Set up a laptop for two keyboard layouts

This setup keeps US and UK layouts available per window, maps Caps Lock to Escape, and enables touchpad tapping and two-finger scrolling. Change the IDs to the layouts you actually use.

Lua

gnoblin.configure {
    input_sources = {
        sources = {
            {type = "xkb", id = "us"},
            {type = "xkb", id = "gb"},
        },
        per_window = true,
    },
    input = {
        keyboard = {
            xkb_options = {"caps:escape", "grp:alt_shift_toggle"},
        },
        touchpad = {
            tap_to_click = true,
            tap_and_drag = true,
            disable_while_typing = true,
            two_finger_scrolling_enabled = true,
        },
    },
}

The source list replaces the active layouts, and the XKB option list replaces the active keyboard options. Include every layout and option you want to keep.

Setting	Type and accepted values	Default	Effect
`input_sources.sources`	Array of `{type, id}` records. `type` is `"xkb"` or `"ibus"`; `id` is a nonempty source ID.	Empty; Gnoblin leaves Mutter's current keymap in place.	Replaces the available keyboard sources. Choose IDs from the keyboard layouts or input methods installed on your system.
`input_sources.per_window`	Boolean	`false`	Remembers and restores each window's source. Unset windows inherit the source active at first focus.
`input.keyboard.xkb_options`	Array of XKB option strings	Session keyboard options stay in use when omitted.	Replaces keyboard options such as `"caps:escape"` and `"grp:alt_shift_toggle"`.
`input.touchpad.tap_to_click`	Boolean	The session touchpad setting stays in use when omitted.	Enables or disables tapping to click.
`input.touchpad.tap_and_drag`	Boolean	The session touchpad setting stays in use when omitted.	Enables or disables dragging by tapping and moving.
`input.touchpad.disable_while_typing`	Boolean	The session touchpad setting stays in use when omitted.	Temporarily disables touchpad input while typing.
`input.touchpad.two_finger_scrolling_enabled`	Boolean	The session touchpad setting stays in use when omitted.	Enables or disables two-finger scrolling.

The source IDs and XKB option strings depend on installed layouts, input methods, and XKB rules. Use the Keyboard panel in GNOME Settings to see the available sources. localectl list-x11-keymap-options lists the XKB options available from the system's installed rules.

With per_window = true, switching focus restores that window's last selected layout. For example, select US in a terminal and UK in a document window, then move the pointer between them with sloppy focus enabled.

Alt+Shift cycles layouts in the focused window. This follows focus; it does not choose a layout automatically from the app ID.

If tap-and-drag feels too easy to trigger, remove that line and retain tap to click. Unsupported touchpad gestures are ignored by devices that do not offer them. Apply the change with gnoblinctl config reload, then test typing, clicking and switching layouts in two windows.

References: input sources, keyboard, and touchpad.