My Keyboard Journey

#mechanicalkeyboard #ergonomics
Hey this is a short version of how my keyboard setup evolved in the last 5 years. this is also my first attempt at being in front of the camera for my videos.
Finally did a video on my keyboard Journey from a Corsair keyboard to the Ergodox and also building a 3dprinted split keyboard that can attach with magnets as a portable Keyboard (+dactyl and planck keyboard) also reasons to switch to neo2 as a keyboard layout with some qmk tricks
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:38 The Corsair k95 - macro keys
1:27 US Keyboard Layout
2:11 Thinkpad keyboard
2:41 Neo2
3:58 Planck keyboard
5:17 Dactyl[us] keyboard
5:50 Custom Keyboard Build
7:13 Ergodox EZ hardware
7:37 Ergodox Keylayout
10:30 MacOS
11:55 Win10
12:26 Linux
13:09 Browser
My Ergodox Config: configure.ergodox-ez.com/ergo...
Karabiner Elements config for tap and hold modifier on tab to be ctrl when held: gist.github.com/JanLunge/b935...
Matt Adereth's talk on keyboards this was my inspiration to get into custom keyboards at all: • clojure.core/typing - ...
checkout my blog: blog.heaper.de
Socials:
I stream on Twitch: / janlunge
Things on Instagram: / janlunge

[@shai4129]

this is one of the comfiest videos ive ever watched

[@marcianoacuerda]

Yes, finally a keyboard video dedicated to programmers. Everybody talks about everything but the carets and parentheses. And vimium for the web changed my life, and saved my wrists.

[@marcianoacuerda]

@@mtbtrailshredder right. I don’t think there’s a perfect keyboard. I have colleagues with terrible posture and cheap keyboards that have 0 wrist or back problems. Wish I could be like them and choose keyboards by price or style.

[@Shywizz]

OH MY GOOOOOODDDD I HAD BEEN LOOKING OFR VIMIUM FOR SOOOO LOOONG

[@Bilal-ys6df]

@@marcianoacuerdaI hope they stay healthy. But also, making these adjustment in a not heavily time consuming matter is just positive. You basically do something once and improve your experience thousands of hours

[@jim37569]

Some really great ideas here that I'm definitely going to incorporate into my own build. Thanks!

[@sanketss84]

This was super helpful there is so much i learned from your experience.

[@isayay]

Thanks, Jan, liked the video and your calm way of presenting. :)

[@LeslieSolorzanov]

Finally. I have been researching about this for about a month and this is the first useful video. Thank you, I want to build an improve my workflow for programming without RSI problems

[@synvekk]

This was very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing. I think that I am too old and set in my ways to make a change this drastic, but it is very inspiring to see someone take the time to rethink their workflow and insist on finding/making a key layout that works for them rather then just adapting/accepting the status quo. I build my boards more for how they look and feel to type on then trying to improve my workflow.

[@ViniciusProvenzano]

I am into keyboards, and this video is a godsend. I am now moving between a plank, an ergodox infinity and a Drop Alt, and I am also working with Linux, Mac and Windows. Watching your video gave me some insights on how to deal with some of my problems - like using PT-BR, IT and US layouts depending on what I am doing. I really like some of the maps you gave to your EZ. I need to explore more and I think I will have to flash a few keyboards with QMK this weekend. :) Keep the good videos coming, I’m now subscribed!

[@MarijnvdZaag]

Thanks for sharing 😊 My journey went from standard qwerty boards 20 years ago, then colemak on Microsoft split boards 12 years ago, to the ultimate hacking keyboard last year, and now a Moonlander (similar to Ergodox). Every new key layout has been painful at first, but so worth it one to three months later. I now think the Moonlander is what I'll be using the rest of my life. I thought the same of my previous boards and key layouts.

[@eduardohilario]

Thanks for the insights! I will definitely incorporate some aspects in my workflow!

[@erichanson5628]

Wonderful video Jan! Fascinating about your journey.

[@laowu830]

Dude, this is one of the best keyboard videos ever! I wish I got to see this sooner.

[@peace2941]

Also Stumbled upon your video, and it's awesome, I hope to see more of your setup and workflow like for vscode in vim mode, I would love to see that!

