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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 h

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 3y 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 3y 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 3y ago
  Layers in software are thing with eg. kmonad or kanata
  - derefr 3y 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 3y 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 3y 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 3y ago
I have a Moonlander and regret listening to all of the enthusiast reviews about it. It feels great to type on, but the missing keys and blank keycaps for a lot of keys is slowly driving me crazy. I dabble in a lot of things but don't really code anymore for my job. So it's not worth it for me to customize my keyboard and layers for whatever IDE today that I won't use for long. And I switch from PC to Mac to Linux a lot, so the having to keep all the keyboard shortcuts straight in my head while using a minimal, somewhat unlabeled keyboard is impossible.
- qmkqmkqmk 3y ago
  Sounds like it ain’t worth much at all. Wanna trade? I got a dell media keyboard I bought at Goodwill. No lie it has a lot of pointless keys dating back to the dinosaurs and comes with extra skin cells. You can tap Scroll Lock until ya ded.

Pet_Ant 3y 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 3y 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 3y ago
Layers in software are thing with eg. kmonad or kanata
- derefr 3y 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 3y 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 3y 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 3y ago

I have a Moonlander and regret listening to all of the enthusiast reviews about it. It feels great to type on, but the missing keys and blank keycaps for a lot of keys is slowly driving me crazy. I dabble in a lot of things but don't really code anymore for my job. So it's not worth it for me to customize my keyboard and layers for whatever IDE today that I won't use for long. And I switch from PC to Mac to Linux a lot, so the having to keep all the keyboard shortcuts straight in my head while using a minimal, somewhat unlabeled keyboard is impossible.

qmkqmkqmk 3y ago
Sounds like it ain’t worth much at all. Wanna trade? I got a dell media keyboard I bought at Goodwill. No lie it has a lot of pointless keys dating back to the dinosaurs and comes with extra skin cells. You can tap Scroll Lock until ya ded.