ErgoMechKeyboards

5873 readers

4 users here now

Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

Rules

Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

No Spam

No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.

No Buy/Sell/Trade

This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.

Some useful links

EMK wiki
Split keyboard compare tool
Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

Keyboard recommendations for programmers? (reddthat.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/ergomechkeyboards

29 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So I switched to a low-profile angled keyboard basically identical to this: https://www.amazon.com.au/Perixx-PERIBOARD-805-Wireless-Ergonomic-Bluetooth/dp/B08KJ8JW9Q/ref=asc_df_B08KJ8JW9Q/?tag=googleshopmob-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463603004336&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15645889703857693714&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071296&hvtargid=pla-1017854421494&psc=1

It's been quite a few years now, and my RSI type issues have reduced a lot in that time, but I'm not sure it's really cutting it anymore. Starting to get wrist pains again. So I think it's time to up my keyboard game, but things get expensive going to the next level and the choices are kind of overwhelming. So I'm just hoping for some recommendations really.

I'm a programmer so that's an important factor, I don't want some weird key layout that's good for typing English but rubbish for programming. But I also don't really want to spend loads of time fully customising it. But I'm happy to learn a new layout if research or whatever supports it being better.

Well anyway, any thoughts welcome!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I use Colemak DH with a numpad and nav layer (there's a media layer, but it doesn't see regular use) and Callum-style mods for my layout. I code in python, rust, typescript, sql, latex (and other documentation formats).

34-keys is my sweet spot. My daily is typically a charybdis (home) or sweep (office), and I switch between a totem, zaphod, and 34-key planck periodically.

The key to my layout is callum mods on the left hand layers, with command modifiers underneath (i.e., zxcdv) and alt f and b above. W and Q positions are transparent.

The nav layer is on the right hand, with about what you'd expect (arrows on home row).

The numpad is also on the right hand, and I use the num row keys instead of the numpad, so I get all of my symbols there, too. Various brackets are combos on the num layer (in QMK; all layers in ZMK).

I also have combos for (semi-)colon, tab, capsword, and underscore. And the media layer.