How to swap the combos Tab and ESC? Misc questions

[enoryw]

How to swap the combos Tab and ESC? I want ESC on hrm instead of Tab because it's used more frequently. I'm using zmk-helpers v2 and looking at combos.dtsi but am kind of lost (not a programmer)--it seems tab is implemented slightly differently than the rest of the homerow combos as I don't see an entry for it on base.keymap, unlike
the other HRM-combos e.g.:

MAKE_HRM(hml_repeat, &kp, &key_repeat, KEYS_R THUMBS)  // used for HRM-combo
MAKE_HRM(hmr_lpar_lt, &kp, &lpar_lt, KEYS_L THUMBS)    // "    "   "   "
MAKE_HRM(hmr_rpar_gt, &kp, &rpar_gt, KEYS_L THUMBS)    // "    "   "   "

I'm not swapper since I'm on Linux.

Unrelated questions:

• For adding more layers any suggestions for how to access them (general approach for any 34-key layout)? I want to add a symbol layer--should I begin to bind them to the 4 non-alpha keys on the base layer for a 34-key layout? Exhaust all thumb combos first?

• Would merging FN layer into NUM layer (putting F keys on right side) be potentially problematic and/or require additional tweaks? Looking to add this symbols layer. Not sure if there are any popular bindings that require use of mod keys (I suppose if that's needed I can still add HRMs to this layer.

• Zmk mouse keys don't seem to work on Linux and I've come across one other comment that says the same--I'm wondering if anyone can confirm this. I press w + p combo, then press and hold the nav layer then the up/down/left/right on that layer but it just acts if it's just on the nav layer. Not sure how to diagnose this further.

Thanks!

[urob]

The TAB combo is defined here:

zmk-config/config/combos.dtsi

Line 27 in 54d710f

ZMK_COMBO(tab, HRC_TAB, LM3 LM2, DEF NAV NUM, COMBO_TERM_FAST, COMBO_IDLE_FAST)

Note that it is bound to HRC_TAB, which is defined further up the same file, in the same place where HRC_REPEAT etc are defined:

zmk-config/config/combos.dtsi

Lines 17 to 20 in 54d710f

	#define HRC_TAB &hml LS(LALT) TAB
	#define HRC_REPEAT &hml_repeat LS(LCTRL) 0
	#define HRC_LPAR &hmr_lpar_lt RS(LCTRL) 0
	#define HRC_RPAR &hmr_rpar_gt RS(LALT) 0

(The definition for HRC_TAB is a bit simpler than HRC_REPEAT because the hold-tap isn't bound to a custom behavior, so we can use &hml instead of having to create a custom hold-tap.)

[urob]

Re: adding more layers. I personally really dislike lateral thumb movements and couldn't stand having something as frequently used as a symbol layer being activated by a secondary thumb. If I weren't using combos for symbols, I'd probably use hold-taps on LB1 and RB1 to activate it.

But these things are very subjective and I suggest trying out a few options to see what's most comfortable for you.

The same applies to merging FN and NUM layers. I did quite a bit of tweaking and in my experience things indeed are highly interdependent. Alas, often only trial & error will be able to tell what works best for you.

Re: mouse on linux. I currently don't have access to any unix other than through WSL. There was another comment on here in a similar spirit. It might be more fruitful to respond to them over there to keep the discussion in one place.