Macs are definitely not optimized for keyboard commands. If you feel the software you use is keyboard optimized, odds are it's not really Mac software.

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allthetime 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Absolute base line example.

Copy text in terminal

Mac: command+c

Linux/windows: ctrl+shift+c (unless you want to cripple proper ctrl+c functionality in which case you can (maybe) activate it from a UI menu)

The command key on Mac is somewhat magical and engages in all sorts of productivity and finger efficiency related context switching so that you can do more with less physical movement.

I’m genuinely curious who you think does it better

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jonhohle 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

macOS has been one of the best keyboard OSes for over a decade, maybe longer. Nearly everything is bindable without additional software or third party apps. This can be done on globally or app-specific. A lot of this comes from the deep script ability that used to be a priority but has fallen by the wayside in recent years.

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9dev 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Huh? Of all the wonky shit about my Mac, the flawless keyboard navigation is really none of that

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dwedge 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm surprised you feel that way. I fight with my mac every day for one reason or another. At least it's not as bad as the days where some software used Cmd + letter and some used ctrl +letter, but for instance Cmd tab will switch to the wrong window when I go back and I have to use the mouse. Window switching in general is a lot harder if you only have the keyboard because the laptop is docked without a magic trackpad

	▲	codesnik 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		strange. Some keyboard shortcuts in os x are kinda weird and not intuitive to linux or windows users, but they are there. It's totally possible to use mac without trackpad. even cmd+tab switcher has a lot of hidden (but googlable) things: while still holding cmd after initial cmd+tab, you can close apps with q, switch to other apps with tab and (cmd+)shift+tab or left/right arrows, show app windows with down, etc. There's also a cmd+` for switching between one app's windows. I still find that distinction weird from usability perspective, but it's not too hard to adapt to it.

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__MatrixMan__ 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Really? I find that on MacOS apps are very inconsistent about whether popping open a menu shows me hints for selecting items in that menu. Those same apps are consistent about it on Linux.

And then there's the bonkers window manager which can't move focus directionally (e.g. Super + left) and so you have to fall back to Cmd + tab tab tab tab but even then there's no consistency about whether you're switching between app instances or windows instances within the same app...

	▲	JSR_FDED 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Cmd+Shift+Tab goes in the opposite direction.

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2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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devmor 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

“Flawless” is absolutely the opposite of how I’d describe the third class keyboard navigation in MacOS.

It’s actually more intuitive to use a magic keyboard on the iPad than on the desktop OS.

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sitharus 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

What do you find missing from macOS keyboard navigation?

I've been using macs since the 90s so I'm quite used to it, so I'd love to know what I've been missing out on.

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devmor 3 hours ago | parent [-]

I have a lot of complaints but I would say my three big gripes are:

- Window navigation within (rather than between) open programs. Mainly if one is on an external monitor, this is just a nightmare and I end up using expose and clicking the window instead.

- Window positioning (I installed 3rd party software called Rectangle for this last year so it’s kind of solved but if we’re talking about the vanilla experience this is a big one)

- Having to switch focus to the dock and navigate one by one through shortcuts to open them instead of the Super+Dock position shortcuts that Windows and KDE expose

	▲	sitharus 8 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Interesting, those are problems I don't have, I guess due to my work and workflow. Command-` works for window switching as I expect, probably simply due to being used to it so I know exactly how It works. Window positioning is an interesting one. I can't stand windows being positioned through tools, I stack them like you would with papers and shuffle through so the edge overlap is really important. Probably showing my age there! And I never use the dock. Spotlight gets me everything I'd need from there.
	▲	allthetime 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Window navigation is just ctrl+direction
	▲	nandomrumber 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> Window navigation within open programs Isn’t table cmd + ~

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platevoltage 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

At least we have trackpads that are worth a crap.

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devmor 4 hours ago | parent [-]

I do adore the macOS trackpads, they blow anything else I’ve used out of the water.

The keyboard (physically) is also just very pleasant to type on.

	▲	2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		[deleted]

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paxys 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Specific applications sure, but the base OS interface is unusable without a trackpad.

	▲	Jeremy1026 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Cmd+Space to open spotlight, type in the first 3 or 4 letters of whatever you're trying to do (an application to open, or a system setting to change) and then Return gets me about where I need to go most of the time. Cmd+Tab and Cmd+` for window selection. I don't do much else on the OS itself so my bases are covered.