Physical Keyboard Shortcuts for Thunderbird android app

[hmj]

Please add support for physical keyboard shortcuts in the android app. It will make the app more usable on Android tablets with physical keyboard, Chromebooks and the upcoming Googlebooks. Gmail android app implement these shortcuts nicely.

[Jon]

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[kiki_2233]

I would like to add a phone-specific use case to this existing keyboard-shortcut idea: Android 8+ phones with a D-pad and a twelve-key/T9 keypad, such as the AT-M120. These devices need predictable focus and scrolling to read and compose mail without depending on touch.

An optional mode, disabled by default, could provide:
- Visible whole-message focus, Center/Enter to open, and restoration of the same message focus when returning to the list.
- Independent number-key 0-9 choices: Default, Delete, Archive, or Toggle star. Custom actions would apply only to the currently focused message row, never to editors, search, the reader, or dialogs. Custom bindings would override only the mode's default list navigation; typing would stay with the installed input method.
- Reliable reader focus and scrolling for long plain-text/HTML mail, plus keyboard access to composer fields and attachments. Call and End Call would retain system behavior.

An exploratory prototype is available in my fork:
https://github.com/Vkiki2233/thunderbird-android/tree/codex/optional-keypad-navigation

I opened upstream PR #11835 prematurely, before maintainer alignment, and have now withdrawn it. Could the Thunderbird team advise whether this use case fits the product direction and what a small first contribution should cover, perhaps list focus and reader scrolling?