[@zackplauche]

Bro this video was SO GOOD. Even with the audio white-noise, great presentation, great display, crushed it! Really if you keep with it I think you'll do really well. SUBBED.

[@davidkuda7074]

This was really interesting to watch. The keyboard that you've built (from 5:50) is beautiful, I would be intrigued to try it out. I especially like the portability. Given the superb quality of your video and how smart you are with keyboards, I bet the code you write is super clean and a joy to read. Cheers from Berlin! :)

[@pravles]

Thank you for making me aware of the Workman keyboard layout (in another video). Tried it out and at a first glance it is indeed more comfortable.

[@dznr1618]

Lots of great stuff here. Thanks so much for the clear presentation. Vimium is my new favorite thing.

[@Ironwally]

Thanks for the great video Jan!

[@ianpan0102]

Quality video, thanks for making this!

[@RichardThaddeus]

You are a legend, I have a redox keyboard I never thought to make a gaming layer...that is just a stroke of genius!

[@MaxForsey]

Finally a channel about optimizing ergonomics and workflows in programming!

[@IamusTheFox]

Interesting; I'm currently going through my own journey and this was super inspiring!

[@honeysal]

These vibes are wonderful, I’d recommend maybe using some soft Lori or jazz as some small background music. Just having something soft going in the back really helps people to stay focused in my experience! Thanks for the amazing video, incredibly informative 🙏🏻

[@JanLunge]

Thanks a lot, I don't have expierience with music stuff yet but I will try some things

[@miigon9117]

Wow i like your calming voice, keep up the good work mate!

[@directorans]

For a first video, this is amazingly well made. Keep it up!

[@Parth-hz3bu]

Thanks for the great overview specific to vim / programming, as well as split keys / thumb clusters! I just started my journey with a split Corne/Sofle style keyboard, gonna try out Colemak-DH inspired by your other video too :)

[@lamprospitsillou6325]

Amazing video, thank you very much!

[@nichtgestalt]

I've seen a lot of different videos about keyboards already but this one is not only giving some ideas but also experience that is already made. So there is only little need of "try and error" anymore. Seems it all comes down to the Ergodox. It is all I want to let my hands stay at the keyboard and still managing all kind of tasks. Good thing I fnishes my aprenticeship and can earn a little money to spend on these since they are quite pricy. But everybody who tested them said they are worth every penny. So thanks a lot for saving me a bunch of money and time! :D

[@adrianrivero6104]

nice video. I'm just going to build my first custom keyboard and I'm very excited about the custom layouts

[@JanLunge]

thanks. very nice, have fun in the process and especially after you are "done" but i guess one is never really done with these keyboards :P so many possibilities

[@ErikAkerman]

Such a good, quality video!

[@ethanperry8]

Very informative video, I think I will try building my own like you did and eventually order a machined case and buy a set of keycaps and customize with Qmk

[@raptorman7768]

Watched twice, nice organization - would watch more of these even without bookmarks though! Like as a 101 its great or a map of more I love it.

[@Dus3826]

Thank you - your experience is valuable for me :) I am just starting with optimizing my workflow. I just fell in love in doom emacs and org :)

[@JanLunge]

thanks for the nice comment, I just checked out doom emacs as I got into some issues with spacemacs and I think im going to keep doom emacs for me. its very clean and has a good structure for the config files thanks for sharing (I've read about doom emacs before but never tried it until now)

[@jonobvious]

"Tap-and-hold modifier" just blew my fvcking mind. This changes everything oh my god.

[@immortaljanus]

As someone who uses their keyboard for typing text, programming and gaming, I'm very hesitant to try exotic keyboards. Videos like this help me narrow my search. Thank you.

[@Playproof]

loved this tysm

[@dogbiscuitninja]

Stumbled upon your video because I found it in my recommendations - I really like your own designed ortho keyboard. Nice idea with the magnets! I don't know if you have noticed it already but your sound is gone from 5:29 to 5:35

[@JanLunge]

Thanks a lot, yeah I noticed the sound was missing only after it was already online and as i'm new on youtube the processing takes almost a whole day so i didn't want to upload it again but thanks for pointing it out as I could have missed it. also I just did a video just about the custom ortho keyboard kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ7Nc2eBp8uohJI just if you were interested in more things about that build, also your comment motivated me to finish that video a bit faster as i was already working on the keyboard for 2 weeks on and off again

[@keatondavion6706]

@Skylar Kendrick yea, been watching on Flixzone for since december myself :D

[@eriktoby483]

@Skylar Kendrick Yup, have been watching on Flixzone for since december myself :)

[@flow-xx8dx]

Ahh, a fellow herbstluftwm user. This is the most overlooked window manager out there. It combines the best of bspwm and xmonad! :D Shoutout to devs for it!

