This repository is outdated.

My current layout: https://github.com/Roman-/redblue

Video: https://youtu.be/92pRAQeRIak

Rog-redblue semiergonomic QWERTY layout

Semiergonomic because when your keyboard is embedded in a rectangle, the word "ergonomics" can't be used without irony.

Hardware

Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 laptop.

Environment

I am a C++ programmer speaking English and Russian. My OS is Ubuntu (i3wm) and I use VIM extensively.

Key points in layout design

• QWERTY/ЙЦУКЕН layout preserved, except for some symbols (e.g. hyphen is now closer to right pinky);
• BLUE and RED add two (actually six) extra layers and are intended to be held with thumbs, which is even more ergonomic than reaching for Shifts with your pinkies;
• BLUE for navigation/actions, RED for symbols, Shift+RED for emoji, and BLUE+RED usually act like BLUE+Ctrl, e.g. while BLUE+a is backspace, BLUE+RED+a redirects to Ctrl+backspace (delete the word prior to cursor);
• CapsLock is swapped with Escape (here is why);
• Symbols are arranged based on their frequency in C++ and Bash programming languages. Mnemonics isn't taken into account, only the convenience/frequency;
• Return (aka Enter) and Backspace may now be pressed without any finger movements (BLUE+s and BLUE+a) even when your right hand is holding the mouse;
• No need to reach for Ctrl anymore. BLUE+c will redirect to Ctrl+c, BLUE+b to Ctrl+a etc.
• BLUE+jkl; for vim-like navigation are easy to use with left Shift; RED+BLUE+jkl; allows to jump between words because it redirects to Ctrl+arrows;
• BLUE+u/BLUE+o is for begin/end and they work with Shift (see xkb configs). E.g. BLUE+Shift+u will select to line begin
• Backspace/Delete are moved to places where they could be used with your left hand only, possibly with Ctrl modifier (e.g. Ctrl+BLUE+F to delete the whole word). Handy in GUI applications (e.g. web browser) where you're forced to use a mouse with your right hand;
• Instead of pressing Alt+Tab an unpredictable amount of times to switch between windows, you use BLUE+key to jump directly to the desired window (Chrome, Terminal, IDE, Telegram etc) in your favorite tiling wm. E.g. BLUE+D will set the focus on the Browser, or launch it if it's not yet opened.
• Navigation between tabs in any browser/filemanager/IDE with your left hand: Blue+w / Blue+r redirect to Ctrl+PageUp/PageDown, which is the consistent method of switching tabs. Blue+E for closing current tab (= Ctrl+w), Blue+T to open new tab (Ctrl+t); BLUE+RED+w/r to jump to first/last tab; Blue+Shift+E to restore closed tab.
• 0 and 1 are the most used number symbols in programming. They're copied to the RED layer to be conveniently typed in expressions like if (i != 0) {. Notice that your thumb is holding the RED key during the entire != 0) { part, and you never have to reach the number row!
• emoji is mnemonic-based: T for thinking, S for smiling, L for laughing, F for facepalm, U for thumbs Up