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I have a keyboard that's "missing" essential keys, but I have a special key that I can press with my thumb that changes that every single key does (it's called

I have a keyboard that's "missing" essential keys, but I have a special key that I can press with my thumb that changes that every single key does (it's called a Layer). So I never need to move my wrist to press the arrow keys: just hold the thumb button and press hjkl. Page up is layer+t, page down is layer+g. And so on. It's great, my wrists thank me. I can even program a macro that will trigger an OS shortcut that will send a packet to my Smart Coffee Grinder or tell Alexa to call 911. Or have the F479001600 key you mentioned. There are a bunch of keyboards with this functionality. I personally use a Dygma Raise.

mmh0000 2y ago
I'm familiar with layers; in fact, I have an extensive layer setup in KDE. But then the problem becomes that I can never remember which key under what layer does what action. So, I basically use four keys from my other layers and have given up on all the others I set up. My poor memory is my unique problem. Layering won't help. Having dedicated keys that I can see, though, helps me remember what those do. As someone else suggested, I can put custom labels on the extra keys.
- dyingkneepad 2y ago
  You have it configured in KDE. The cool keyboards allow configuring layers in the keyboard firmware. Yeah it took me a while to get used to my layers, but now it's all muscle memory and I don't even remember which key does what.
  - jwells89 2y ago
    Layouts being configurable in firmware is a must for keyboards for me at this point. Having to rely on OS/DE configuration or especially crappy third party software sucks.
Arainach 2y ago
I like keyboards with layers support, but layers aren't a replacement for sufficient keys. Holding down the layer button means another finger unavailable for hotkeys. For instance, on my keyboard (ZSA Moonlander) I have the function keys in an alternate layer. This isn't a problem for a normal press (layer shift + 2 => F2), but it makes pressing something like Ctrl+Shift+F2 rather painful. Yes, for such shortcuts that I use frequently I can create special custom keys in layers, but when using new apps or particularly complicated apps with lots of hotkeys (IntelliJ) that doesn't scale.
- Pet_Ant 2y ago
  I have a ZSA Moonlander but it makes me want to make a Dactyl Manuform of some of the larger sizes just for those extra keys. https://wylderbuilds.com/all-sizes https://wylderbuilds.com/all-sizes
- derefr 2y ago
  Crazy idea I've always wanted to try: somehow hack a USB foot-pedal to act as a layer key. (Hard, because usually the layers are implemented inside the keyboard's firmware, rather than being processed by the OS. Maybe the foot-pedal would need to plug into the keyboard.)
  - LanternLight83 2y ago
    Layers in software are thing with eg. kmonad or kanata
    - derefr 2y ago
      Doesn't work for keys that don't send keysyms by default but instead act as e.g. media keys if you're not holding a modifier. (Media keys are their own USB HID usage page; the OS keyboard driver doesn't see them.)
- rfoo 2y ago
  You should try to use OSL instead of MO (or TT) as the layer key action: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/one_shot_keys.md https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/one_sho...
- rssoconnor 2y ago
  I eventually went with home-row mods and a miryoku based layout. I've found home-row mods to be quite finicky with respect to timing, but I think overall they are better than not. https://configure.zsa.io/moonlander/layouts/b7yOD/latest/0 https://configure.zsa.io/moonlander/layouts/b7yOD/latest/0
- qwerpy 2y ago

mmh0000 2y ago

I'm familiar with layers; in fact, I have an extensive layer setup in KDE. But then the problem becomes that I can never remember which key under what layer does what action. So, I basically use four keys from my other layers and have given up on all the others I set up. My poor memory is my unique problem. Layering won't help. Having dedicated keys that I can see, though, helps me remember what those do. As someone else suggested, I can put custom labels on the extra keys.

dyingkneepad 2y ago
You have it configured in KDE. The cool keyboards allow configuring layers in the keyboard firmware. Yeah it took me a while to get used to my layers, but now it's all muscle memory and I don't even remember which key does what.
- jwells89 2y ago
  Layouts being configurable in firmware is a must for keyboards for me at this point. Having to rely on OS/DE configuration or especially crappy third party software sucks.

Arainach 2y ago

I like keyboards with layers support, but layers aren't a replacement for sufficient keys. Holding down the layer button means another finger unavailable for hotkeys. For instance, on my keyboard (ZSA Moonlander) I have the function keys in an alternate layer. This isn't a problem for a normal press (layer shift + 2 => F2), but it makes pressing something like Ctrl+Shift+F2 rather painful. Yes, for such shortcuts that I use frequently I can create special custom keys in layers, but when using new apps or particularly complicated apps with lots of hotkeys (IntelliJ) that doesn't scale.

Pet_Ant 2y ago
I have a ZSA Moonlander but it makes me want to make a Dactyl Manuform of some of the larger sizes just for those extra keys. https://wylderbuilds.com/all-sizes https://wylderbuilds.com/all-sizes
derefr 2y ago
Crazy idea I've always wanted to try: somehow hack a USB foot-pedal to act as a layer key. (Hard, because usually the layers are implemented inside the keyboard's firmware, rather than being processed by the OS. Maybe the foot-pedal would need to plug into the keyboard.)
- LanternLight83 2y ago
  Layers in software are thing with eg. kmonad or kanata
  - derefr 2y ago
    Doesn't work for keys that don't send keysyms by default but instead act as e.g. media keys if you're not holding a modifier. (Media keys are their own USB HID usage page; the OS keyboard driver doesn't see them.)
rfoo 2y ago
You should try to use OSL instead of MO (or TT) as the layer key action: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/one_shot_keys.md https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/docs/one_sho...
rssoconnor 2y ago
I eventually went with home-row mods and a miryoku based layout. I've found home-row mods to be quite finicky with respect to timing, but I think overall they are better than not. https://configure.zsa.io/moonlander/layouts/b7yOD/latest/0 https://configure.zsa.io/moonlander/layouts/b7yOD/latest/0
qwerpy 2y ago