Ubuntu – Simplest way to swap esc key with ` key

To close this one, I'll add my current fix. Maybe someone can use it too. Put this in a script, autostart it with DE:

setxkbmap -option caps:backspace
setxkbmap -option shift:both_capslock
xmodmap -e "clear Lock"

I figured it out. Put the following in ~/.Xmodmap:

clear control
clear mod4

keycode 105 =
keycode 206 =

keycode 133 = Control_L NoSymbol Control_L
keycode 134 = Control_R NoSymbol Control_R
keycode 37 = Super_L NoSymbol Super_L

add control = Control_L
add control = Control_R
add mod4 = Super_L

To test, run the command:

xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

To make it run every time, add it to Startup Applications.

This should work on any MacBook Pro; the issue was that Xmodmap was assigning Super_L to the left and right command keys, and Control_L to the left control key. For some reason, by default, Ubuntu thinks that the MacBook Pro has a standard 105 key keyboard (probably thinking about the full Apple Keyboard) but that is wrong. Anyway, I reassigned the keycodes to the right keysims, then assigned the keysims to control and mod4.