Browser Layer

The browser layer is an application layer that uses browser shortcuts such as creating, removing and navigating through tabs and windows. For a browser, I use chrome but most other browsers have similar shortcuts.

Chrome keyboard shortcuts - Computer - Google Chrome Helpsupport.google.com

Vimium Extension

Vimium Cheat SheetCheatography

Vimium is a browser extension that allows links to be clicked on easily without a mouse. This is done by vimuim highlighting 2 letters showing available links and then the user types the 2 letters next to the link to open in a tab or new tab.

There are also some other nice features such as being able to searching through tabs or easily going to last tab.

One think I dislike about vimuim is that it is alway active and sometimes has weird interactions with text input fields. For this reason, I like to place vimium on a layer and add to other chrome shortcuts. I do this by creating a custom key map in the Vimium extension in the vimium help section, activated by "?" by default. I unmap all shortcuts then add the ones I use. the <c-letter> stands for control + letter which I do to avoid conflicts such as youtube's hotkeys that have no modifiers and cannot be easily changed.

I then use karabiner elements to map an application layer(hyper keys), to a browser layer that only triggers when chrome is the front most application. So hyper keys remapped into the vimuim keybindings like control + a letter. At the end I show the karabiner code since its quite lengthy.

The full table showing the key mapping is below with an image of the application layer below.

Description	Original Hotkey	Updated Hotkey
Open a new window	⌘ + n	e
Open a new tab, and jump to it	⌘ + t	d
Reopen tab in new window	macro	t
Move right a tab	⌘ + Option + Right Arrow	f
Move left a tab	⌘ + Option + Left Arrow	s
reopen last closed tab	⌘ + Shift + t	t
close the current tab	⌘ + w	a
close the current window	⌘ + Shift + w	q
refresh window	⌘ + r	b
jump to address bar	⌘ + l	r
find	⌘ + f	x
find next	⌘ + g	c
find previous	⌘ + Shift + g	v
scroll up	karabiner	u
scroll down	karabiner	o
scroll left	vimium	j
scroll right	vimium	l
page up	vimium	y
page down	vimium	n
top of page	vimium	i
bot of page	vimium	k
go to first tab	vimium	h
go to last tab	vimium	;
go to last visited tab	vimium	F5
search through tabs	vimium	g
open link in current tab	vimium	m
open link in new tab	vimium	f9
copy current link to clipboard	vimium	f10
vimium help menu	vimium	p

{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome New Window",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "e",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "n",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome New Tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "d",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "t",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Move Left Tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "s",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "left_arrow",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command",
                        "option"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Move Right Tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "f",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "right_arrow",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command",
                        "option"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Bring Back Closed Tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "w",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "t",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command",
                        "shift"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Select URL",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "r",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "l",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.microsoft\\.VSCode"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "VS Code View Open Previous Editor",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "j",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "j",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "shift",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Close All",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "f12",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "w",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command",
                        "shift"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Close Current Tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "a",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "w",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Reload Page",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "b",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "r",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command",
                        "shift"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Search Prev",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "x",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "g",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command",
                        "shift"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Search",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "c",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "g",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Search Next",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "v",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "g",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Back",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "z",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "left_arrow",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Vimium scroll down",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "o",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "mouse_key": {
                        "vertical_wheel": 32
                    }
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Vimium scroll up",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "u",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "mouse_key": {
                        "vertical_wheel": -32
                    }
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Vimium search through tabs",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "g",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "g",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium scroll left",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "j",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "j",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium scroll right",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "l",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "l",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium go to first tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "h",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "h",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium go to last tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "semicolon",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "semicolon",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium open link in current tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "m",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "m",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium scroll page up,",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "y",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "y",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium scroll page down",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "n",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "n",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium show help",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "p",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "p",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium go to last visit tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "f5",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "3",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium copy current url to clipboard",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "f10",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "2",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium open link in new tab",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "f9",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "1",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium scroll to top",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "i",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "i",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium scroll to bot",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "k",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "k",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome vimium help menu",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "p",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "p",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},
{
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "conditions": [
                {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                        "^com\\.google\\.Chrome"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                }
            ],
            "description": "Chrome Open Tab In New Window. Macro see KM",
            "from": {
                "key_code": "t",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                        "shift",
                        "command",
                        "option",
                        "control"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "l",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "left_command"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "key_code": "return_or_enter",
                    "modifiers": [
                        "shift"
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
},