kbdrate

kbdrate [-s]
kbdrate [-r rate] [-d delay]

-s
    Display current keyboard repeat rate and delay settings.

-r rate
    Set the keyboard repeat rate in characters per second (CPS). Valid values are floating-point numbers between 2.0 and 30.0.

-d delay
    Set the delay before key repeat begins, in milliseconds (ms). Valid values are integers between 250 and 1000.

The kbdrate command allows users to adjust the keyboard repeat rate and delay settings on the Linux console (TTY). The repeat rate determines how many characters per second are generated when a key is held down, while the delay specifies the initial pause before the key starts repeating. These settings primarily affect the behavior of the keyboard in text-mode consoles and virtual terminals.

While modern graphical desktop environments (like GNOME, KDE, Xfce) usually manage their own keyboard settings independently of kbdrate, this command remains relevant for server environments, embedded systems, or when working directly in a non-graphical Linux console. By fine-tuning these parameters, users can customize the keyboard's responsiveness to their preference, making typing more comfortable and efficient.

The command provides options to set both the repeat rate (in characters per second, ranging from 2.0 to 30.0) and the delay (in milliseconds, ranging from 250 to 1000). It can also display the currently active settings.

kbdrate primarily affects the keyboard behavior on the Linux console (TTYs). It generally does not influence keyboard settings within graphical desktop environments (like X.Org or Wayland), which manage their own input device configurations. Changes made with kbdrate are typically temporary and revert to default upon reboot unless configured to be loaded at startup (e.g., via init scripts or systemd services).

While kbdrate sets the system-wide keyboard parameters for the console, graphical environments like X.Org have their own mechanisms to control keyboard settings, often configured via utilities like xset or desktop environment-specific settings panels. Therefore, changes made with kbdrate might not be reflected in your graphical session.

Changes made with kbdrate are not persistent across reboots by default. To make them permanent, you would typically need to add the command to a system startup script (e.g., /etc/rc.local, or a systemd unit file) or a user's shell profile.

The kbdrate command is part of the kbd package, which provides various utilities for configuring the Linux console keyboard. Its functionality dates back to the early days of Linux, providing a simple and direct way to control fundamental keyboard characteristics for text-mode environments. While its usage has decreased in prominence with the widespread adoption of graphical user interfaces, it remains a stable and reliable tool for its intended purpose on the console.

setleds(1), loadkeys(1), xset(1)