kc3-lang/libxkbcommon/doc/debugging.md

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• Hash : a83a482c
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  Date : 2025-07-18T11:27:52
  

  tools: Add variants with automatic session type detection
  
  Added:
  - `xkbcli-interactive`
  - `xkbcli-dump-keymap`
  

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• doc/debugging.md

• # Debugging {#debugging}
  
  ## Available tools
  
  xkbcommon provides multiple tools for debugging. Please consult the manual pages
  `man xkbcli` for the complete documentation of each tool.
  
  @note These tools may not be installed by default; please ensure you have the
  `libxkbcommon-tools` package installed.
  
  ### Basic tools
  
  - Interactive:
    - `xkbcli interactive` to test your current configuration by detecting the
      session type.
    - `xkbcli interactive-x11` to test your current configuration in an *X11* session.
    - `xkbcli interactive-wayland` to test your current configuration in a *Wayland*
      session.
    You may want to use the flag `--enable-compose` if your layouts use dead keys.
  - `xkbcli how-to-type`: to find the key combinations to type in order to get a
    specific character or keysym.
  
  ### Advanced tools
  
  - `xkbcli interactive-evdev`: to test a configuration without affecting your
    current configuration. This requires access to the `/dev/input/event*` devices,
    you may need to add your user to the `input` group or run as root.
  - `xkbcli compile-keymap`: to check the resulting compiled keymap for some
    configuration.
  - `xkbcli compile-compose`: to check the resulting Compose file.
  
  ## Testing a custom configuration {#testing-custom-config}
  
  @note An erroneous XKB configuration may make your keyboard unusable. Therefore
  it is advised to try custom configurations safely with the following workflow:
  
  1. Create a directory for the custom configuration, e.g. `~/xkb-test`. Note that
     in order to test it safely, it should *not* be one of the locations that
     [xkbcommon searches][user-configuration locations].
  2. Create the relevant sub-directories and files, e.g. `~/xkb-test/symbols/my-layout`.
  3. Test if your changes *compile* successfully:
  
     ```bash
     xkbcli compile-keymap --include ~/xkb-test --include-defaults --test --layout my-layout
     ```
  
     @note The order of the `--include*` arguments is important here.
  
     If it does not compile, you may add the flag `--verbose` for additional information.
  4. Test if it *behaves* correctly. Note that you may need to add your user to the
     `input` group or run as root.
  
     ```bash
     xkbcli interactive-evdev --include ~/xkb-test --include-defaults --enable-compose --layout my-layout
     ```
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with your *full* keyboard configuration, i.e. all your
     model, layouts and options.
  6. If everything works as expected, it is time to test in real conditions:
     - Wayland: , move `~/xkb-test` to one of the [user-configuration locations],
       restart your session, update the keyboard configuration using your usual UI
       and enjoy your XKB customization!
     - X11: Unfortunately Xorg does not support alternative paths, so the next best
       option is to use the venerable `xkbcomp` tool.
  
       ```bash
       xkbcli compile-keymap --include ~/xkb-test --include-defaults --layout my-layout \
         | xkbcomp - $DISPLAY
      ```
  
  Happy hacking!
  
  [user-configuration locations]: @ref user-config-locations
  

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