[@mbarton98]

Nice video. I also ended up in my keyboard journey with the four modifiers for each hand on the Planck EZ. I use Emacs bindings so that works well for me, but I may check out Evil mode sometime. I using Keyboard Maestro instead on the Mac to map hotkeys to behaviors depending on the app in the foreground. I have a "file this" behavior that will send an item from Apple Mail to DEVONthink, DEVONthink to Emacs Org Capture to add as a task, PDF Expert to DEVONthink, etc.

[@MarcelRiegler]

Spacemacs also supports plain Emacs bindings. It's worth checking out SOLELY for the SPACE menu. It's such an ingenious way the make hotkeys both discoverable as well as easy to use.

[@jjjjjjj4610]

genius layout gonna try and make a copy of it on my lily58 :))

[@brianginn1993]

Great content.

[@Seacle14]

After exploring the keyboard scene from the perspective of people optimizing feel/sound/build quality, I am now watching these kinds of videos.

[@nikitanugent7165]

I'm just starting to get into custom keyboards, and wasn't planning on trying different keyboard layouts, but you've piqued my curiosity. However, I worry that my mono-lingual US Qwerty and Windows-only brain might find the switch a little more shocking than someone who is bilingual and regularly works in three different OSes. Thanks for your comfy keyboard videos, I've gotten a lot out of them.

[@ashishjain871]

That's a lot of time investment into keyboards and keyboard layouts. Thanks for sharing your learnings :).

[@crypt0kittyweb7]

That are real-world pro tips!!

[@tsbohc]

Great video! Would love to see a tour of your linux dotfiles.

[@JanLunge]

ill give it a try

[@nottheengineer4957]

Very nice, I wish I could use something as introcate daily, but as I work on a laptop and need to use that keyboard quite often, it's just colemak-dh for me. Maybe I'll get around to building a small wireless split board that I can take anywhere with my laptop.

I'm still in the process of considering whether I should get an Ergodox EZ/Moonlander. I've been working on Linux with DWM for about 4 years now and have a bunch of small dmenu scripts for opening a project in my IDE and such. I just love being able to script my way out of little annoyances like that 😁

[@path_ethics]

Interesting video. I'm interested in the zsa moonlander which I believe is the updated version of your ergodox but I'm a bit confused about the US layout (which I suspect is the only one available). Not sure about the differences of the US layout. Also I believe that keyboard comes from Thailand and buying it inside EU can be costly.

[@cristlui4]

Awesome video! I've been looking for a split keyboard option to help with long coding sessions as well. I've been looking into the Lily58 pro but I'm not sure how much I'll miss the keys moving from a 65% keyboard. Your video is making me consider the ergodox. Have you considered trying a smaller split keyboard?

[@JanLunge]

the lily58 pro looks nice got even more keys that my custom build. i made the mistake to add modifiers to the bottom row there and didnt include the number row at the top i think as long as it has a number row and you manage the layers for arrowkeys its perfectly fine but i sometimes miss easy to reach arrowkeys on the smaller boards thats what i like about the ergodox it has the space for additional arrowkeys at the bottom and volume keys. but it really depends on your workflow

[@markfdesimone]

Do you have any recommendations on low-cost key switches? I couldn't figure out the name of the low profile keys you mentioned in the video. This was a great video, thanks!

[@bissekerskij]

Did you try the Dygma Raise split keyboard? They also have a new Dygma Defy keyboard which has vertical keys layout. I'm on Raise and ordered the Defy as well )

[@forrestkong3455]

Nice video,

[@TheSilent006]

I just finished assembling my imk corne :) its an amazing travel ergo board. Im probably going to get a sofle for home use/gaming

[@hcjkruse]

any other way to get the ink now? hunting for one.

