Starting Kanata messes with my external mouse

[drewlwhitney]

Hello!

I'm on Linux (KDE Neon) and I am using a basic Kanata setup to test it. I set Kanata up using the steps provided in the docs: https://github.com/jtroo/kanata/wiki/Avoid-using-sudo-on-Linux.

My kanata.kbd file (and the separate file I'm using for aliases) are as follows:

kanata.kbd

;; I have no idea what I'm doing
(include alias.kbd)

(defcfg
  #|
  This configuration will process all keys pressed inside of kanata, even if
  they are not mapped in defsrc. That way you don't have to specify all of them.
  |#
  process-unmapped-keys yes
)

(defsrc
                                                                   bspc
  tab  q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]    \
  caps a    s    d    f    g    h    j    k    l    ;    '    ret
  lsft z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    /    rsft
  lctl lmet lalt           spc            ralt rmet rctl
)

(deflayer base
                                                                   bspc
  tab  q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]    \
  XX   a    s    d    f    g    h    j    k    l    ;    '    ret
  lsft z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    /    rsft
  lctl lmet lalt           @spc-fn          ralt rmet rctl
)

(deflayer nav
                                                                   bspc
  tab  q    w    e    r    t    y    u    i    o    p    [    ]    \
  XX   a    s    d    f    g    h    left down up   rght '    ret
  lsft z    x    c    v    b    n    m    ,    .    /    rsft
  lctl lmet lalt           @spc-fn          ralt rmet rctl
)

;; there is a feature called "fork" that checks whether a modifier is active

alias.kbd

;; action for navigation/symbols layer momentary toggle
(defalias
    mo-nav (layer-while-held nav)
)

;; tap-hold for space and navigation/symbols layer
(defalias
    spc-fn (tap-hold-press 200 200 spc @mo-nav)
)

I have a Logitech G703 mouse. When I run kanata from the terminal, it correctly starts my configuration, and everything in the kanata.kbd file works. However, Kanata seems to enable mouse acceleration for my Logitech mouse. It does not affect my laptop's built-in touchpad, likely because mouse acceleration is already enabled for it.

This is the output from the terminal:

2024-08-13T23:22:12.610903638-06:00 [INFO] kanata v1.6.1 starting
2024-08-13T23:22:12.611099608-06:00 [INFO] process unmapped keys: true
2024-08-13T23:22:12.611166672-06:00 [INFO] NOTE: kanata was compiled to never allow cmd
2024-08-13T23:22:12.61129651-06:00 [INFO] config file is valid
2024-08-13T23:22:12.611622889-06:00 [INFO] Created device "/dev/input/event18"
2024-08-13T23:22:12.611673089-06:00 [INFO] Sleeping for 2s. Please release all keys and don't press additional ones. Run kanata with --help to see how understand more and how to disable this sleep.
2024-08-13T23:22:14.611747192-06:00 [INFO] entering the processing loop
2024-08-13T23:22:14.611880156-06:00 [INFO] entering the event loop
2024-08-13T23:22:14.611900086-06:00 [INFO] looking for devices in /dev/input
2024-08-13T23:22:14.612036497-06:00 [INFO] Init: catching only releases and sending immediately
2024-08-13T23:22:14.719228789-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event2: "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.740068436-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event5: "FRMW0004:00 32AC:0006 Consumer Control"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.754068257-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event8: "Drop Planck"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.770061153-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event9: "Drop Planck Mouse"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.795052128-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event11: "Drop Planck Consumer Control"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.810132518-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event12: "Drop Planck Keyboard"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.826084983-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event13: "Logitech G703 LS"
2024-08-13T23:22:14.840062359-06:00 [INFO] registering /dev/input/event6: "PIXA3854:00 093A:0274 Mouse"
2024-08-13T23:22:15.140456346-06:00 [INFO] Starting kanata proper
2024-08-13T23:22:15.14046816-06:00 [INFO] You may forcefully exit kanata by pressing lctl+spc+esc at any time. These keys refer to defsrc input, meaning BEFORE kanata remaps keys.

Kanata is including my mouse as a device to remap (I tested with the --debug and --trace flags and input from my mouse showed up). Is there any way to prevent this from happening?

I absolutely adore this software, so I want to make sure I can use it properly.

[jtroo]

You can specify devices to include/exclude:

https://github.com/jtroo/kanata/blob/main/docs/config.adoc#linux-only-linux-dev

[drewlwhitney]

Got it to work! I used one of the files in /dev/input/by-path/.

Also, THAT'S INSANE! I don't even have to manually turn Kanata on and off anymore. If I just turn it on at boot time it will remap the laptop keyboard and leave my external QMK keyboard alone.

I can't express how incredible this software is. It has been super easy to learn coming from QMK. Rust is my favorite language and I think this is the coolest thing I've seen written with it.

Cheers to you jtroo!