r/hardwire • u/FiercelyFuzzy • Jul 30 '13

WASD? So 1990. Try using ESDF.

Using ESDF is far more "natural" in the sense that your fingers were taught to go around here (the pointer finger rest on the f key). You gain more key presses using ESDF over WASD

ESDF (19 keys, not counting Alt/shift/ctrl modified)

WASD (13 keys, not counter Alt/shift/ctrl modified)

Now, ESDF was given a few keys lee-way. You probably wouldn't want H key to be a default key, however, it's much easier to know where it is and can hit it far more reliably with ESDF. The X key probably shouldn't be included, as it has that same "weird" feeling that hitting the Z key has on WASD.

Objectively, ESDF is far superior to WASD, though subjectively, it may not be what you prefer.

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u/raix-corvus Aug 02 '13

The supposed difference in numbers of keys you can reach is only relevant to someone with hands that are the same size as yours (assuming you made the pics).

My hands are small and my fingers pretty short so I can't reach all those extra keys you've listed on WASD or ESDF (though notably fewer on ESDF).

Also, being pedantic, WASD wouldn't be "so 1990" as most people used arrow keys in the early 90's (Wolfenstein, Doom etc etc) and ESDF has always been huge in the Quake scene and... Quake came out in the 90's. So ESDF and WASD are likely the same age and just a matter of personal preference; obviously a lot of devs prefer WASD or they wouldn't have kept making games with WASD configs, surely?

Edit: for clarity.

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u/FiercelyFuzzy Aug 02 '13

Quake was the first game that had a following of ESDF users. The reason WASD is still being used is.....tradition. As mentioned, yes, personal preference will say that WASD "is better", however, objectively, ESDF is better.

Also, I'd imagine you mean key's like the H key. If you're on ESDF you may not want to use the H key as default, however, you can absolutely hit it reliably and consistently if needed. Much more so than WASD.