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I need a C code to be executed when some particular keys are pressed in Linux "Desktop" environment.

What are the ways to register for such an event and How?

Should I write ISR for that? I need an exact part of Linux from where I can get this call.

Which part of OS handles stuff like these, Is it part Desktop environment like GNOME or part of some service?

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    Do you want to catch the keycodes within a C application or run an executable when keycodes are pressed?
    – slm ♦
    Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 17:44
  • @slm run an executable when keycodes are pressed
    – Vishwanath gowda k
    Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 17:46
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    Have a look at xbindkeys
    – Stéphane Chazelas
    Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 17:47
  • Search this site for Q&A's with xbindkeys in them. You'll find dozens of examples showing you what you want. If you need something additional from those then I'd rephrase this Q to express the additional criteria. unix.stackexchange.com/search?q=user%3A7453+xdotool
    – slm ♦
    Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 17:50

2 Answers 2

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I would try and make use of xbindkeys to run a command/script when certain keys are pressed.

To start you can insruct xbindkeys to generate a template config file like so:

$ xbindkeys --defaults > /home/saml/.xbindkeysrc

Then open the resulting config file in any editor and add a line like so:

"nautilus --browser /home/saml/projects/path/to/some/dir"
 Mod4+shift + q

Then kill and restart xbindkeys so that it'll reload the modifications in the config file:

$ killall xbindkeys
$ xbindkeys

Now with this running any time I type Mod+Shift+Q Nautilus will open with the corresponding folder opened.

The above can easily be modified so that any script or command could be run instead of the above. This is just an example to illustrate the approach and to get you started.

References

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Your desktop environment may have a settings utility to configure keybindings.

Gnome 3 Shell

Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts and create a Launcher shortcut[1].

KDE

Go to System Settings[2]> Shortcuts and Gestures > Global Shortcuts[3] and assign a custom keybinding, or

Assign a KDE shortcut to your appliation launcher[4]. You may need a .desktop file for your application to use this.

  1. Unlock Widgets.
  2. Right-click in launcher and click Edit Applications...
  3. Find the app you want to assign a shortcut

Other

Otherwise you can use xbindkeys. Arch Wiki has a xbindkeys tutorial worth reading.

[1] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Keybindings
[2] http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kde-workspace/systemsettings/using-kapp.html#starting
[3] http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kde-workspace/systemsettings/general.html
[4] https://askubuntu.com/questions/90567/quickly-launch-any-app-in-kde-with-a-shortcut

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