159 lines
7.5 KiB
Markdown
159 lines
7.5 KiB
Markdown
algernon's layout
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=======================
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This is an unconventional layout for the ErgoDox EZ. For more details about the
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history of the layout, see my
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[blog posts about my ErgoDox journey][blog-ergodox].
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[blog-ergodox]: https://asylum.madhouse-project.org/blog/tags/ergodox/
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Some of the things in the layout only work when one uses Spacemacs and GNOME
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under Linux. Your mileage may vary.
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## Base layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/28f7eb305fdbff943613e1dc7aa9e82b)
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At its core, this is a Dvorak layout, with some minor changes (for example, `-`
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being on the left half, and on the innermost key of the bottom row on the
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right). The more interesting parts are how certain keys behave:
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* The keys on the number row double as function keys, when held for a bit longer
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than an usual tap. This allows me to use the function keys without having to
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switch layers.
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* The `Shift`, `Alt`, and `Control` modifiers are one-shot. When tapped, they
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are considered active for the next key press only. When double tapped, they
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toggle on, until a third, single tap sometime later. When held, they act as
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expected. My usual pattern is that I use these for the next keypress only, so
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this behaviour is perfect. If I need them held, I'll just double-tap.
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* The `GUI` key is special, because when I double-tap it, it sends `GUI + w`,
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which pops up an application selector. It also switches to a one-shot layer,
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where the number row on the left half turns into app selector macros, for the
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most common things I usually want to switch to. Otherwise it behaves as on a
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normal layout.
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* The `ESC` key also doubles as a one-shot cancel key: if tapped while any of
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the one-shot modifiers are in-flight (as in, single-tapped, and not expired
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yet), it cancels all one-shot modifiers. Otherwise it sends the usual keycode.
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* The **Emacs** and **Hun** layer keys are one-shot, the **1Hand** and **STENO**
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keys are toggles.
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* The **Lead** key allows me to type in a sequence of keys, and trigger some
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actions:
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- `LEAD u` enters unicode input mode, by sending the GTK+ key sequence that
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does this.
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- `LEAD l` uses the unicode input method to enter a `λ`.
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- `LEAD s` does a lot of magic to type in a shruggie: `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`
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- `LEAD y` types `\o/`.
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- `LEAD w m` maximises the currently focused window.
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- `LEAD e` makes the [experimental layer](#experimental-layer) the default.
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- `LEAD v` prints the firmware version, the keyboard and the keymap, if
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compiled with a QMK version that has these available.
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## Hungarian layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/b160f6ec90d58c127c114c89f66e9dc9)
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On this layer, the accented characters are at the same position as their base
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variant. For some, which can have other diatribes, the long one is on top,
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short's on bottom. Tapping any of the accented characters takes us back to the
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base layer.
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## Emacs layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/c59c453f9fe1a3238ba1494e7e5c6892)
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This layer is primarily for navigating text - and for some mousing and other
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things, because there was space. Most of the keys should be pretty
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self-explanatory, except for a few:
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* There are three keys on the bottom row of the left side, that change how some
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of the other keys - explained just below - work. The keys are for *Emacs
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mode* (the default), *Terminal mode*, and *Traditional mode*, respectively.
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* The *Visual mode* key (the top big key on the left side) sends the `v` key in
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*Emacs mode*, to enter Visual mode in Spacemacs. In all other modes, it is a
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no-op.
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* The *Copy/Cut* key (the bottom big key on the left side) sends the copy
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command on tap, the cut one when held for longer than a normal tap. The **copy
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command** is `y` in *Emacs mode*, `Ctrl-Shift-c` in *Terminal mode*, and
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`Ctrl-c` in *Traditional mode*. The **cut command** is `x` in *Emacs mode*,
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`Ctrl-Shift-x` in *Terminal Mode* and `Ctrl-x` in *Traditional mode*.
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* The *Paste/Delete* key (the leftmost key on the left thumb cluster) sends the
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paste command on tap, the delete one when held longer than a normal tap. The
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**paste command** is `p` in *Emacs mode*, `Ctrl-Shift-v` in *Terminal mode*,
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and `Ctrl-v` in *Traditional mode*. The **delete command** is `d` in *Emacs
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mode*, and `DEL` in the other two.
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* The `A`, `I` and `R` keys will - after sending themselves - clear the layer
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back to the base layer. This allows a quick escape from the layer.
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## One-handed layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/edff2495135955b8963198dace7f7ece)
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The one-handed layer is used in situations where the right hand is occupied, by
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mousing around, for example. Tapping the `OTHER` key switches which side is
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active. For the most part, keys remain in their usual position. When the right
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half is active, keys are mirrored to the left half.
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The differences are as follows:
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* The `ESC` key has been moved to the bottom row, so the `OTHER` key is easier
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to tap.
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* Most keys on the thumb cluster now have dual uses, and these do not change
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when switching sides:
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- The `Space`/`Backspace` key sends `Space` on tap, `Backspace` when held
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for longer than a normal tap.
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- The `Enter`/`Shift` key sends `Enter` on short-tap, `Shift` on long-tap.
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* The `Apps`/`BASE` key can be used to go back to the base layer, by
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long-tapping it. A short-tap will send the `App` key, as usual.
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## Steno layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/401ef9a84369e47c57f9aedcf0a0d667)
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This is to be used with [Plover](http://www.openstenoproject.org/plover/),
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nothing really fancy here. The **STENO** key toggles the layer on and off, and
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sends the toggle command to Plover too.
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## Experimental layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/6ff50bf71248e05aab5b3fec4fae3d08)
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While using the standard Dvorak layout, I encountered a number of
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inconveniences, and on this layer, I am playing with ideas to make the layout
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feel better. Initially, it was based on [Capewell-Dvorak][cpd], but that too,
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had shortcomings I was not happy with. So now this is something inbetween, with
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own observations thrown in. How it works out in the long run remains to be seen.
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[cpd]: http://www.michaelcapewell.com/projects/keyboard/layout_capewell-dvorak.htm
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# Building
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To make my workflow easier, this layout is maintained in
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[its own repository][algernon:ez-layout]. To build it, you will need the
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[QMK][qmk] firmware checked out, and this repo either checked out, or symlinked
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to `keyboards/ergodox_ez/algernon`. One way to achieve that is this:
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[algernon:ez-layout]: https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout
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[qmk]: https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware
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```
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$ git clone https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware.git
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$ cd qmk_firmware/keyboards/ergodox_ez
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$ git clone https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout.git keymaps/algernon
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$ make KEYMAP=algernon
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```
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From time to time, updates may be submitted back to the QMK repository. If you
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are reading it there, you can build the firmware like any other firmware
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included with it (assuming you are in the root directory of the firmware):
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```
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$ cd keyboards/ergodox_ez
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$ make KEYMAP=algernon
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```
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# License
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The layout, being a derivative of the original TMK firmware which is under the
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GPL-2+, this layout is under the GPL as well, but GPL-3+, rather than the older
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version.
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