You cannot select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
134 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
134 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
9 years ago
|
algernon's layout
|
||
|
=======================
|
||
|
|
||
|
This is an unconventional layout for the ErgoDox EZ. For more details about the
|
||
|
history of the layout, see my
|
||
|
[blog posts about my ErgoDox journey][blog-ergodox].
|
||
|
|
||
|
[blog-ergodox]: https://asylum.madhouse-project.org/blog/tags/ergodox/
|
||
|
|
||
|
Some of the things in the layout only work when one uses Spacemacs and GNOME
|
||
|
under Linux. Your mileage may vary.
|
||
|
|
||
|
## Base layer
|
||
|
|
||
|
[![Base layer](images/base-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/28f7eb305fdbff943613e1dc7aa9e82b)
|
||
|
|
||
|
At its core, this is a Dvorak layout, with some minor changes (for example, `-`
|
||
|
being on the left half, and on the innermost key of the bottom row on the
|
||
|
right). The more interesting parts are how certain keys behave:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* The keys on the number row double as function keys, when held for a bit longer
|
||
|
than an usual tap. This allows me to use the function keys without having to
|
||
|
switch layers.
|
||
|
* The `Shift`, `Alt`, and `Control` modifiers are one-shot. When tapped, they
|
||
|
are considered active for the next key press only. When double tapped, they
|
||
|
toggle on, until a third, single tap sometime later. When held, they act as
|
||
|
expected. My usual pattern is that I use these for the next keypress only, so
|
||
|
this behaviour is perfect. If I need them held, I'll just double-tap.
|
||
|
* The `GUI` key is special, because when I double-tap it, it sends `GUI + w`,
|
||
|
which pops up an application selector. It also switches to a one-shot layer,
|
||
|
where the number row on the left half turns into app selector macros, for the
|
||
|
most common things I usually want to switch to. Otherwise it behaves as on a
|
||
|
normal layout.
|
||
|
* The `ESC` key also doubles as a one-shot cancel key: if tapped while any of
|
||
|
the one-shot modifiers are in-flight (as in, single-tapped, and not expired
|
||
|
yet), it cancels all one-shot modifiers. Otherwise it sends the usual keycode.
|
||
|
* The **Emacs** and **Hun** layer keys are one-shot, the **1Hand** is a toggle.
|
||
|
* The **Lead** key allows me to type in a sequence of keys, and trigger some
|
||
|
actions:
|
||
|
- `LEAD u` enters unicode input mode, by sending the GTK+ key sequence that
|
||
|
does this.
|
||
|
- `LEAD l` uses the unicode input method to enter a `λ`.
|
||
|
- `LEAD s` does a lot of magic to type in a shruggie: `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`
|
||
|
- `LEAD w m` maximises the currently focused window.
|
||
|
|
||
|
## Hungarian layer
|
||
|
|
||
|
[![Hungarian layer](images/hun-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/b160f6ec90d58c127c114c89f66e9dc9)
|
||
|
|
||
|
On this layer, the accented characters are at the same position as their base
|
||
|
variant. For some, which can have other diatribes, the long one is on top,
|
||
|
short's on bottom. Tapping any of the accented characters takes us back to the
|
||
|
base layer.
|
||
|
|
||
|
## Emacs layer
|
||
|
|
||
|
[![Emacs layer](images/emacs-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/c59c453f9fe1a3238ba1494e7e5c6892)
|
||
|
|
||
|
This layer is primarily for navigating text - and for some mousing and other
|
||
|
things, because there was space. Most of the keys should be pretty
|
||
|
self-explanatory, except for a few:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* There are three keys on the bottom row of the left side, that change how some
|
||
|
of the other keys - explained just below - work. The keys are for *Emacs
|
||
|
mode* (the default), *Terminal mode*, and *Traditional mode*, respectively.
|
||
|
* The *Visual mode* key (the top big key on the left side) sends the `v` key in
|
||
|
*Emacs mode*, to enter Visual mode in Spacemacs. In all other modes, it is a
|
||
|
no-op.
|
||
|
* The *Copy/Cut* key (the bottom big key on the left side) sends the copy
|
||
|
command on tap, the cut one when held for longer than a normal tap. The **copy
|
||
|
command** is `y` in *Emacs mode*, `Ctrl-Shift-c` in *Terminal mode*, and
|
||
|
`Ctrl-c` in *Traditional mode*. The **cut command** is `x` in *Emacs mode*,
|
||
|
`Ctrl-Shift-x` in *Terminal Mode* and `Ctrl-x` in *Traditional mode*.
|
||
|
* The *Paste/Delete* key (the leftmost key on the left thumb cluster) sends the
|
||
|
paste command on tap, the delete one when held longer than a normal tap. The
|
||
|
**paste command** is `p` in *Emacs mode*, `Ctrl-Shift-v` in *Terminal mode*,
|
||
|
and `Ctrl-v` in *Traditional mode*. The **delete command** is `d` in *Emacs
|
||
|
mode*, and `DEL` in the other two.
|
||
|
* The `A`, `I` and `R` keys will - after sending themselves - clear the layer
|
||
|
back to the base layer. This allows a quick escape from the layer.
|
||
|
|
||
|
## One-handed layer
|
||
|
|
||
|
[![One-handed layer](images/one-handed-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/edff2495135955b8963198dace7f7ece)
|
||
|
|
||
|
The one-handed layer is used in situations where the right hand is occupied, by
|
||
|
mousing around, for example. Tapping the `OTHER` key switches which side is
|
||
|
active. For the most part, keys remain in their usual position. When the right
|
||
|
half is active, keys are mirrored to the left half.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The differences are as follows:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* The `ESC` key has been moved to the bottom row, so the `OTHER` key is easier
|
||
|
to tap.
|
||
|
* Most keys on the thumb cluster now have dual uses, and these do not change
|
||
|
when switching sides:
|
||
|
- The `Space`/`Backspace` key sends `Space` on tap, `Backspace` when held
|
||
|
for longer than a normal tap.
|
||
|
- The `Enter`/`Shift` key sends `Enter` on short-tap, `Shift` on long-tap.
|
||
|
* The `Apps`/`BASE` key can be used to go back to the base layer, by
|
||
|
long-tapping it. A short-tap will send the `App` key, as usual.
|
||
|
|
||
|
# Building
|
||
|
|
||
|
To make my workflow easier, this layout is maintained in
|
||
|
[its own repository][algernon:ez-layout]. To build it, you will need the
|
||
|
[QMK][qmk] firmware checked out, and this repo either checked out, or symlinked
|
||
|
to `keyboard/ergodox_ez/algernon`. One way to achieve that is this:
|
||
|
|
||
|
[algernon:ez-layout]: https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout
|
||
|
[qmk]: https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware
|
||
|
|
||
|
```
|
||
|
$ git clone https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware.git
|
||
|
$ cd qmk_firmware/keyboard/ergodox_ez
|
||
|
$ git clone https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout.git keymaps/algernon
|
||
|
$ make KEYMAP=algernon
|
||
|
```
|
||
|
|
||
|
From time to time, updates may be submitted back to the QMK repository. If you
|
||
|
are reading it there, you can build the firmware like any other firmware
|
||
|
included with it (assuming you are in the root directory of the firmware):
|
||
|
|
||
|
```
|
||
|
$ cd keyboard/ergodox_ez
|
||
|
$ make KEYMAP=algernon
|
||
|
```
|
||
|
|
||
|
# License
|
||
|
|
||
|
The layout, being a derivative of the original TMK firmware which is under the
|
||
|
GPL-2+, this layout is under the GPL as well, but GPL-3+, rather than the older
|
||
|
version.
|