So, after some playing around trying to figure out a preferred physical layout, I decided a Hillside 46 splayed keyboard would be about right. Thanks to Leo at Beekeeb for answering all my questions before ordering and during the build! Surface mount soldering was tricky, but everything works on the first try! I finally can use Dvorak with keycaps in the right place. Keymapping is a work in progress as I am getting used to this, and I am still trying to figure out how to get my Unicode characters to display in Linux (though for the Mac they show up fine). Now for lots of practice to build up new muscle memory, and develop a lighter touch so I don't keep inputting command characters unintentionally.
That's quite an interesting layout. Is the vertical thumbkey easy to press? And what's the right arrow you've got in both thumb clusters? Does having a letter key on the thumb feel natural?
Haha. I had a stock set of keycaps, which didn't have great options for my layout. I've mostly got the thumb clusters mirrored, with space(the right arrows), enter(enter/heart) and tabs on both sides (and backspace and delete mirrored). Left cluster has ESC, with right cluster having a Function layer switch on hold(the F key). I've got layer switch on hold for several of those thumb keys as well. The vertical thumbkey is not the easiest, which is why I put the tab keys there as I don't use them that often. When I clean my keymaps up I'll share an image. I feel the thumb clusters are larger than ideal for me. The board is setup to allow for Rotary encoders in those vertical thumb positions, and if I can find a suitable low profile knob I may end up swapping for a couple.
Aha. That all makes perfect sense. I wouldn't personally have so much duplication, though, and get shift & modkeys on the thumbs to make easy combos, but it's fine if you want them elsewhere. Do you use function keys that often? I just realised I use them so much I forgot to setup a layer for them, but that at least seems like it could go on one of the pinky keys. And a rotary encoder there would make heaps of sense.
Ha! I rarely use them. I also forgot a layer for them until I was reviewing what I had. I also used a minus keycode without the underscore on shift....and editing my keymaps became a bit rough. Yeah, I don't think I'm going to need the duplication, and my right and left thumbs have different resting positions, so I'll probably change things up as I'm finding I only use my right thumb for space and enter.