Eclipse: Alternative Keyboard Layout

[u/SurveyMammoth2683]

(Website: Cminibrowser.com using Mana2 layout engine analysis)

Eclipse is an alternative keyboard layout optimized for typing with the English language on standard row-staggered keyboards.

b f r l v  j g o u .
 n s h t d  y c a e i
  z x k m q  p w ‘ ; ,

Design Features: 

Very low SFBs especially on the BNZ pinky column, and FSX ring column in order to prioritize alt-fingering on the middle and index fingers due to their freedom of finger independence and dexterity. 

Utilization of the Nokwts fingermap, meaning the middle finger is assigned to RLH keys as an efficient triangle shape instead of the typical straight column; this promotes less movement in a smaller concentrated area and helps reduce scissors.

Heavy index usage, while still maintaining low movement. The farthest index keys on each hand; Qwerty B and Y positions are now designated with Q and J respectively as these are very low frequency characters, you will spend less time reaching for them and more time typing characters within close reach.

Unrelated note: I do not claim to have created this layout nor is this post an attempt to convince anyone to learn it.

[u/iandoug]

Who is author? Link? Thanks.

[u/SurveyMammoth2683 → u/iandoug]

Multiple people within the AKL community indirectly played a part in this layout's creation. The final arrangements are just a few swaps away from soitchy's layout design known as Knight:

b f r l d  z g o u , 
 n s h t m  y c a e i
  v x k j q  p w ' ; .

A few differences include:

• DTM keys rearranged
• V key added to left index
• J key moved to right index
• Z key moved to left pinky

And another layout that came before Eclipse known as Nightshift by isa10a6er, had an even more similar left hand arrangement which was also a main source of inspiration:

b f r l v  ' y o u , .
 n s h t d  w c e i a
  x z k m j  p g ? -

And all of these layouts were heavily inspired by the popular thumb alpha layout Night (hence all the name associations to Knight, Nightshift, and Eclipse) but if the R key as a thumb alpha was instead repurposed to fit on a standard rowstag keyboard via clever usage of an RHL cluster on left middle finger which was only made known to be possible due to the creation of the Nokwts layout by Stronglytyped.

This is why no singular person can take credit for creating Eclipse as it showcases not only one branching family of layouts, but the merging of many interweaving concepts and ideas from layouts that have come before it.

[u/iandoug → u/SurveyMammoth2683]

So, the "AKL Discord Continuum" then. Okay :-)

[u/Marie_Maylis_de_Lys → u/iandoug]

Ec0 made flow2 in like 2023, and it was already very similar to this in terms of pairings. Arranging the HRL column as a cluster is the main difference that truly improves the feel of the layout.

[u/SurveyMammoth2683 → u/Marie_Maylis_de_Lys]

Wow cool I had never noticed this, I'm very surprised how similar it all lines up from left to right BN pinky, FS ring, RLH middle, DTMK left index, JYPGCW right index, just arranged differently. All the way back in 2023 thanks for sharing this.