User:Kgdrenefort/bepo
THIS IS A DRAFT AND A TEST Some information have to be checked, the page doesn't fits well actually with Gentoo habits for writing an article. Feel free to contact me or run a discussion in the talk page of this wanna-be-article
BÉPO
Introduction
What is bépo ?
Bépo is a free project aiming to bring a better key mapping for french, but also some other European language, allowing easy, quick and less fatigue while typing.
It is respecting much more french typing rules for proper text formatting, but also brings some characters for Latin European languages too. As mathematical signs and operator hard to access on other keymapping.
Which usage is adapted to bépo
Bépo is fitted for every usage, but is specialized for French texts writing and allow easy access to characters recommended for french writing and respect the typing French's rules. Con is it's not ideal for English, but at the same time, azerty is not either.
Example could be to replace the three times repeated character «.» for etc: («...»), by the single unicode characters «…», while «...» is theoretically incorrect on a computer while typing, in french at least.
Peoples used to programming might think it is not suited for this, but these characters are pretty much accessible easily:
<>, [], {}, ;, #, $, as many more.
It is possible to modify the key mapping from the bépo default scheme to something suiting more the user needs. This article will not cover it.
It also add "easy" access to some almost-never-used-but-official-characters such as :
- Maths: ± − ÷ × ≠ ≃ ≮ ≯ ⩽ ⩾ ≰ ≱ ≲ ≳ ¼ ½ ¾ ‰, as exponent digit (¹²³⁴⁵) and index number (₆₇₈₉₀).
- Language (other than french): Esperanto, Welsh, Turk, Azerbaijani and much more characters. As all official languages from European Union based on Latin alphabet.
- Currency: Most of the symbols are available.
- Dead keys: More than 500 diacritic characters with a system of twenty dead keys.
And many more.
THIS PART NEED AT LEAST REWRITING, ALSO SOURCING FACT AND CHECKING THEM
==== Why azerty / qwerty are widely used instead of bépo and why bépo is better for typing ====
In the old times, before computers and their modern keyboards, we were using typing machine.
The key mapping was really different at this time, at first allowing peoples to write faster that with azerty / qwerty key mapping, which were non-existent at this date. But that was leading to a big problem: typing machine were using mechanical conception to print the ink on a page of paper.
This mechanical system was stuck regularly while peoples were typing too fast, as a secretary really used to that exercise and this was fixed by mixing the letters to slow down the typing of the user in a way leading to more time to reach each letters. So, the mechanical system was not stuck anymore as it use to be.
Azerty, qwerty and such were so created for this ONLY purpose. Slow down typing and avoid mechanical stuck pieces.
We don’t have this problem on computer and never had, while modern keyboard send electrical signal, no more stuck keyboard because fast typing. This was not changed, the key mapping, while typing machine are no more used since decades, now. We kept these key mapping, that are first, slower, but worst and more important, damaging your hands and fingers if you type too much, too often (example will be secretary jobs, IT…) and specially without the proper usage of a keyboard.
Enable Bépo
Bépo is already available on Gentoo Linux and is a part of the Gentoo Live installation as well.
Modern GUI
Most modern DE such as KDE Plasma, GNOME or Xfce (and some others) would have this key mapping in the key mapping part your configuration front-end for it, it just needs to be added as an available key mapping.
They will offer easy shortcut or clicking icon to switch from one to another key mapping, if needed or desired.
It can also be set from the command line or configuration files, see below. It's available while installing Gentoo by typing "3" when asked which key mapping to choose, allowing bépo user to not struggles with azerty/qwerty while installing.
Non-GUI or low-features DE/WM users
If not using a desktop environment, or one not allowing GUI to achieve that, or needs to do it by the command-line, these commands will change the keyboard layout for the current session, only:
See talk page
user $loadkeys fr-bepoOr:
(as root and only for X.org users, won't works for Wayland)
root #setxkbmap fr bepoFor more details about changing the keyboard layout from command line and configuration files, read the page Keyboard_layout_switching.
The official project page (in french) is located here: https://bepo.fr/wiki/Accueil
How to learn and practice Bépo like a pro
Learning bépo in replacement of azerty or qwerty is not easy and quick. The mechanical memory as habits would be the main problem. It will takes months before bépo users find it really comfortable. It needs time and practice, but it is worth it. Another con could be forgot how to type with the usual keyboard layout.
There is several tools to learn and practice with much less pain than simply switching to it and struggles for longs months.
Writing trainers software
The best way to learn it as fast and simply as it can be are dedicated tools, instead of practicing in a simple editors. They greatly improve the ease to learn it and possibly is way more effective.
KTouch
KTouch is a typewriting training software and is a part of the KDE Education Project.
