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Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

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Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#91

Post by malfist »

bee_rider wrote: post #57
dawnofdusk wrote: post #11

Typing fast is an underrated skill for developers. A lot of the value added by various intelligent tab completion and LLMs is easily replicated by typing variable and function names at 100+ wpm. Not a fan, however, of the desire to disparage the "right" way of doing things that's done in this blog. I type the "proper" way, home row and all, and can reach 150+wpm with high accuracy. So, based on this evidence, you're…

I sorta disagree, however fast you can type, the computer can manipulate text faster. Our brains are huge slow things. We should employ them at what they are good at, coming up with better abstractions and better frameworks. The desire to type faster is a strong signal indicating that you need better macros.

Saving five minutes by typing faster is less valuable than spending five minutes thinking.

Typing speed is not a limiting factor for writing good software. And I say that as someone who can type faster than most of my peers

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#92

Post by w10-1 »

Jcampuzano2 wrote: post #67
ashwinsundar wrote: post #50

I started using an ortholinear split keyboard last year, and that was a huge adjustment. I went from typing 100+wpm on a simple membrane keyboard, to less than half of that. I had to basically relearn typing just to accomodate the ortholinear layout, not to mention that the split layout meant I could no longer "cheat" and use my right hand to type keys on the left side of the keyboard when I was feeling lazy. I did l…

Went through the same process last year due primarily to trying to find a solution to my cubital tunnel syndrome. I dropped down to like legit 20wpm from ~120wpm. I'm back to around 100 or so but a lot more comfortable and with less pain. I recommend either the Kinesis Advantage 360 pro or the glove 80 to anybody who uses a keyboard a lot for a living. I tried both and frequently switch between them. Another thing I…

> Kinesis Advantage 360 > literally the lightest keycaps you can

I second recommendations for the Kinesis advantage layout and low-force keys.

Aside from direct ergonomic benefit, both the layout and low-force ends up training one to much better habits.

I go ~50% faster and 2X longer on Kinesis Advantage with low force.

Don't wait for inflamed nerves to reduce the ergonomic friction in your life. It makes work much easier.

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#93

Post by DavidVoid »

This just makes me want to get back into learning stenography again. It requires a hell of a lot of practice, but being able to write at 200 WPM (without frantic finger movement) would be quite nice.

Here's a demo/explainer at 200 WPM for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jVXrX5TDk4

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#94

Post by anonymars »

esseph wrote: post #77
nand_gate wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

WASD is my home row, still 120-140. I lowkey judge any developer who is noticable slow at typing as I can't imagine they're using a computer effectively at such a pace given how much keyboard hitting needs to occur during regular use alone. Not that it's a high bar but I'm surprised more companies don't test wpm when hiring over rote crap like LC.

Typing fast may be the least important thing towards developing a well designed, long-lived product.

Maybe, but I often think fellow developers would get more mileage out of Mavis Beacon than the latest flavor of training from Pluralsight/AWS/etc

When effective comments, appropriate variable names, and the like can flow effortlessly from your fingertips, you're more likely to use them. Plus you're not expending your precious mental energy on the mechanics of typing out your ideas.

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#95

Post by orthoxerox »

dawnofdusk wrote: post #47
jchw wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to type >140 WPM at high accuracy when I was younger without home row. These days I think I likely sit closer to 90 WPM or so, since I really just don't really need to type super fast very often and am pretty out of practice. I reckon home row is probably not terrible or anything, but like a lot of weird old ergonomics advice, I just don't trust the idea that you must or possibly even should use home row. For…

Staying at home row is not really about ergonomics. The best thing you can do (without breaking the bank, i.e., no bespoke split keyboard setups) for your hand ergonomics at the computer is to get a vertical mouse and tilt your keyboard downwards and away from you (the opposite of what most keyboard feet do, which is tilt your keyboard up and towards you). Both of these keep your wrist neutral/in slight flexion, wher…

When my old mouse died, I bought a vertical mouse and sold it after a week. I was just too cumbersome to use. When I use a mouse, I keep the forearm and the wrist static and move it mainly with the tips of my thumb and pinkie. This was impossible with a vertical mouse, which expects you to grab it with the whole hand.

I found a regular mouse instead, but a decidedly asymmetrical one. This way my hand can stay in a less pronated position while still controlling the mouse the way I am used to.

