Principles for Keyboard Layouts (2022)

Principles for keyboard layouts I only use keys I can reach from the homerow. I treat the two mapped keys in the bottom-most row on each keyboard half as an extension of the thumb cluster; I type those keys with my thumbs. It's easier to learn a layout where each key is exactly in one spot. The two keys on the bottom row closest to the thumb cluster all other keys are too far away. Taking the analogy one step further, I mapped the left/right arrow keys onto the same physical keys as the angle brackets, but on the layer below. Not seeing the keys combined with the less polished toolchain for modifying the layout made working with the Iris substantially more challenging than working with the moonlander. Colemak is a layout that has alphabetic keys laid out in approximately priority order, but also geared towards keeping uncommon characters in the same position as on the standard qwerty layout to make it easier to switch.