[@TheSilent006]

@@hcjkruse they raffle off incomplete sales sometimes. Otherwise wait for the next drop

[@bb_poison]

I would like to know your thoughts on the the moonlander mark 1 from zsa

[@FROZENbender]

just switching from qwertz to qwerty was such an upgrade. looking into ortholinear keyboards now.

[@en0n126]

I think I made the same first mistake as you in my keyboard journey. I got a keyboard with a bunch of macro keys and a full F row, because I didn't know about layers. Unfortunately this was also my first mechanical keyboard build, so it wasn't a super cheap mistake. I'm planning a new build that's closer to your custom low profile build, but with a tenting system so i can lean it like your Ergodox. Thanks for sharing your experience. It's these type of videos people need to find before they start their journey.

[@JanLunge]

thanks, oh yeah I know that feeling too well good luck with your build then I would be interested how you will add the tenting mechanism as I'm planning on building another keyboard soon so any ideas for the tenting would be great as I would otherwise probably skip that part. I also just finished the last changes on my ortho build and did a separate video just about the keyboard build with more info on why and how how my next keyboard build would be different. also thanks for the nice comment.

[@en0n126]

@@JanLunge I was just going to use the method of having 4 eyelets around the perimeter for tenting bolts. It seems like it's fairly common, and can be implemented in 3D printed/machined case designs, or 2D cut plate/sandwich cases. Here's an example: imkulio.com/assets/img/CorneCNC-2.jpg

[@JanLunge]

@@en0n126 oh that looks actually not bad nice tip thanks have not seen one of these before

[@Cyromantik]

I use a OLKB Preonic for my portable (connected to my phone via OTG) and a Quefrency Rev2 split 'board at home, which is wonderfully comfortable. The Preonic is neat though, with its hot-swapable PCB that I've been getting a lot of milage on, but as Jan mentioned, the hand/wrist position is incredibly un-ergonomic, ironic to the ortholinear key layout.

[@concray]

there is some sound missing in the dactylus part. And i kept watching the clock in the background for editing cuts ;). But the video was super interesting!!

[@JanLunge]

oh yes, didnt catch that before i uploaded i was saying that the keycaps were printed as well. but i noticed i cant change this after its uploaded :/ ill need to be more careful when reviewing the video export. thanks for the tip with the slightly too revealing clock haha

[@timkilian7140]

As a german I also switched my layout to the us style layout, but the EU layout. It has all the keys from the us layout, with the ö, ä, ü, ß keys laying below alt gr + o, a, u, s.

[@alpacamale2909]

My keyboard journey ended at the 40% ortho stop. I see no reason to go beyond that, the only change I had to do regarding the layour was moving the CTRL key to where ESC is because it was destroying my left wrist when it was placed on the bottom left corner of the 40%. I also use pnemonics to access symbols like E for ! or X for ^. Another thing I had to do was switch to a mobile style way of accessing characters, instead of leaving a key pressed in order to access a layer I would just press a key once for a character and then that key twixe in order to leave that layer ON. just like we use the shift key on android or the number/character layers.

[@g-radiation7154]

Really great video! I would be interested to know how you scroll on the web without using your mouse. I find that the arrow keys don't give enough speed controll for skimming long pages.

[@JanLunge]

with vimium you can use the keys 'd' and 'u' to scroll half a page very convenient

[@g-radiation7154]

@@JanLunge oh, nice!

[@thedrumify]

One issue I have with Neo (I switched one year ago, up to 90-95 words per minute typing speed), is the position of the y key, which is a pain to reach when typing long English texts. And currently I am using the Logitech Ergo, which is semi split and somewhat curved, but pushing down the right command/alt key to get in the 4th layer is really unpleasant. I ordered the Moonlander yesterday and I cannot wait to try typing on an column layout for the first time!

[@tuananhdo1870]

Any update?

