspace	Toggle window tiling (float/tiled)	Yabai
z	w a s d	Swap window position (north/west/south/east)	Yabai
z	t f g h	Warp window insertion (north/west/south/east)	Yabai
z	i j k l	Resize window region (north/west/south/east)	Yabai
z	p	Float and resize window to center/rectangular	resize-center-mini.sh
z	open_bracket	Float and resize window to left/column	resize-left-col.sh
z	close_bracket	Float and resize window to right/column	resize-right-col.sh
z	backslash	Float and resize window to fullscreen (non-native)	resize-fullscreen.sh
z	return_or_enter	Re-focus most recent active window	Yabai
z	slash	Toggle float + sticky + topmost mode	toggle-sticky.sh
z	up_arrow	Focus window (north)	Yabai
z	down_arrow	Focus window (south)	Yabai
z	left_arrow	Focus window (west)	Yabai
z	right_arrow	Focus window (east)	Yabai
z	spacebar	Flash focused window	flash-focused.sh

Spaces layer

The spaces layer focuses on triggering Yabai space-related commands and, in a few cases, some custom shell scripts.

Trigger	Hotkey	Action	Target
x	1 2 .. 0	Focus space (n)	Yabai
x	hyphen	Create new space	Yabai
x	equal_sign	Destroy current space	focus-and-destroy.sh
x	delete_or_backspace	Change space layout (floating - flt)	Yabai
x	backslash	Change space layout (tiled - bsp)	Yabai
x	open_bracket	Move space (left)	Yabai
x	close_bracket	Move space (right)	Yabai
x	return_or_enter	Re-focus most recent active space	Yabai
x	m	Rotate space layout (90deg)	Yabai
x	comma	Flip space layout (horizontal)	Yabai
x	period	Flip space layout (vertical)	Yabai
x	slash	Re-balance space layout	Yabai
x	left_arrow	Focus space (previous)	Yabai
x	right_arrow	Focus space (next)	Yabai
x	up_arrow	Trigger Mission Control	Yabai
x	down_arrow	Trigger Show Desktop	Yabai

Media layer

The media layer controls brightness, audio, and Do Not Disturb mode. The value of this is keeping the shortcuts consistent across input types, as different brands of mechanical keyboards handle those controls differently than others.

Trigger	Hotkey	Action	Target
cmd	open_bracket	Previous media track	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	close_bracket	Next media track	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	backslash	Play/pause current track	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	semicolon	Decrease brightness (in small increments)	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	quote	Increase brightness (in small increments)	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	return_or_enter	Toggle Do Not Disturb mode	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	comma	Decrease volume (in small increments)	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	period	Increase volume (in small increments)	macOS (via custom shortcut)
cmd	slash	Mute volume	macOS (via custom shortcut)

Note: the cmd trigger is labeled as such not to confuse things. In reality, cmd (right_alt on Pok3r or right_gui on Keychron) invokes a hyper key. Make sure to remap the key close to the right side of spacebar int the keyboard profile at the top of Goku config.

Launch layer

The launch layer bypasses tools such as Raycast or Alfred to accelerate the opening of applications used very frequently.

Trigger	Hotkey	Action	Target
slash	a	"Apple" Music	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	b	"Browser" Safari	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	c	Code	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	f	Figma	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	i	iTerm	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	m	Mail	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	o	Obsidian	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	s	Slack	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	t	Things	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	comma	macOS Settings	macOS (via "open -a")
slash	spacebar	Finder	macOS (via "open -a")

Monitoring

Intentio leverages Nero, a Übersicht widget to monitor the state of Yabai tiling window manager.

Nero do not refresh periodically to preserve battery life and stay as reactive as possible; the updating of the widget is triggered by Karabiner or Yabai itself by listening to specific events (or signals).

As an overview:

• Space and window focus: Yabai → Shell script → Nero
• Window creation: Yabai → Shell script → Nero
• Space and space layout manipulation: Karabiner → Shell script → Nero
• Window tiling: Karabiner → Shell script → Nero

For a more granular understanding of the events triggering a refresh, search for refresh-uebersicht.sh in the yabairc or karabiner.kdn files.

License

Contacts

• Mastodon: @lucaorio
• Website: lucaorio.com