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#96

Post by w10-1 »

JohnMakin wrote: post #4

> Plot twist: I don't type "correctly" at all. My fingers just go wherever they want. It's like anarchist typing. My left pinky probably hasn't touched the 'A' key in months, but somehow I'm still in the 99.5 percentile. Turns out the "proper way" is just a suggestion. Like following PEP 8 or using semicolons in JavaScript. Sure, it's nice, but if your way works better, who cares? This is super interesting - I have t…

> I typically just use the index/middle finger on my left hand that covers most of the left hand side of the keyboard, depending on word (index might reach for the 'y' key sometimes) and the pinky for shift key. Right hand uses mostly the index, ring (for hitting backspace and enter) and thumb (for spacebar).

fwiw, you might be avoiding the ulnar nerve usage. Perhaps that makes things easier for your brain/cerebellum and spine, which then only have to coordinate movement in one nerve pathway.

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#97

Post by jwpapi »

I think one of the smartest decisions of my career was that I learned NEO when I was 16, which is like DVORAK, but with german letters. It also has a lot of hotkeys for important coding characters like ({*\/ on the home row.

I reached 130wpm in german once and I can’t fathom how much better it made my life. Coding is not awkward at all. This along with the thinkpad nipple makes a really smooth life at the computer. Maybe sometimes even a bit too much.

I totally can confirm that trying to go faster is not helping. I remember that even during Fortnite grind sessions, where you did edit parcours. Your best bet to go faster is to go perfect. You’ll almost not notice how you get faster. It is actually the same for the piano or for tennis a lot of coordination is best learnt by not making mistakes.

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#98

Post by _dain_ »

mattlondon wrote: post #21
colanderman wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also type unorthodoxly and quickly. Hands held diagonal (wrists straight), no particular finger-letter assignments. Closer to playing a piano. 33 years typing like this, going strong. I can't think of any benefit of home row typing other than it's easy to teach in a prescriptive manner.

Same here with diagonal hands and straight wrists. I sometimes wonder "why" I haven't got RSI but I assume it is because typing the "wrong way" allows you to keep your hands in a natural comfortable position, rather than the awkward positioning for wrists elbows shoulders and fingers required to do it the "right way". That and chiclet keyboards being so much more comfortable to use than big chunky keys

>rather than the awkward positioning for wrists elbows shoulders and fingers required to do it the "right way".

Biggest improvement to my typing QOL was getting one of those split keyboards[1]. I can rotate the two pieces independently so that my forearm-wrist-hand-fingers system form a straight, relaxed line, both pointing a little towards each other. This is much more comfortable than the outward-splaying pose that most single-piece keyboards force your wrists into. I'm convinced this will reduce the risk of RSI and other hand injuries as I age. Stops me from hunching and constricting my chest too; it allows for a better upper back posture and deeper breathing.

Secondary benefit is being able to remap the keys, particularly punctuation, into more reachable places.

[1] Moonlander Mk1, but really any split one will do.

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#99

Post by rconti »

n42 wrote: post #52
dylan604 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't even come close to groking how one types without home row hand placement. How does that even work? Where are your hands if not starting at home row?

I’m not sure if this how other people do it but my hands sort of float around as I type rather than being fixed in one place. They gravitate towards home row but I was never trained “classically”. I type (peak) 140wpm. my understanding of the homerow style is that you have a sort of assigned finger for each key. while I type, there is plenty of overlap between fingers and it's constantly adapting based on where my ha…

I'd never say I'm a classic home-rower, but I do use it as a starting point. My left hand mostly conforms, but I really only use my thumb and first two fingers on my right hand, so i get what you're saying about your hand moving all around.

And, yeah, 120-150wpm. I wonder if "kids these days" don't type as fast because they didn't grow up with IRC and AIM and so on. Of course, they're way faster with their thumbs than I am. My phone typing started bad and gets worse every year (somehow).

Re: Typing 118 WPM broke my brain in the right ways

#100

Post by smohare »

esseph wrote: post #77
nand_gate wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

WASD is my home row, still 120-140. I lowkey judge any developer who is noticable slow at typing as I can't imagine they're using a computer effectively at such a pace given how much keyboard hitting needs to occur during regular use alone. Not that it's a high bar but I'm surprised more companies don't test wpm when hiring over rote crap like LC.

Typing fast may be the least important thing towards developing a well designed, long-lived product.

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