Fair enough, good points. I still think it’s doable. But we’ll probably not see it for a long time if ever..

Here’s a (probably bad) idea that require no layout changes:

Repurpose the caps key into a ”clipboard key”: if you press it while you have something selected, it copies, otherwise it pastes. The key lights up (caps often have led) it means you have something in the clipboard. An expiry of X seconds is good for privacy anyway (copying a password and forgetting it’s in the clipboard). Cut is two keys: clipboard, delete. Paste-to-replace: delete, clipboard.

I’ll see myself out.

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eviks 6 days ago | parent | next [-]

Had the same idea about repurposing a single key for both copy/paste, but then if it's done for the inexperienced users, this modality/overloading is also not great.

I myself sometimes press Ctrl+C twice because there is no other indication (and even with a led, I wouldn't see it since I'd look at the screen), and this misfires my other double Ctrl+C functionality, which at least isn't "destructive" like paste. For the passwords I think it's better to have dedicated clearing API (which I think already exists, if not used everywhere) rather than having a triggering expiring time on anything, that to mee is needlessly hostile, I don't want to ever worry about my copy of a paragraph expiring.

> while you have something selected, it copies

so no replace then?

Maybe use the right middle modifier for the paste? (it's an apps/menu key, is that used frequently enough? though again, some laptops only have 2 modifier on the right...)

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klabb3 5 days ago | parent [-]

> I myself sometimes press Ctrl+C twice

Yes but this would continue working since the clipboard button doesn’t change the selection. You’d just do multiple copy ops. It only changes to paste when nothing is selected.

> so no replace then?

Not in one keypress. You’d first press delete and then (since now nothing is selected), you press clipboard button to paste.

It’s the same number of button presses as Ctrl+V but without modifier keys.

> Maybe use the right middle modifier for the paste?

The modifiers are the main problem imo, because it’s both undiscoverable and evidently difficult for novice users.

	▲	eviks 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		> It only changes to paste when nothing is selected. Ah, right, then this only breaks full-line copying where you don't need to select the line > It’s the same number of button presses as Ctrl+V but without modifier keys. true, but delete is in a bad position in standard layouts... And yeah, modifiers aren't friendly

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eviks 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Another capslocky idea I had: tap to copy, hold to paste? (though also not very noob-friendly)