There is a bug that is not allowing to reach some courses, at the end, with KTouch. Please see bug 410867 (bugs.kde.org)
Learning
Once bépo is set as the key mapping and a typewriting tool was installed (such as KTouch, or any other) for typing training, the practicing can start. Like all practice and manual skill, the more time an user while practice, the easier and quicker the learning would be. These tools will display, depending on the progression level, letters (first "e" and "t" for example) and later complete words, then sentences (they means absolutely nothing, it’s just for practice).
Each lessons increase the difficulty by adding new letters or characters, as punctuation and sign, operator and such, etc.
After a few month of practicing, using the old keyboard layout could be complicated, as using old password that was usually typed with azerty/qwerty.
Keeping the old keyboard layout as an alternative is recommended, allowing the user to not struggle typing a complicated password with bépo, but instead by switching to the old azerty/qwerty, then switching back to bépo. It can looks annoying, and it is, but less than learning to type @Tia.-..;Vcp,wygh! for example, at least at the start of the learning.
The gain from using Bépo instead of azerty/qwerty key mapping is pretty huge :
At first, while practicing and learning, it is frustrating to type slower, having all the time to remember where are the letters and worst: It is forbidden to watch the keyboard while typing, that is normal. Bépo, which is a derived work from the Dvorak idea of a better key mapping, as moved all letters to display them in a way that allow to decrease distance between the most used letters, in french. To help learning, goods typewriter learning tools should display the key mapping below the input field, colorized lines of the keyboard help you quickly see where a finger should work and helping learners to not watch the keyboard.
See talk page
Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:00, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
On the bépo project page, and on search engine, there are images of the Bépo key mapping to print, which is really recommended to do so and then, sticking it below the screen. Like this, it'll be easier and faster to remember where is a letter, without starting the bad habits to watch the keyboard while typing.
The home row
The line in the middle of the keyboard, on qwerty they are composed of asdf & jklm, on azerty it is qsdf & jklm, is called the home row. That is where all fingers should rest until starting typing, while the thumbs are supposed to rest on the space bar. While index fingers of both hand should touch f (left-hand) and j (right-hand) easily without watching the keyboard thanks to embossed marking on these keyboard typing touch.
Letters as z, w, y, x, etc, are not the most used in french, thus they are less accessible than a, u, i, e (left-hand) & t, s, r, n (right-hand). They are on the home row and these 8 letters are, aside being the most used in french language, are made highly easy to access because 8 of the fingers are already resting on these. Allowing easy and fast typing, with much less efforts, of the most used french characters.
Questions and answers
Is it needed to have a dedicated Bépo keyboard or modify one ?
Short answer: Never.
Long answer: These are some possible way, yes, buying a bépo keyboard or add stickers on keyboard keys. But that is not recommended. As someone driving a car, the driver is not supposed to look at his gear lever and instead keep it's eyes on the road, a bépo user should not look the keyboard while typing, or what ever key mapping used. That is because the user typing will have to look down to the keyboard, very often specially at start, adding unnecessary movements that could lead, with enough time, to pain and physical troubles in your neck and back. See a doctor for more information about that.
I will contact my own doctor and the neurologist that examined me to retrieve some strong source about that. See talk page. Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:00, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
An alternative could be an "empty keyboard", Matrix and such. Mostly, a normal and ergonomic keyboard is the best choice.
It is way more important to get a keyboard that is comfortable, easy to tip on and mostly fitting users needs.
Is switching to a such different layout would lead to forgot azerty/qwerty ?
Probably, but that’s for the good of the user. At least it will make it harder to use the old one, because it is not used anymore for example.
No one would wants to use a bad tool, not designed for a specific need. That is what are azerty or qwerty. It's less pain and troubles to obtain and learn how to use the dedicated, best tools, for something, than hurting body parts, as hands, because it was "easy".
See talk page
Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:00, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
How much time it takes to learn ?
The more an habits is old the stronger it is would made the switching harder or simpler.
A month with at least one hour per day of practicing is a reasonable amount of time to get the basics and a few more months to feel really comfortable. In less than a few more months, the harder of the learning will be old memories.
Is it hard to learn it ?
Yes, it is. Fighting old habits, mechanical memories and such is painful. Tools as KTouch help greatly to make it easier.
Where help should be seeked ?
If after searching on internet there is no answer to a problem, the homepage of the project is the best place to ask. There is documentation, forums and a Discord server to get helps, asking questions…
Which Operating System supports it ?
All of them: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Android, *BSD family, iOS…
Some are not supporting it by default, some yes, as Linux, makes it available without any works or installation, other than configuring your DE to use it.
Why is it called Bépo ?
As azerty or qwerty are the first letters of each respective key mapping, the first letter of this key mapping are b, é, p, o.
