Keys To A Dream Software Development Setup

An overview of some novel approaches to the computer keyboard, both in terms of physical layout and key mappings.

Keyboards in this video:

Stuff I use to make videos in general:

[codetothemoon]

Ok many have been asking for my QMK/ZMK configs, here they are:

I'm not making the Piantor available quite yet as setting it up was a bit of an oddball compared to the rest and I'm not sure if I did it right. But the layout I use on the Piantor is identical to the one I use on the Corne.

[Danielo]

Every time I see anyone going split ortholinear I regain faith in humanity. You reaching up to the glove80 really impressed me

[Maxelya]

One year ago, having switched to vim, I decided to go one step further and try out a Ferris Sweep v2 (34 keys) with a custom layout and put my mod keys on the home row. I liked the elegant minimalist design. It's so comfortable to work with it, I'm never going back to a traditionnal keyboard, ever.

[stoicfloor]

I've been using a plank but now I'm ready to get a chocofi keyboard. Thank you so much for such a high quality video and awesome introduction to these next-gen keyboards!

[KennethBoneth]

Really high quality video. Pacing and script was on point

[ernststravoblofeld]

If you like cool keyboards, that's fine, i do too. But if typing speed is your bottleneck, you aren't developing, you're doing data entry.

[qangeldratsch]

Wow, this video has been quite interesting. I dont think that I will use a split keyboard ever, but those home row mods sound so good. Thats right up my alley of keyboard optimization. I will definitely try that one.

[jakubwojciech]

I have KinesisAdvantage2, Moonlander and now, you have convinced me to buy Glove80, just bought it, and can't wait for delivery :)

[GetAnAndroid]

I recently got a ZSA Moonlander, I've been very happy with it so far. This video has given me some great ideas on new layers and macros to try. Thanks!

[yrtepgold]

This video is on par with a Project Farm tool comparison video. Super well done. Great research and presentation of each keyboard, as well as your journey.

[brionnoxeh]

every piece of content you produce is a home run!

[marcusrehn]

I've spend so many hours researching keyboards. Ended up with the sofle(corne + number keys). It's a great starter board for those of us who could not commit to only 3 rows. Super expensive to get it imported here to Sweden, but totally worth it! Having vim arrow keys is just the best!

[johnzzon]

I've been looking into split keyboards and I'm glad you seem to have confirmed that Glove80 is a great choice, it's the one I'm leaning towards.

[saulocodes]

Having that money spent on keyboards deserves at least a like & comment 😅

[hicamajig]

Happily been using Corne for bit over 2 years now. Love it.

[steveruqus]

Amazing. Efficient, effective, informative and fast. Well done

[blaze]

I ended up buying the piantor after a month of looking through options. It should be here in a month or so, and I'm excited to try it out. I wouldn't have known about it without this video. I think it is the fewest keys I could go to without previously using a next gen keyboard.

[ejazahmed]

This is such an incredible video. I have been looking into purchasing a split keyboard and this video is huge help. Thanks a lot!

[vedanthinorn]

While I appreciate the information and will definitely take a look at the glove80 as a starting point. I just do not understand the keyboard minimalist things for software devs, 99.9% of the time typing is not my bottleneck it's thinking about what I'm doing, also I can't be alone in having a very physical muscle memory that doesn't like key locations switching purpose (AKA layers) same reason I don't like virtual desktops and do like many, many monitors. I think I'd consider the glove80 split 3 ways with a numpad and extra keys on the sides for little used functions. I swear that I'd prefer to have no overloading on symbol keys at all

[tedrose]

Great video. thanks for digging into the details!