trying to work/code on a split keyboard where half the symbols are on a layer is a trip...but gosh darnit I want to make this work.
i wrote a simple test and may have given myself a headache. that might just be jest though.
- they/she
- trashcat.space/
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in reply to @trashcataria's post:
oh man DM me if you wanna talk about keyboard layouts. i've collected some great advice and come up with what i think is the best layout for ease of memorization and comfort in typing :)
I just added a symbol layer and a navigation layer to my laptop keyboard with kanata, and it made me want to evolve my programmable keyboard layout as well.
my favorite trick is a macro key that does various symbol pairs based on modifiers.
I'd love to hear your ideas
you can peep my layout as ascii-art C code here https://github.com/wavebeem/qmk_firmware/blob/wavebeem/keyboards/helix/rev2/keymaps/wavebeem5/keymap.c
the gist of it is the main left thumb button is SHIFT and the main right thumb button is SPACE. i combine this with an arrow key modifier on left thumb and a symbols modifier on right thumb. i combine the symbol modifier with shift to get the "shifted" version of keys, so i didn't have to memorize two layers for symbols, or change their positions. and the symbol positions as closely match their grouping on a standard keyboard as possible
a friend gave me the shift on thumb idea and i've never looked back
i haven't really seen other people do "arrows on the left" while also keeping them on home row, but that's a game changer for me. i hate shifting my hand to WASD for arrows or whatever. that being said, i still use WASD for gaming... i keep meaning to switch to ESDF for gaming same way as i do for arrows, but i just keep putting it off hahaha.
i also have a dedicated toggle layer for gaming since some of the keys in my normal map can't be rebound for games seeing as they're layer keys :(((( it's annoying to toggle that all the time but oh well.
ah, I have numbers on home row and shifted symbols above. i use homerow mods and I prefer to avoid the shift.
I definitely need dedicated gaming layers.
yeah having numbers on the QWERT row felt like the least adjustment to my brain. it took time to get used to using two thumbs at once, but i'm gucci now :)
yeah I started off using thumb mods on an ergodox to ease my pinkies, but between thumb clusters that are too stretchy for my hands and my phone i have had to move everything but space back off to pinkies, letter holds, or combos to protec thumbs
in reply to @trashcataria's post:
yeah it's challenging lol. Split keyboard is fun but also a challenge for anyone who doesn't do the style of home row-based touch-typing you're Supposed to Do (which I have never done consistently) and which, generally, does not translate that well to programming IMO
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