Feature request: different hotkey to enable kV

[itaysk]

I'm struggling to incorporate kV into my regular use of mac apps: My go to config was to use Esc, just like in Vim, but this is a big problem as I tend to use Esc a lot (more than I realized, for example to focus out of text boxes, or to close dialogues). In this case kV hijacks Esc and instead of doing the desired action it's doing it's thing putting me in normal mode which point I frantically keep pounding Esc until what I expected happens. I tried to remap kV to another hotkey, which avoids this problem but after I start typing I keep trying Esc to go to normal mode because I'm so used to it.
Two very common examples from my day is Raycast, which uses esc to be back (or up) in the extension hierarchy. There are many more this is just one.
I wanted to make a suggestion, perhaps it makes sense for others as well:
Allow us to explicitly and intentionally enable kV with a custom hotkey (not Esc). After kV is enabled, I can use Esc to go to normal mode, and i for insert like I'm used to from vim. Once I'm don't typing there I would disable kV with the same custom hotkey until I need it again.

This is related to (and potential solution to) these issues:
#196
#206
#205
#180

[godbout]

sorry, gonna have to split this one into multiple parts coz i don't get it:

I'm struggling to incorporate kV into my regular use of mac apps: My go to config was to use Esc, just like in Vim, but this is a big problem as I tend to use Esc a lot (more than I realized, for example to focus out of text boxes, or to close dialogues). In this case kV hijacks Esc and instead of doing the desired action it's doing it's thing putting me in normal mode which point I frantically keep pounding Esc until what I expected happens.

yeah if you decide to use esc to enter Normal Mode obviously macOS doesn't respond the same anymore. which is why there's a Setting that allows you to decide how you replace the standard macOS esc:

that doesn't help? you could focus out of text boxes or close dialogues with your new chosen esc hotkey, like command esc for example.

Two very common examples from my day is Raycast, which uses esc to be back (or up) in the extension hierarchy. There are many more this is just one.

ok Raycast is gonna be annoying if you're trying to get up the hierarchy yeah, but for other apps double esc is too much? (if you keep double esc as the default replacement for the standard macOS esc)

Allow us to explicitly and intentionally enable kV with a custom hotkey (not Esc). After kV is enabled, I can use Esc to go to normal mode, and i for insert like I'm used to from vim. Once I'm don't typing there I would disable kV with the same custom hotkey until I need it again.

took me a while to understand that one. basically you'd like a Master Switch right? if the Master Switch is OFF, then kV backs off all the time. only when you turn the Master Switch ON then kV wakes up and grabs keys. am i getting this right?

[itaysk]

thanks for taking the time to consider this.

basically you'd like a Master Switch right?

exactly

If my use case is peculiar feel free to close this, but what I feel is that I don't want to change my patterns using esc everywhere (browser, raycast, many apps) since esc is so fundamental paradigm, but also I don't want to change my patterns using esc in vim. since there are two conflicting uses of the same key, my solution was to make some other key switch between the two conflicting modes. this way, I don't need to unlearn any of my existing patterns which is hard, I just need to learn one new pattern (to enable kV when I need it) which is easier.
So yes a master on/off switch for kV will be very nice.

[godbout]

exactly

ok got it 👌️

If my use case is peculiar feel free to close this

i think a Master Switch may make sense. the issue is gonna be more finding good UX and UI not to confuse people. the more options, the more confusing it's gonna get. also clearly not everyone is gonna want a Master Switch. i think most people wanna kV to just work out of the box, with as fewest options to

but what I feel is that I don't want to change my patterns using esc everywhere (browser, raycast, many apps) since esc is so fundamental paradigm, but also I don't want to change my patterns using esc in vim. since there are two conflicting uses of the same key, my solution was to make some other key switch between the two conflicting modes. this way, I don't need to unlearn any of my existing patterns which is hard, I just need to learn one new pattern (to enable kV when I need it) which is easier. So yes a master on/off switch for kV will be very nice.

yeah, understood. but that means you're gonna need two more steps in your workflow: pressing that new hotkey to "activate" kV, and pressing that hotkey again to "deactivate".