Ubuntu – What are the differences between the different input methods

ibusinput-method

I am currently using iBus as input method (I am learning Japanese and Korean) which is default in Ubuntu but I don't like it very much (not sure why though).

I know there are other IMs like SCIM or uim but I couldn't find any comparisons.

I read that SCIM was replaced by iBus because it was buggy and didn't have support for gtk3 so I probably won't use this one but what are differences between various IMs and why is iBus preferred?

Best Answer

My experience will answer your question partially. I could get my wishes only working with SCIM, even though it’s largely unmaintained. iBus couldn’t do it. I need IME for Chinese:

  • Wubi86 input (structure-based character input)
  • smart pinyin input (sound-based character input)
  • number-pinyin-to-accent-pinyin (letter-based letter input: I write pin1yin1 and I get pīnyīn)
  • switch between those via hotkey (iBus can’t do this; I use F5, F6, F7, F8)
  • don’t screw my dead keys (e.g. my Xserver is configured to do give me ü and é typing ¨u and ´e respectively – some input methods mess with this)
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