Troubleshooting
Invisible and non-breaking space character, breaking code, command line and configuration file
One main problem of bépo is that it's not oriented for system administration, scripting / programming, but to respect the french typo mostly, it’s designed for text writing and some weird behavior that is breaking configuration file or code can happen. Worst, they are a pain to detect (at least the first times, until aware of the problem).
« » (space) is not « » (non-breakable space character). These are two really different characters. But they looks exactly the same, leading easily to error and undetected or not easy to find problem.
First is the classical white-space. Second is a non-breaking space character and this one does not fit in source code (GCC hates it, as Python, etc), configuration file, could/would break command-line like this one below:
emerge: error: argument -U: ignored explicit argument '\xa0@ord'
Because the line used was:
root #emerge -vauDU @worldWhile the separation between -vauDU and @world is not « » but the non-breaking space character « ».
The proper line would be then :
root #emerge -vauDU @worldWhere there is two space-character and no non-breaking space character.
The non-breaking space character is typed by using maj + space, while a standard and desired space character would be typed by pressing simple space alone. While typing fast, it's easy to add the maj key by accident.
It is sadly very easy to get it instead of a white-space and it is invisible (some text editor, as KWrite for example, display it by default, vim and other can as well do that to help, but not by default). Which can, and probably will, lead peoples to an awful waste of time while beginning Bépo, or even later.
The solution is very easy:
There is actually several key mapping for Bépo: BÉPO, BÉPO (latin-9 only) and BÉPO AFNOR.
The last one, BÉPO AFNOR, remove the non-breaking space character, removing completely this problem.
BÉPO AFNOR as a problem too, ’ replace the single-quote (').
A proper solution SHOULD be reported here. See talk page.4 Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:00, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
Gentoo's forum posting problem with Bépo (and Unicode)
Unicode characters in the title of a subject is taking four space more, so five instead of one. The size limitation for topic subject is 80 characters length.
While posting on the forum, Bépo users should be sure to not add a non-breaking space characters.
An e-mail with the Gentoo's forum moderation (03/05/2024):
(…)
What happens is that the forums checks title lengths for being less that 80 characters. The check passes but special character are then converted to their 5 character HTML equivalent. The title gets longer by 4 characters for each special character. This happen after the 80 character length check. Oops.
When the post gets to the database, its rejected an the title will not fit into the database field.
The work around is to not use symbols that have 5 character HTML representations in topic titles. That's almost everything except alphanumerics. (…)
So if someone using Bépo can't post to the forum, that might be the problem.
Problems with shortcuts
On Linux, a lot of tools are using non-gui and thus, are highly used with keyboard shortcuts. That is a big problem:
First, these shortcuts are made in a way to ease their access. Switching to Bépo will at first completely break the user experience on these, which is painful.
Bépo community is sharing a lot of personal tips & tricks to avoid struggling with that problem. Below is a non-exhaustive list of configuration made to improve the usability of Bépo in these case.
Then another problem arise, the more tools are non-GUI and use a lot of shortcuts to works, the more modification is needed. Which can be, of course, a big step and could lead users to abandon their learning or having simply more pain.
Author: I do not have a proper fix for now, will take a look on what's available to enhance the UX on that subject. Feel free to add anything relevant into the discussion page :) ! Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:00, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
Vi/Vim/NeoVim
To add
Emacs
To add'
Weechat
To add'
Awesome
To add
Mutt
To add
Terminal emulators
To add
Other tools with lot of shortcuts
To add
Getting community support
The project home's page gives a lot (in french) information, tips, documentations as access to a Discord server to get help with users mastering this key mapping, learning or developing it. Read the FAQ or the forum to ask for help (in french).
Using bépo on other system (such as Windows)
This page does not attend to learn how to install it on Windows in details, but this is nice to know aside of Gentoo using Bépo to also having it on Windows, making it easier to adapt, learn and keep Bépo as the main key mapping. The project page gives a Windows executable to install it on this OS, which (at least while writing this page) is not by default available on the last OS from Microsoft: 10 & 11. And of course not either by default installed on older Windows release as well and doubt that it’ll be one day.
It is good to know that it also allows to keep the original shortcut as ctrl+c/ctrl-v to be used as your old key mapping instead of adapting it to the new location for these key. It’s a choice.
Finally, some Windows games will automatically adapt the text typing (as in online chat) using Bépo, while all others key (moving, shooting, selecting…) will keep their usual location, making less painful to play a game without having to remap everything. Some old games won’t probably support that (as Fallout 1 or 2, for example, while Fallout 3 / New Vegas / 4 / 76 will do without any additional steps). That is also true for Linux.
THIS IS A DRAFT AND A TEST