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QMK and Keyboards

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Re: QMK and Keyboards

#71

Post by kobalsky »

keyle wrote: post #68
skidd0 wrote: post #66

When I started getting some RSI from coding all day, I looked for solutions. I ultimately settled on a split keyboard (separating the left and right hand more, less cramped in front at odd wrist angles) with a bunch of thumb keys (to act as modifiers, much easier to use than pinkie based mods) and a folding tripod stand for each so i could "tent" each keyboard out at an angle that matched my natural resting hand post…

What language programming gives you RSI? I spend around 50 times the time thinking and navigating than typing code. And with LLM completion I barely type nowadays. I thought RSI was mostly for documentation writers and emails people. Ref: programming for 25+ years. I only had problems when my posture was bad. Lucky I guess.

if everything you do is move over stuff from the whiteboard to the computer yeah you wont type much.

but that’s not the kind of programming that exists, there’s a lot of trench digging.

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#72

Post by LilBytes »

stavros wrote: post #61
rgoulter wrote: post #3

The most common misconception I see about QMK keyboards (especially keyboards which stray far from the traditional form, like in OP's) is about small keyboards. The most common kind of small keyboards are just like laptop keyboards, and try and fit a keyboard into a smaller space (and the omitted keys get relegated to being behind Fn key). These tend to retain the impractically big spacebar of a typical keyboard, out…

I made one with four thumb keys and I love it: https://www.stavros.io/posts/george-i-made-a-keyboard/finish... I should write up how I did it, it's now years I've been sitting on that post.

I didn't make my own but I have a UHK v2 with a similar setup, this photo isn't my own (so don't ask me about the mapping choice of the keys shown) but it's identical to this:

https://kagi.com/proxy/uhk60v2-gmk-oblivion-scaled.jpeg?c=4N...

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#73

Post by rgoulter »

nsajko wrote: post #57
rgoulter wrote: post #3

The most common misconception I see about QMK keyboards (especially keyboards which stray far from the traditional form, like in OP's) is about small keyboards. The most common kind of small keyboards are just like laptop keyboards, and try and fit a keyboard into a smaller space (and the omitted keys get relegated to being behind Fn key). These tend to retain the impractically big spacebar of a typical keyboard, out…

What's the misconception, then?

I frequently see comments saying things along the lines of "I'm a programmer, and so my keyboard needs the Function keys", "why do these keyboards not have F1-F12 keys", etc.

That seems to have the "laptop-style keyboard" model in mind: where pressing keys like F5 is cumbersome on a laptop keyboard since it involves holding a Fn key with the pinky finger.

Whereas, with small keyboards like the Ferris (that one of the other replies mentioned).. the keyboard can be so small because it doesn't need to be any bigger. People see "34 keys" and think "104 keys - 70 keys".. whereas the more significant detail is the Ferris allows each thumb to use two keys each. -- With these 40%-and-smaller keyboards, the Fn keys can be put on the thumb keys, and this makes it as easy to type F5 as it is to type an uppercase 'A'.

Similarly: although 40%-and-smaller keyboards will be more complicated to use than a typical keyboard, people discount the cost of moving the hand. With your hands rested on home row, in order to use nav keys, your hands will either have to move from home row, or you'll need to hold down some kind of Fn modifier. -- I see "move hand and hit the key" stated as "just hit the key".

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#74

Post by ThatPlayer »

tehnub wrote: post #54
crote wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to look into Vial[0]. It's essentially an addition to QMK which allows you to do exactly that. [0]: https://get.vial.today/

You might want to try via ( https://www.caniusevia.com ) instead, actually. I know at least Bastard Keyboards switched from vial to via because vial-qmk (the vial fork of qmk_firmware) was lagging 9+ months behind upstream qmk at one point.

One feature that made me prefer vial for custom macropads is being able to embed the keyboard definitions that via/vial needs within the firmware. A lot more setup and forget rather than having to deal with additional files to be able to change my keymap. Especially when I'm gifting these to friends.

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#75

Post by qmk_man »

I feel like with keyboards and QMK there is only so much you can do before its probably worth your time to learn some steno instead unless you really need to repeat keys a lot. There is a bit of a learning curve, but its not much harder than messing with all the layers and layouts. The main benefit is that its a lot easier to make a new dictionary that adds more functionality without having to modify the keyboard letters at all.

Basically, you pick a cluster of letters to act as the modifier on one hand, and then a pattern you want to enter for the command on the other hand. For example, all my symbol commands start with ASDR + a pattern from UIOJKL. So like ASDR+UJ, ASDR+UIO ASDR+UJOL etc. If you just look at the shape of the letters that you make when you press them it makes more sense. My movement commands start with QWER or ASDF (for selection) and then (you guesssed it) UIOJKL. So say you happen to install a new Emacs package and want to make chords for all the commands. I make AWD + and then (you guesssed it) UIOJKL. And then, I don't have to type the command again.

You can also type individual letters (and should practice until you can hit 30-40WPM) and don't need to memorize that many words if you don't want to. I actually stopped after like 200 or so because I don't feel the need to.

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#76

Post by mohaine »

zvmaz wrote: post #53
rrradical wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like it took a month to get fully used to and then I haven’t looked back. I did have an RSI motivation.

Are you able to switch back and forth between staggered and columnar?

Yes. Without even thinking about it.

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#77

Post by bobsmooth »

preya2k wrote: post #32

I have a newbie question around Keyboard firmware: I built a simple Macro-Pad based on the RP2040. I want to use it under macOS for application-specific functionality. However, I cannot find a firmware that allows me to change/define Macros during runtime. I find it very cumbersome to always compile and flash a new firmware, whenever I want to change a simple Macro. What am I missing?

Configure the macropad to send uncommon key combinations and use something like Keyboard Maestro to do the rest.

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#78

Post by GuestHNUser »

mynegation wrote: post #16

I considered using something like that, but my concern that it is going to ruin my muscle memory for the situations when I cannot use it - eg locked down environments at work. So I stick to whatever can be done with standard OS capabilities.

It's been a non-issue for me. I work on a standard qwerty laptop keyboard once or twice a month, but use a colemak split keyboard the rest. The worst thing that happens is I hit the wrong keys in my vim motions until my hands adjust to the standard keyboard again, but that stops happening after 5 minutes of typing.

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#79

Post by LAC-Tech »

skidd0 wrote: post #66

When I started getting some RSI from coding all day, I looked for solutions. I ultimately settled on a split keyboard (separating the left and right hand more, less cramped in front at odd wrist angles) with a bunch of thumb keys (to act as modifiers, much easier to use than pinkie based mods) and a folding tripod stand for each so i could "tent" each keyboard out at an angle that matched my natural resting hand post…

Hmm that's interesting to me. I'm currently on a Planck EZ, I like it but would like my hands a little further apart, and the idea of using my thumb for more modifiers is definitely interesting.

Had a look at the Corne but didn't want to lose keys (not interested in homerow mods, and I like having keys like ctrl on both sides of the board). Kyria might be the thing for me..

Re: QMK and Keyboards

#80

Post by nightowl_games »

LilBytes wrote: post #72
stavros wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I made one with four thumb keys and I love it: https://www.stavros.io/posts/george-i-made-a-keyboard/finish... I should write up how I did it, it's now years I've been sitting on that post.

I didn't make my own but I have a UHK v2 with a similar setup, this photo isn't my own (so don't ask me about the mapping choice of the keys shown) but it's identical to this: https://kagi.com/proxy/uhk60v2-gmk-oblivion-scaled.jpeg?c=4N...

How'd you pick UHK over the moonlander and ergodox?
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