emacs-switch-lang: A Python repository from lislon

Switch emacs input language by ctrl+shift or alt+shift

This script allows you to switch emacs input languages (toggle-input-language) by ctrl+shift or alt+shift keybindings in linux.

Dependencies

xorg-xinput
xkb-switch
python3

Installation

Download this script and make it executable
Install xorg-xinput packages using your package manager
Install xkb-switch
Add keybinding into your ~/.emacs file:

 (global-set-key (kbd "<f13>") 'toggle-input-method)
 (add-hook 'minibuffer-setup-hook
            (lambda ()
              (local-set-key (kbd "<f13>") 'toggle-input-method)))

Usage

emacs-switch-lang.py [-h] [--bind {ctrl+shift,alt+shift}]
                          [--switch-back-cmd SWITCH_BACK_CMD]
                          [--key-send-cmd KEY_SEND_CMD] [-v]

Send a signal (key) to emacs when ctrl+shift or alt+shift is pressed.

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  --bind {ctrl+shift,alt+shift}
                        keybinding for swithing-language
  --switch-back-cmd SWITCH_BACK_CMD
                        command to switch language back to default language
  --key-send-cmd KEY_SEND_CMD
                        command to send signal to emacs
  -v, --verbose         Verbose output for debugging

Simply add this script to autostart with preferred --bind option: ctrl+shift or alt+shift.

Example

./emacs-switch-lang.py --bind ctrl+shift

How it works

It runs in background and listens for key presses. Whenever ctrl+shift/alt+shift are pressed, it checks active window is Emacs and if it is the case it sends key to it and switches language back to us-english. Emacs sees key and toggle input method.

Known issues

This version wont work in case emacs running in command line

Credits

As prototype I took script by https://github.com/grandchild/autohidewibox

lislon/emacs-switch-lang