[@LadyTink]

I use a planck, however like you I like the idea of slitting the keyboard. I've also converted from qwerty to my own custom layout I call cnaey The letters are arranged base on the most common letters in English. After 6 months of use I'm to 70+wpm while before I was at 60-65 wpm with qwerty. The layout looks kinda like this on qwerty ,LSFPBWHU. CNAEYGTIOM ;XQRVKDJZ? By moving the most common letters to directly below my fingers it makes it so my fingers have to move less, which has helped by RSI from typing on old full size qwerty keyboards. Anyway if you read all this thank you for your time :D

[@JanLunge]

I think custom keyboard layouts are a fascinating topic in itself and as long as the most used keys are somewhere on the homerow its definitely a benefit to qwerty for me the focus was mostly on the special characters that's what got me into neo

[@ivnstudios6135]

I fill the same, I thought I was the only one but I was wrong , I will follow your path, thanks for sharing your experience, take a look on the moonlander

[@JanLunge]

oh yes the moonlander, well i have mixed feelings about that one as the keycaps that come with it are not configurable on their site, as i don't want have labeled keys and also the default ones are not sculpted and having seen the difference the dacyl brings ill take any kind of sculpted keys over none. so for me the moonlander would also require an additional set of keycaps on an already pricy board + import fees so im thinking about planning another custom keyboard build

[@ivnstudios6135]

@@JanLunge thanks for the advice

[@jtklamgaming690]

I have watched this video like 24 times just because his voice sounds amazing

[@qwiz]

ur 700th subscriber

[@shaytal100]

Hey Jan! Interesting to hear about your journey. Keyboards are a journey for me too. I started with a 60% mechanical keyboard (Poker 3). But to reach the number row it is still to much hand movement for me. So I got the core 40% keyboard with staggered layout. I really love it after I configured the keybindings to my liking. But now at the moment I build my own Laptop and I needed a small keyboard. I wanted to try something else so I ordered a Planck case and PCB. With it some boutique switches and pretty keycaps. I already got Krytox 205 grease to hand lube all switches ... I just hope I get quickly used to the ortholinear layout. Does this actually mean I can't use a staggered layout any more, after I get used to ortholinear? This rabbit hole is deep :)

[@JanLunge]

I think after using the ortholinear you don't want to use staggered layouts anymore, you definitely can i still type on staggered boards mostly on laptops where i can't change much. I'm not as fast and don't enjoy it as much as my ortho boards but it shouldn't be a problem its mostly about comfort.

[@shaytal100]

@@JanLunge It would be nice if I could still use a staggered keyboard. But on the other hand I can easily detach the planck from my laptop and use it on my desktop and anywhere else. Another cool thing about 40% keyboards, it is very easy to carry them around!

[@TheDeathGOD1235]

Very interesting journey, thanks for sharing! Do you remember how much time did you spend with each keyboard before switching?

[@JanLunge]

I think it was about a year for each board as a primary keyboard

[@axelrudolf5491]

Thank you for taking us with you on your interesting journey! I am thinking about buying an Ergodox and playing around with the Oryx software a bit. But I can't find your layout there. Is it private or do you have deleted it?

[@JanLunge]

The layout I used in this video should still be up here configure.zsa.io/ergodox-ez/layouts/rbvpb/latest/1 I now switched to a dactyl manuform like keyboard and use colemak dh with vial to configure the keymap

[@vatinp]

Love my Planck

[@demianfuentes5651]

nice video, I liked it! :D I'm looking for my first mech ortholinear keyboard, I was thinking to buy the olkb preonic but I'm on the keyboard 14hours each day and I have read some comments about the wrists discomfort. I'm tempted by the ergodox (or moonlander) but I think split keyboards are less portable. I'm right? are really uncomfortable the olkb keyboards? what about the portability of the split keyboards like ergodox?

[@JanLunge]

there are cases for the ergodox but those didnt fit my backpack so i used a smaller bag to transport it but its always a tradeoff between portability and ergonomics. the planck keyboard is really easy to transport with a simple bag for it yes but i would say it really depends. i am a big fan of split keyboards and dont think I'll ever go back. if you never tried split keyboards qnd dont have any issues from having your hands close together in front of you then i would say the preonic is a nice keyboard. P.S. the split boards require a bit more time to setup if you take it with you everyday as you also need to connect the halves together and thats one more cable to carry. but i would say its worth the effort for the benefits of tenting and moving the halves to a better distance

[@demianfuentes5651]

​@@JanLungethanks for your answer I'll take it into account. I'm anxious for having the keyboard and be looking for videos to reach my best setup.

[@allanmaple4676]

Great video! Do you get thumb pain from using the thumb cluster at all?

