Designing a 36-key custom keyboard layout (2021)

I will admit, I type exclusively on 40% keyboards. I used to have a Happy Hacking Keyboard, (in fact, the original Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) with separate PS/2, Sun and ADB cables, still have the board and cables), then the HHKB USB, then the HHKB 2. One day I saw a 40%, in fact an original "minivan" by "The Van Keyboards" and thought I would give it a shot. For someone who uses the computer all day, this was an advancement over the HHKB in the same way the HHKB was an advancement over the 104:

* Your hands move a lot less during typing.

* Your hand is much (_much_) closer to the mouse to grab it.

Even though there is a slight learning curve using layers, after a short while it becomes just like the muscle reflex for "hit shift to use the alphanumerics", etc. When I have to run into the data center or go somewhere and use a "real" keyboard for a moment, I am reminded of just what a huge time difference it is to grab the mouse, or reach for keys like PGUP/PGDWN, etc. It may not be for everyone, but I advocate for giving small keyboards (even split ones) a try.

My daily drivers are 44-keys, keyboard.io Atreus layout. It's taken me quite a bit of tuning to avoid excessive chording with what's on each layer while keeping things conceptually related, but it feels like I've had fewer trade-offs to navigate than this. It does surprise me that this particular configuration of keys (5x4+2) isn't more popular - you don't have quite the number of contortions that the 5x3+3 pads force you into, and you don't have the bulk and extra stretch of the next common size up, which seems to be 6x4+2...

I’m going the opposite way. I had a smaller keyboard (60% maybe) but I got one with the F-keys recently. Because I can assign one or more macros to each dedicated button.

I am considering a second keyboard exclusively to be a macro pad, but my KVM setup is already at its limits.

Reading those keyboards posts, and the accompanying replies, make me feel like an unwashed troglodyte; 96-key is the lowest I am willing to go.

I think it makes sense to try to get down to 34 keys. The two keys that require being pressed with a curled thumb sure don't feel too ergonomic. I can recommend Callum-style mods[1] to get there, which are a sane alternative to home row mods.

[1] https://github.com/callum-oakley/qmk_firmware/tree/master/us...

I had it as a mind game for a while to design keyboard layouts that would be optimal for Swedish, German and English (my main languages). I found that you can only get so far with algorithmic approaches. I liked the ones I designed without computer help much better than the one i made with generic algorithms or machine learning, despite being worse on paper. Neither "combos" or distance travelled explained what made the layouts good.

Now, I never used any of the layouts for more than a month or two, but it was still a fun experiment.

i use a old Logitec G15 Keyboard (the first one) for every computer- i even bought 6 keyboards as a "stock" to have replacements