http://xmonad.org/xmonad-docs/xmonad-contrib/XMonad-Actions-Submap.html
may help your C-t problem, although I hated C-t as a modifier even in
Ratpoison and eliminated it as fast as possible...
On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 12:50 PM, Rafael Ibraim
"run-or-raise": Type an application name. If it's already started, get it focused; if not, launch it.
I used and helped develop Stump before switching to Xmonad, so you'll be pleased to know there's a whole module devoted to run-or-raise functionality: http://xmonad.org/xmonad-docs/xmonad-contrib/XMonad-Actions-WindowGo.html
"execute": Type anything and it will be executed like "bash -c <whathever-you-typed>". Simple as that.
From my config:
import XMonad.Prompt (greenXPConfig) import XMonad.Prompt.Shell (shellPrompt, prompt, safePrompt) ... , ((m .|. shiftMask,xK_c), prompt (term ++ " -e") greenXPConfig) -- gwern http://www.gwern.net