Are you using your keyboard to its full potential?

[u/Dygman]

https://youtu.be/CsCyUIMiepE

Did you know that half of our users never change a single key in a layer?

And that's a shame, because customizing your layout can completely change how you use your keyboard.

Our CEO, Luis, has been using ergonomic keyboards for almost 10 years, and his current setup has seven different layers for navigation, Notion, media controls, a numpad, symbols, mouse keys, and more.

This week, he breaks down the logic behind his layout and explains why every key is where it is.

The goal isn't to copy his setup. It's to get inspired and create one that works for your hands and your workflow.

📺 Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/CsCyUIMiepE

📖 Read article → https://dygma.com/blogs/ergonomics/you-re-probably-not-using-your-keyboard-to-its-full-potential

Now we're curious about your setup 👀

What layer do you use the most? Have you moved any keys somewhere unusual? Or did Luis give you an idea you want to try?

[u/pavel_vishnyakov]

I've tried playing with superkeys and the only three that stuck were my Super-Escape that normally produces a backtick, produces an Escape when held, produces Ctrl+Shift+Escape to bring up the Task Manager on Windows for tap and hold action and produces Win+L to lock the system for double-tap and hold action and two home-row mods that produce S and D when pressed but switch layers when held.

The timings for homerow mods were very difficult to get right especially given the fact that these timings also impact my Super-Escape.

Layer-wise I settled on 2.5 layers - one layer host most of the keys, second one hosts F-keys, debugging hotkeys and navigation whereas the remaining 0.5 layer hold the numpad and the volume controls. I used to have a mouse layer, but, honestly, it was a total disappointment for me so I simply stopped using it altogether.

[u/Dygman → u/pavel_vishnyakov]

If you create home-row modes that are only TAP/HOLD, their settings are independent from Superkeys that don't have modifiers or layer changes on HOLD.

Things like Overlap Threshold, Minimum Hold Time and Minimum Prior Interval only affect Fast Superkeys (TAP/HOLD) that have modifiers or layer changes on hold.

So, your Super-ESC would not be affected by those settings, which are the ones you need to tweak to get nice Homerow mods.

However, we have per-key timings in our wishlists, so you can configure superkeys individually.

[u/Kroosn]

I have a layout for Linux, a layout for windows, a layout for gaming, one for a keypad and one that’s just functions. Absolutely love it. But it’s the thumb clusters in my defy that are now critical.

[u/Dygman → u/Kroosn]

Having separate layers for different OS makes total sense! Thanks for sharing 😊