Fbterm

fcitx-fbterm

Version	0.2.0
Dependency	fbterm
Written In	C
License	GPLv2
Website	http://github.com/fcitx/fcitx-fbterm

Intro

Let you use fcitx under fbterm.

This wiki page is written for fcitx-fbterm 0.2.0 or higher.

Prepare

In order to make fbterm can use input method.

sudo setcap 'cap_sys_tty_config+ep' /usr/bin/fbterm # required to let fbterm get key-sequence

And add your account to video group with (use ls -l /dev/fb0 to check the user group):

sudo gpasswd -a <your username> video

or (it's NOT safe because it sets setuid.)

sudo chmod u+s /usr/bin/fbterm

Notice, if you don't use KMS (Kernel mode settings, in other words, open source display driver), you must start fbterm with root.

When fcitx is already running under X

For example, if your X is :0 (this is the default case for desktop user).

You can use

fcitx-fbterm-helper

To start fbterm. If your display is not 0, for example, it's running as :1, you can use

fcitx-fbterm-helper -d 1

to override it.

If there is no error, then everything should work, one additional thing you need pay attention is, fbterm hardcodes Ctrl+Space as input method trigger key, this is not controlled by fcitx and not changable.

Without X or have some problem

fcitx-fbterm-helper -l

It will launch new fcitx. And fcitx will be killed when fbterm ends.

If there is already a fcitx running, fcitx-fbterm-helper will refuse to work, you can use

killall fcitx

to kill existing fcitx.

Troubleshoot

If you meet some trouble about keyboard not reaction, screen artifacts, you can first try Ctrl+Alt+E (force fbterm to exit), if this doesn't work and you have enabled magic key (sysctl, kernel.sysrq = 1), you can try only sysrq + r (not the full reisub!), this will force keyboard input to forward to kernel, then you can switch between tty.