[@JanLunge]

that really depends on the tumb cluster style. the dactyl is the most difficult to use in a relaxed way because of the height. but in general i have no issues with using the thumb cluster and it reduces the overall hand movement a lot which is nice

[@fakecrafter7448]

lol ich benutzte auch arch richtig guter kanal. ich suche schon ewigkeiten nach sowas viiiiim

[@NoName-xp6dc]

Is u r speed of u r layouts same and how to u mange to switch between layouts any tips im. Trying learn Devork but I don't want lose my speed of qwerty as well

[@heeku_]

are u still using the ergodox? I wonder if the moonlander should be better?

[@JZL003]

How did you like the dactyl vs ergodox? Which would you recommend? I'm trying to decide which one to make/buy and didn't know if you found the dactyl 'scoop' better than the dactyl tenting (is the scoop just a gimmick?)

[@JanLunge]

i need to say the scoop or keywell thing is super nice really feels like the next step in ergonomics but the keyboard gains some height overall and the thumb area was a bit tall for me when i couldnt move the desk lower or my chair higher. but thats a very complex question as there is the dactyl manuform with a different thumb cluster as it depends if you need to travel with the keyboard to work or such. but I plan on building another board with this scoop design some day as i really enjoyed that part

[@ex1c3]

Maybe you can get an ergodox affiliate link? I'd like to support ;) I liked the walkthrough and would love to try the thumb keys after having switched from neo (which I used for >10 years) to bone a month ago and now being back in the optimization spiral 😅

[@vickicoombes527]

hey how did you build your magnetic split keyboard? (the grey one) it looks clean af and sick

[@JanLunge]

I have a build video of the process here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ7Nc2eBp8uohJI, thanks you can also download the .stl files there

[@unclefreddy2009]

Maybe I missed the overall verdict for you on Ortholinear keyboards. Did you dislike the layout or just the closeness of the hands for the Planck? I am considering building something like a nuquist which is basically a split Planck I think. I’m not sure about the thumb buttons for ergo dox and moon lander keyboards yet. Seems like that would lead you to other repetitive stress

[@JanLunge]

I just disliked the closeness on it so the split versions are really nice, but I’m a huge fan of thumbclusters as they have a more natural feel than what you normally use your thumb for on keyboards especially the ortholinears with more buttons in the bottom row

[@somnvm37]

Usefull thing: there is duch a layout as "german us qwerty" or something like that where alt gr (could be mapped as caps) make aouse into äöü߀

[@jeffdavis7150]

I typically use a Dvorak configuration; however, I’m new to programming so many be others programmers use that configuration as well. Would the setups you mentioned work for a Dvorak user, or is that a silly idea? I worry about the ease of the keyboard shortcuts equivalents on Dvorak being too cumbersome. Thanks for the very thoughtful video!

[@JanLunge]

the keboard shortcuts are different but it really depends on which shortcuts you need as they are sometimes very location specific (video editors)and other times just random (text /code editors) I actually liked the position of the cut copy paste shortcuts more on neo than on qwerty. I now have switched to colemak dh on my main ergo keyboard and sometimes use a normal qwerty 60% on apps where i need a lot of sortcuts and no writing (blender, davinci resolve) dvorak will work it just really depends on your workflow. i even use vim with colemak and have not had any issues (i use the navigation layer arrowkeys instead of hjkl)

[@jeffdavis7150]

@@JanLunge thanks man. Maybe one day I’ll become as advanced as you, mixing and matching keyboard layouts and keyboards depending on your particular needs at the time-amazing. Although I’ve only ever used a PC, I actually just got an old Mac along with Mavis Beacon 2011 32-bit which teaches Dvorak (it’s the only version that teaches it) because my typing has been inefficient. Is it possible to know the keyboard so we’ll that you don’t have to look down at the keys ever? I ask because, in addition to inefficient typing, looking down for keyboard shortcuts (including F1-F12), while using applications like MS Excel, really slows me down.

[@JanLunge]

yes of course, but the not looking at the keyboard was really easy once i got into the ergo keyboards as there its very clear in which direction you need to move to get to a key also my keyboards dont have a legend on them so there is no real benefit of looking down. i do struggle with that on normal ansi or iso keyboards still

[@jeffdavis7150]

@@JanLunge thanks Jan!

[@CoinedBeatz]

I am using an atreus from keyboardio and after around one year of adapting I would never give back shift on the thumb cluster. But I might take some of your ideas for the symbols. Brackets seem very convenient on your ergodox layout. Btw what is going on with your WM in the background? Do you have preselection and areas defined for windows or are these just very translucent windows?

