Karabiner-elements: How to improve the delay/lag experience when using TouchCursor Mode?

[panoysia]

Hi,

Does anyone have experienced some kind of lag/delay when using a single or a number of rules in their complex modifications settings?

I'm currently using the TouchCursor Mode as the sole rule in my complex modifications settings. I've been using this mode/rule since 2012 when Karabiner-Elements was still KeyRemap4MacBook. The lag isn't that noticeable back then (didn't felt/notice it) compared to now when I updated to High Sierra, and used Karabiner-Elements.

I type fast and notice that it couldn't keep up with my pace. Back then on OS X Lion and KeyRemap4MacBook it worked perfectly fine without even noticing the lag/delay. I never touched any threshold setting (it was in XML if I recall) back then, and simply used it as is (it was configured by @tekezo in our Google group discussion years ago).

Is there any optimal setting to configure in order to lessen the lag/delay? It may have something to do with the keyup and keydown events. It's really different when I exit/quit Karabiner-Elements because I'm able to type properly compared to have it running.

I'd love to know your similar experiences and suggestions if ever.

[pandaben7890]

@panoysia After Karabiner update to 12.1.0 with {halt}. This is my latest config.
Maybe you can try this and if have any idea to improve it, feel free to discuss it here ^^.

TouchCursor for Karabiner12.1.0 with added {halt} (recommend to use with 150ms delayed_action)

[panoysia]

@pandaben7890 Thank you for sharing this. I will try this out and comment back here my experience.

I miss the lag-free and fast typing experience when it was still called KeyRemap4Macbook.

[pandaben7890]

I want it to be like TouchCursor on Windows too. But this is all I can U_U

2018-06-05 20:06 GMT+07:00 Elmer A. Sia [e-mail]:

@pandaben7890 https://github.com/pandaben7890 Thank you for sharing
this. I will try this out and comment back here my experience.

I miss the lag-free and fast typing experience when it was still called
KeyRemap4Macbook.

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[her]

I'm definitely experiencing this. I'm running a really skinny default setup on macOS going for a modifier on Cap Lock (hold is Ctrl tap is Escape). When using applications like VIM though the lag gets me occasionally.

Any tools I can use to measure this and share here?

Here's my current config

{
    "global": {
        "check_for_updates_on_startup": false,
        "show_in_menu_bar": true,
        "show_profile_name_in_menu_bar": false
    },
    "profiles": [
        {
            "complex_modifications": {
                "parameters": {
                    "basic.simultaneous_threshold_milliseconds": 50,
                    "basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds": 500,
                    "basic.to_if_alone_timeout_milliseconds": 1000,
                    "basic.to_if_held_down_threshold_milliseconds": 500
                },
                "rules": [
                    {
                        "manipulators": [
                            {
                                "description": "Change caps_lock to control when used as modifier, escape when used alone",
                                "from": {
                                    "key_code": "caps_lock",
                                    "modifiers": {
                                        "optional": [
                                            "any"
                                        ]
                                    }
                                },
                                "to": [
                                    {
                                        "key_code": "left_control"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "to_if_alone": [
                                    {
                                        "key_code": "escape",
                                        "modifiers": {
                                            "optional": [
                                                "any"
                                            ]
                                        }
                                    }
                                ],
                                "type": "basic"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                ]
            },
            "devices": [],
            "fn_function_keys": [
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f1"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "display_brightness_decrement"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f2"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "display_brightness_increment"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f3"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "key_code": "mission_control"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f4"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "key_code": "launchpad"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f5"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "key_code": "illumination_decrement"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f6"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "key_code": "illumination_increment"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f7"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "rewind"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f8"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "play_or_pause"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f9"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "fastforward"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f10"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "mute"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f11"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "volume_decrement"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "from": {
                        "key_code": "f12"
                    },
                    "to": {
                        "consumer_key_code": "volume_increment"
                    }
                }
            ],
            "name": "Default profile",
            "selected": true,
            "simple_modifications": [],
            "virtual_hid_keyboard": {
                "country_code": 0
            }
        }
    ]
}

Would love any suggestions feedback. Cheers guys 👍

[jhwheeler]

@her Did you ever figure this out? I'm experiencing the same issue with Caps Lock mapped to esc/ctrl creating a lag in Vim.

[her]

hey @jhwheeler i did, i use this config now and things seem to be good

in $HOME/.config/karabiner/assets/complex_modifications/caps_ctrl_esc.json

{
  "title": "Change caps_lock to Esc and Control",
  "rules": [{
    "description": "caps_lock: Esc if pressed, Control if held.",
    "manipulators": [{
      "type": "basic",
      "from": {"key_code": "left_control", "modifiers": {"optional": ["any"]}},
      "to": [{"key_code": "left_control", "lazy": true}],
      "to_if_alone": [{"key_code": "escape"}]
    }]
  }]
}

then in karabiner

Simple Modification:

and Complex Modification:

with these parameters:

and in macOS Settings > Keyboard > Modifier Keys...

hope that helps!

[jhwheeler]

@her This is brilliant, thank you! It finally works...I'm really grateful, this will help my workflow immensely.