Sublime Text from a game controller
The Sublime Text layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: Sublime Text reads its default Mac key bindings from this layout. Custom bindings in your user keymap need a Scan on the matching row.
Yes, you can navigate Sublime Text on a Mac from a game controller. Sublime is Goto Anything and the Command Palette, and with those two on the face buttons plus dictation, a pad reaches every file and every command. Multi-cursor with Command D on the third button is the one Sublime trick worth a thumb.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Get anywhere. Goto Anything (Command P) on the bottom face button, the Command Palette (Command Shift P) on the right.
- Edit in bulk. Add the next match as a cursor (Command D) on the left, toggle comment (Command Slash) on the top.
- Find and save. On the bumpers.
- Files and tabs. Close tab on Share or View, new file on Options, and D-pad left and right switch tabs with Command Shift and the brackets.
- Point and scroll. The left stick is the pointer, the right stick scrolls, the right trigger clicks.
Sublime reads its default Mac key bindings from this layout. Custom bindings in your user keymap need a Scan on the matching row. Goto Anything and the palette reach every file and every command.
Tune it for reading code
- Dictation. Goto Anything, then dictation, opens a file by voice.
- Undo and redo. Put them on the stick clicks.
- Line and word jumps. D-pad up and down are free: give them Up and Down Arrow with Repeat keys while held on, and Option and the arrows behind a chord.
- Go to line. Press Control G, then dictate the number.
Nova and Zed have their own entries. The ideas carry over and the keys differ a little. Navigate, search and run commands from the pad, and do your typing by voice or on the keyboard.
The short version
- Add dictation. It feeds Goto Anything and Go to line.
- Use the D-pad for lines. With Repeat keys while held.
- Scan your custom bindings. It takes one Scan per changed row.
The typing stays with your voice or a keyboard. Everything around the typing is on the pad.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for Sublime Text and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
Every binding, as a table
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 16) | Pointer left |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 16) | Pointer right |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 16) | Pointer up |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 16) | Pointer down |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Scroll down |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Scroll up |
| Right trigger | Left click | Click |
| A / Cross | Command (Left), P | Goto Anything (Cmd+P) |
| B / Circle | Command (Left), Shift (Left), P | Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P) |
| X / Square | Command (Left), D | Add multi-cursor (Cmd+D) |
| Y / Triangle | Command (Left), / | Toggle comment (Cmd+/) |
| LB / L1 | Command (Left), F | Find (Cmd+F) |
| RB / R1 | Command (Left), S | Save (Cmd+S) |
| Back / Share / Select | Command (Left), W | Close tab (Cmd+W) |
| Start / Options | Command (Left), N | New file (Cmd+N) |
| D-pad left | Command (Left), Shift (Left), [ | Previous tab (Cmd+Shift+[) |
| D-pad right | Command (Left), Shift (Left), ] | Next tab (Cmd+Shift+]) |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Can I code with this?
Navigate, search and run commands, yes. The typing is voice or a keyboard.
Does it work in Nova or Zed?
Both have their own entries. The ideas carry over and the keys differ a little.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
Updated