[@JanLunge]

I am usimg herbstluftwm on linux and those are the frames in the manual tiling window manager so spaces i can drop windows in to partition the ultrawide monitor into virtual displays, if you are interested in more i got an entire video just about this window manager setup and my dotfiles kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4CrqWWajcdgq80

[@CoinedBeatz]

@@JanLunge looks amazing and might be the reason to try hlwm. Im using bspwm on a 21:9 and these frames are what i wish would exist. Is HLWM wayland compatible? Edit: seems like hlwm does not get any wayland support any time soon. Therefore I might checkout sway first, not sure if wayland is ready enough for the switch :/

[@JanLunge]

hlwm is not wayland compatible and it is not sure yet if it ever will be but I haven't found another wm with these features

[@CoinedBeatz]

@@JanLunge yep seems very useful, might give it a shot in this case nevertheless.

[@robertlysebo]

I literally found out about EurKEY 10minutes ago, have you looked into that layout?

[@gorudonu]

I use bastyl 5x6 size keyboard made by myself together with hold modifier keys and I must say that it's a game changer

[@JanLunge]

very nice, I always wondered how the angle of the thumb block feels as I just used the ergodox and dactyl which both have a flat thumb block would you say the thumb area is comfortable? im planning for some custom split keyboards and am not sure with the thumb area yet so any input on that would be great

[@gorudonu]

@@JanLunge yes, angles thumb cluster is much better (I used to have kinesis advantage 2 but couldn't get used to it's cluster). I also have crkbd, lily58 and smaller dactyl manuform (same number of keys as crkbd) and I must say that I like bastyl the most. I guess next step is to experiment with different dactyl angles, maybe I'd make it more vertical, but for now I'm good :D

[@bangs_edit]

Nice looking keyboard. Do you know where I can get one like that pre built?(ergodox)

[@JanLunge]

i ordered it from the ergodox-ez website ergodox-ez.com/ they also released the moonlander recently but its definetly more expensive that building one yourself. but it i think it is still very much worth it

[@DeadCatLiving]

You could also take a look at FalbaTech (falba.tech/), they're offering custom made and highly configurable ergodox and other split keyboards with wood cases

[@MattVelic]

Nice video. I'm using a standard 60% board, but have been looking at the Planck-EZ. But it did have me worrying that it wouldn't just be a stop on the journey to something like the Ergodox.

[@JanLunge]

thanks, yes you only progress in this journey through trying. the planck is a nice keyboard and its very versatile and way easier to travel with than the ergodox. i even like to connect the planck to my phone when writing on the go as its so compact. everything has its drawbacks you just need to figure out what you want from it. good luck on your journey

[@eichenherzmo]

I can relate 90%

[@barbietripping]

Hello all. Hope you’re enjoying your journeys. Looks like mine has ended in a zip’d Planck (8 keys removed from bottom row)

[@Technocolor00]

how would you compare the ergonomics between regular size switches and low profile ones? Ive been thinking of building an ergodox but the PCB isnt compatible with the low profile choc switches and ive been having trouble when ever I buy a mechanical keyboard finding while they feel nice to press I dont lift my fingers up enough between key presses nor do they register a press fast enough so I just end up returning them. I blame this habbit/ prefrence on HP and Apple lol, both ship low profile membrane keyboards with their computers and are what Ive used at home and school for at least a decade plus my laptop im typing on right now

[@JanLunge]

the low profile switches I have used do have less height but still have a lot of keytravel compared to laptop keyboards so currently there is not an easy way to build a keyboard with a similar feel. I like all of the switch styles and really got used to the mx style switches with gaming and as you dont need to fully press a key to activate it it does not feel less responsive. It just takes some time getting used to it. i would say the low profile switches are a good inbetween step but but they will still need some getting used to them when coming from notebook switches

[@licloud499]

Using tap and hold modifier key will delay the characrter insert alittle bit right? Isn’t that fell bad, that’s home row keys?

