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Today's Mac software nugget is a kernel extension named [Double Command][1]. Originally intended as a way for Powerbook users to remap the Enter key as a second Command key, Double Command evolved over time to become a full keyboard remapping tool.

One of the common complaints from "switchers" is that Mac keyboards swap the position of the alt and command keys from what Windows users are familar with (they also name them differently, instead of Alt and Windows, Mac calls "Alt" "Option" and the "Windows" key becomes "Apple/Command").

If you'd like to get your familiar Windows key mapping back or if you'd like to use a Windows keyboard with your Mac, Double Command is the ticket.

Double Command installs as a Preference Pane and allows you to remap keys and save the settings on a user or system-wide basis.

Once you have the Double Command Preference Pane installed you can remap keys according to the rules you see in the screenshot below. Personally I just remap Shift-Backspace as a forward delete key, a functionality I got used to because BBEdit allows you to remap it within the application.

If you happen to be one of those people with an [aversion to the Caps Lock key][3] you can map it to an extra Control key.

If you're feeling funky you can even hack Double Command and remap additional keys. As a poster in the [Double Command forum points out][2], the replacement of keys is handled by a file called Substitute.cpp, and all the key code definitions are in a file named MBHIDHack.h. You'll need to look up the key codes on your own and I can't vouch for the success of this method since I've never tried it.

Double Command is free and open source under v2 of the GPL.

[1]: http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/ "Double Command"
[2]: http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?thread_id=1594710&forum_id=221238 "Remapping other keys"
[3]: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71606-0.html?tw=rss.index "Death to Caps Lock"