Click, click, click. A browsing session seems impossible without the help of the mouse these days. However, with a little training, it's clear that the keyboard is a superior option when it comes to speed and precision. So how do we reconcile the average keyboard with a web full of icons and links? With the help of Vimium, an extension compatible with Chrome and Firefox that adds multiple keyboard shortcuts.
The idea of using the keyboard to control browsers is hardly new. Mozilla explored that possibility with the Ubiquity project in 2008, and later forks like Cato emerged, but they never gained traction because the learning curve tends to be too steep, or the user is forced to type out full commands.
In contrast, an old and defunct extension for Firefox called Mouseless Browsing solved that problem by adding small shortcuts to each link on a web page. The best part was that we didn't have to memorize the shortcuts, because they all appeared on screen. If you're interested in a more modern variant, then look no further than Vimium, compatible with Chrome and Firefox.
Getting started with Vimium
Once installed Vimium, press Shift+F or Alt+F on the web page to reveal all the generated keyboard shortcuts. The J and K keys serve for scroll (but it's better to use Ctrl+E and Ctrl+Y), while Shift+J and Shift+K correspond to Ctrl+Shift+Tab and Ctrl+Tab to switch between tabs. Many of the shortcuts are compound, meaning they use two keys. You can type one letter followed by another, or hold down the first letter and then tap the second. To access the full list of commands in Vimium, use the question mark key.
The problem with Vimium is that we've detected some conflicts. For example, J and K are supposed to handle scrolling, but on more than one occasion, the extension uses those keys as shortcuts. Then other limitations arise, such as Google actively blocking Vimium. That means we can't take advantage of its benefits on sites like Gmail, Drive, and the Chrome Web Store itself (though YouTube does work). In short, download Vimium and give it a try. Personally, I don't feel very comfortable with the extension, but your experience might be different.
Download Vimium
Download Vimium (Chrome): Click here
Download Vimium (Firefox): Click here
