Its definitely not common. But especially in Unix-like software, referring to the Windows key as Meta introduces unnecessary confusion, especially to newcomers.

Prime example: a lot of newcomers use Nano as their terminal text editor. It refers to the Alt key with the abbreviation M for Meta. So someone who’s already taking a huge plunge into a vast and complicated technical topic has to first learn that M means Meta which means Alt and then also has to learn that in other contexts, Meta means the Windows key.

Now, maybe the solution is for Nano to change, not Plasma. But one way or another, it should be standardized.

Computer keyboards have been around since at least the 70s and the Windows key only started appearing on keyboards with the release of Windows 95. I am a child of the 80s and my first 3 or 4 computers had keyboards with no Windows key.

Mostly older Linux apps refer to Alt as Meta. But since those apps predate the “Windows key”, it seems foolish to also start calling that meta.

Well, no, they aren’t. Cuz they’re two different keys. What you mean is that they’re referred to inconsistently, which is bad in a technical discipline.

I thought “meta” referred to the Alt key and “super” referred to the key that usually has the Winblows logo on it. Was I wrong or is the terminology just inconsistent?