T480: FN_CTRL_SWAP

[code4brot]

It would be neat to be able to swap the Fn and Ctrl keys on T480.

Unlike e.g. the XX30 series there is no cmos.default that could be patched as described here: 1087 nor does nvramtool work as there is no coreboot option table in this build.

Best would probably be a configuration option on the heads level to make this agnostic of boards.

While it should be possible to flash the stock firmware, tweak the EC from there then flash heads and have the Fn Ctrl Swap value persist in the EC I found the following workaround to better fit my personal needs:

(inside the heads repo):

1. edit config/coreboot-t480-maximized.config
2. change # CONFIG_H8_FN_CTRL_SWAP is not set
3. to CONFIG_H8_FN_CTRL_SWAP=y
4. build like usual e.g. make BOARD=EOL_t480-maximized CPUS=$(nproc)

NOTE: that this leaves your build version with the -dirty suffix. But it does the trick.

Suggestions and opinions are appreciated!

[tlaurion]

Somewhat related for cmos and non static option table

#1197 (comment)

The idea with option table is to have settings changes kept alive by cmos battery, where static option table results in a file that is read instead of cmos memory.

As said in chat, the goal here is to see what we want. Either pack nvram util in Heads for boards that have enough spi space (Sandy 8mb spi board have less than 100kb left so no go) to be able to switch those settings at runtime from either os or heads or both.

Whiptail could be used to show options that are on to toggle off and off to toggle on and nvram tool used in background to apply changes.

Swapping ctrl and fn is not desired by all, so should be optional, while adding cmos config changes possible should make sure that settings that can be set on won't cause a brick, and removing cmos battery will reset things to safe defaults (and that being documented for all boards).

[tlaurion]

Somewhat related for cmos and non static option table

#1197 (comment)

The idea with option table is to have settings changes kept alive by cmos battery, where static option table results in a file that is read instead of cmos memory.

As said in chat, the goal here is to see what we want. Either pack nvram util in Heads for boards that have enough spi space (Sandy 8mb spi board have less than 100kb left so no go) to be able to switch those settings at runtime from either os or heads or both.

Whiptail could be used to show options that are on to toggle off and off to toggle on and nvram tool used in background to apply changes.

[tlaurion]

See also #274 (comment) on current implementation choices