[fpc-other] Developer workflow with Ergodox

[Graeme Geldenhuys]

On 2017-05-14 22:09, noreply at z505.com wrote:
> Does it solve the Shift Key strains issue?

Yes, you can reprogram the keyboard layout any way you want. Modifying a 
layout is very simple via code. And even if that is too much for you, 
there is visual web based layout designer that generates the .hex binary 
file for you.

The possibilities with the Ergodox is endless. Just take a look at this 
website.

   https://implementsblog.com/2016/10/16/my-ergodox-ezs-custom-layout/

The modifier keys are now long-press keys under the home row. I tried in 
recently, and it is amazingly good, and actually pretty easy to get used 
to. Finger travel is now near zero for modifiers. :)

I also programmed the Enter and BackSpace keys for my index fingers - 
much stronger that your pinky!


> My biggest gripes in programming, or hates, is having to constantly feel
> like I'm going to end up hospitalized due to finger strains... Mostly
> because of:
>   - BiCapitalization/CamelCase... pinky finger shift key strain
>   - same goes with underscores in_plain_c
>   - and : colon for assignment... too much shift key
>   - and in { curly brace languages, once again more shift key annoyances

You really should take a look at the "Programmer Dvorak" layout - if 
using a normal keyboard. And yes, you can program the Ergodox with that 
layout too.

For the symbols, I don't use the top row (normally numbers) any more - 
too much stretching. On the Ergodox I use a Symbols layer instead. I 
toggle it with my right thumb (acts almost like a Shift key), then type 
the symbol with my left hand. Here is that layer. Most used symbols for 
me is on the home row, or very close to the home row. Index finger 
favoured over the weaker pinky.

  Left Hand:
╭────────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────╮
│        │      │      │      │      │      │      │
├────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│   |    │  !   │  @   │  {   │  }   │  +   │ TODO │
├────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤      │
│   `    │  :   │  $   │  (   │  ) • │  =   ├──────┤
├────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤  ( ) │
│        │  #   │  ^   │  [   │  ]   │  ~   │      │
╰─┬──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┴──────╯
   │      │  £   │      │      │      │
   ╰──────┴──────┴──────┴──────┴──────╯


Also note the "TODO" and "( )" keys. They are programmed macros.
eg: Pressing the "TODO" key types:  // TODO: |
or pressing "( )" types: (|)

The | is where the edit cursor ends.

On my default layer, I also have two other macros. One key triggers 
"Ctrl+F9" to compile my applications. The other key types: _:=_
where _ is a space character.


Ergodox is how keyboards (for computers) are meant to be! 100% 
customization, simply and quick to customise, and very comfortable to 
type on.

Regards,
   Graeme

-- 
fpGUI Toolkit - a cross-platform GUI toolkit using Free Pascal
http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/

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