[@JanLunge]

yes you definetly need to adjust a bit to it. but when typing faster you dont really notice and the benefits for the modifiers is worth this for me. it feels like the key doesnt activate on keydown but on key up when you let go basically. I dont think I would trade my homerowmods for a"faster" key activations in case i need them for some reason i have a layer that just disables the homerowmods but I have used that i think just 2 or 3 times for some typing tests

[@thumbwarriordx]

I studied german for a good bit. Never had any interest in the German keyboard layout. Arjen Van Kol's International Dvorak was it for me. But as a Dvorak person I suppose it's not remarkable that I wasn't interested in a standard layout.

[@Somais1round]

How good is your layout for editing? Do you use Premiere Pro and or After effects?

[@JanLunge]

Im using davinci resolve and I'm currently switching between my ergo keyboards with colemak dh and a 60% keyboard with qwerty for hotkey based applications like blender and resolve. I'm still figuring out my favorite way

[@mattymattffs]

I love ergo keyboards, but I don't understand some of these layouts. I use f keys constantly while developing. I use page up and down and arrow keys and I feel all the ergo keys disregard it

[@JanLunge]

I have a layer for navigation keys, arrowkeys and page up/down and home/end and on that layer the number row becomes the function row. So its easier to use those keys than on a regular keyboard. But there are a lot of ways you can set these keys up its just that most people don’t use these keys very often

[@kerbaman5125]

What a coincidence, another arch(based distro)/HLWM/ergodox user

[@goxcpre]

Can you compare using a dactyl vs the Ergodox? I have an ergodox EZ and I'm building my own Dactyl Manuform

[@JanLunge]

i think the dactyl has the better ergonomic form and that was the best typing experience with a keyboard i had yet but my build was not that precise so keys got stuck from time to time but if it werent for my build quality and that ist super difficult to transport i would still use it. I cant say mich about the thumbblock of the manuform i printed the body for a manuform half but i didnt finish building it but even on the dactyl board i only use the 2 double sized keys and the smaller one next to those but verything else is hard to reach. so i think if you like the ergodox you will also enjoy the dactyl and the manuform version of it as they just enhance it further.

[@PavelYudichev]

And BTW, did you use any typing apps to amp your input speed?

[@JanLunge]

i only use typeracer if you mean the practicing tools for speedtyping.

[@muhammadhylmizahididroos3222]

your custom keyboard looks really interesting, would you mind sharing the files or selling them?

[@MohamedAli-or3xf]

I also would like to know more about it. Even a build video would be great

[@JanLunge]

thanks and actually yes I just finished a video just on my custom keyboard build as I also changed the firmware and layout more and uploaded the firmware config files and the .stl files on my blog so they always get the newest version blog.heaper.de/wsplit/

[@LeandroStoroli]

Do you live in Germany? I was wondering how much you had to pay in VAT to import this keyboard which is on the expensive side already (around $350 + VAT = $450?). I'm still thinking if it's worth the money+.

[@JanLunge]

I dont remember what I paid in taxes i think it was something between 50€ an 80€ but to me the tax rates are really confusion as i always need to pay way different amounts even when product + shipping cost is the same. on the other hand if you are able to to build one yourself from parts that you can order in europe you might be off way cheaper or taking a look at alternative boards like the corne or lily58 which you can source here i think the ergodox ez is a nice board but it is missing a few features that these newer boards offer like a bottom mounting screwhole

[@_marcinrakowski]

fuck yeah. nice breakdown. Wonder how did using Dactyl compare to Ergodox?

[@JanLunge]

Thanks, yes that is the correct question the ergodox is not as bad with the blank and angled keycaps from zsa, but if it had a flat keycap profile it would be a bit too much for me I think, the keywell for the fingerkeys on the dactyl is amazing it just lacks the option to tilt the keyboard so your hands always are in a very high resting position also the thumbblock is in a very high position which without the correct wrist rests and desk height got me into some problems, so I think the ergodox is a very nice daily driver because of the flexible tenting and less stress on my thumbs but I do miss the curved keywell from the dactyl. One of my next builds will probably be a board with the dactyl keywell and a better way of tenting it and the tumbblock just that the dactyl-manuform didn't convince me yet.

[@_marcinrakowski]

@@JanLunge I'd love to see the process of getting that built. Having movable thumblock like Moonlander could be an interesting idea here. I thought of building a Dactyl, but wouldn't want to be stuck with a keyboard that won't be used much as my first orthogonal. And the sanding... you made me think twice ;d