Hotkeys Philosophy

When developing meowrch, we aimed to create a hotkey system that wasn’t just a set of commands to memorize, but a logical and intuitive system based on associations. Our goal is to make you understand the key logic rather than mechanically memorizing them.

Core Principle: Super as the Foundation

The Super key (also known as Windows/Command key) is the central key of the entire meowrch system. It’s always the base for system actions and environment management.

Tip

Remember: Super is your main tool for interacting with the system. All primary actions start with it.

Letter Associations: Think, Don’t Memorize

Each letter combined with Super is chosen deliberately — it should create a direct association with the action:

System Actions (Super + letter)

• Super + A = Apps — opens application menu
• Super + W = Wallpaper — changes desktop wallpaper
• Super + T = Theme — switches color theme
• Super + C = Color — color picker to identify colors on screen
• Super + L = Lock — locks the screen
• Super + P = Pin — pins window on top of others
• Super + N = Notifications — notification history
• Super + B = Bar — show/hide panel
• Super + E = Explorer — opens file manager
• Super + Q = Quit — closes active window
• Super + K = Kill — force kills window process
• Super + X = eXit — shutdown/reboot menu

Note

Notice: even when the letter isn’t in the first position (like X in exit), it still strongly associates with the English concept. This helps with internationalization.

Modifiers: Action Levels

Super + Shift: Launch Specific Applications

When you add Shift to Super, you move to the launch level for specific applications. Associations by first letter still apply:

• Super + Shift + F = Firefox
• Super + Shift + C = Code (code editor)
• Super + Shift + T = Telegram
• Super + Shift + O = Obsidian (notes)
• Super + Shift + P = Pavucontrol (audio mixer)
• Super + Shift + Y = Yazi (terminal file manager)
• Super + Shift + B = toggle Bar (mewline/waybar)

Tip

Simple logic: Super performs system action, Super + Shift launches application. The letter always hints at the name.

Super + Ctrl: Navigate Between Spaces

When you hold Ctrl with Super, you manage workspaces:

• Super + Ctrl + ←/→ = switch between workspaces
• Super + Ctrl + ↓ = jump to first empty workspace

Logic: Ctrl means “control” over the entire environment, not just a single window.

Super + Shift + Ctrl: Move Windows

When you hold all three keys (Super + Shift + Ctrl), you get maximum control — physical window movement with arrow keys.

Logic: The more modifiers, the more “heavy” and precise the action you’re performing.

Arrows vs Numbers

Arrows — for Focus and Movement

• Super + ←/↑/→/↓ = move focus between windows
• Super + Shift + ←/↑/→/↓ = resize window
• Super + Shift + Ctrl + ←/↑/→/↓ = move window in space

Numbers — for Workspaces

• Super + 1-9 = switch to workspace by number
• Super + Shift + 1-9 = move window to workspace

Note

Why? Arrows are directions in 2D space (windows on screen), numbers are layers in 3D (workspaces as building floors).

Alt: Alternative Actions

Alt in meowrch is used for actions that are “alternative” or “additional” to the main ones:

• Alt + Enter = fullscreen mode (alternative to normal size)
• Alt + Tab = switch between windows (classic alternative to arrow focus)
• Alt + Shift = change keyboard layout (alternative language)

Special Keys: Obvious Actions

Some keys are so obvious they don’t require associations:

• PrintScreen = screenshot area
• Super + PrintScreen = screenshot entire screen
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc = task manager (like in Windows)
• Super + Enter = terminal (universal convention in tiling WMs)
• Super + . = emoji picker (like Windows and macOS)
• Super + / = hotkey cheatsheet (? = help)

Memory Practice

Instead of rote memorization, try this approach:

1. Think about the action — what do you want to do?
2. Take the first letter — it’s likely the key you need
3. Add the appropriate level:
   • Just Super = system action
   • Super + Shift = launch application
   • Super + Ctrl = workspace management
   • Super + Shift + Ctrl = window movement

Caution

Exception: Some combinations differ (like Super + Space for floating mode), but there are very few, and they’ll quickly become muscle memory.

Customization: Follow the Philosophy

When adding your own hotkeys, follow the same philosophy:

• Use Super as the base for system actions
• Choose letters that associate with the action
• Use Shift for launching applications
• Use Ctrl for actions affecting the entire environment
• Don’t break existing patterns — it creates cognitive dissonance