miryoku

For reference: https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

Many keyboards use the qmk firmware these days, qmk.fm, which can be programmed with the Vial configurator, get.vial.today . Here's one typical qwerty-ish layout for 42 keys: https://mark.stosberg.com/markstos-corne-3x5-1-keyboard-layo... And for something more weird but still fully featured, Miryoku is a fairly common micro-keyboard layout, https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku . Why? Well, I really admire Jonas Heitala's documentation of his journey to find a layout that fit his aesthetic: https://www.jonashietala.se/blog/2023/11/02/i_designed_my_ow... . My layout isn't as extreme, it's still qwerty-ish, but I've been heavily inspired by his thorough analysis.

> Where's the arrow keys block? Insert/delete/home/end/pgup/pgdown block? In the nav layer. One popular layout of split keyboards is two 3x5 grids of keys with 3 thumb buttons. With this configuration, it is common to map modifier keys to the home row keys, activated when they are held down. Likewise, for numbers, symbols, navigation, a thumb key is held down to activate that layer. Your fingers never have to stretch more than one key-length away. Miryoku is a popular implmentation of this. It looks crazy, but you can get used to it really quickly, or alter it to your own taste. https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

What arlort says: ASDF and jkl; both have the home row modifier behavior, so you can hit any combination as long as you have both hands on the keyboard. So Ctrl+shift+a is pressing and holding k+l and tapping a. Holding d+f and tapping a would also work, but it would be uncomfortable. Miryoku[1] is a popular layout in this style and was my starting point, but I think it's often customized. The "both hands on the keyboard" thing is a major caveat. The key I use to switch to my navigation layer (arrows, paging) is on my left hand and it also runs all of my non-home row keys into Ctrl modified versions of themselves. This allows me to type almost any Ctrl combination while mousing that you could type easily with only your left hand, with the exception of Ctrl+D because I have D mapped to control (I use super/alt/Ctrl/shift). I only use Ctrl+

I’m a huge fan of the Miryoku layout/configuration. Structurally, you can use whatever standard base layer you want (I prefer Dvorak), but with quick access to modifier keys and additional layers. https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

I believe that https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku should be mentioned here.

The Miryoku layout [1] has a dedicated number layer which turns the left half into a number pad. Practical (once you get used to it) and portable. [1] https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

It's understandable if some people would prefer a larger layout. I wouldn't argue people should be using smaller keyboards. It's "I don't mind moving my hand to hit the key" vs "I don't mind holding down some Fn key to hit the key". (Or with F1-F12 on Macbooks, you need to both hold down a Fn key and move your hand). For an example of "36 keys ... how", I think the popular miryoku layout is fascinating. https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku/tree/master/docs/re... -- Often, mnemonics for particular keys aren't all that complicated.

I use the miryoku layout for this. There are other options that do this in similar ways, but I’ve found this one to meet all my needs. It was kind of designed around emacs, so modifier keys are well supported. https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

Check out the Miryoku layout (https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku). I use a modified version. For me, that keypress is inner-right-thumb, right index, middle, and pink pressing homerow keys, and the key above my left index.

I use a variant that requires only 34 keys. It's amazing how many extra keys you can eliminate when when you dedicate a couple to each thumb. Without extraneous keys that require you to reach away from the home row, is very efficient to use. A mnemonic keyboard layout keeps it intuitive. The Miryoku layout is a popular choice: https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku As a Dvorak user, here's mine: https://github.com/1MachineElf/qmk_firmware/tree/_sb4dv/keyb...

I'd suggest to try Miryoku [1] on an ergonomic (split) keyboard running QMK, ZMK or KMK firmware. It's a very well though out layout using only 36 keys. "Miryoku is an ergonomic, minimal, orthogonal, and universal keyboard layout." [1] https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

> One can try to get away with very few keys ... The first thing I added was two columns on the right side that kinda just bring back the punctuation I'd say if you look at a layout like miryoku https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku .. in miryoku, the [] keys are one row up from home row, accessed on a layer. Whereas, putting [] on outer columns, your hand has to move and reach over two rows. That is, I'd emphasise layering brings more keys to within easy access of the fingers (at the cost of added complexity to use the keyboard, - which not everyone has the taste for).

There's plenty of room to do improve on standard QWERTY keyboard in a technically interesting way. Although not related to chorded-input like Plover uses, I'd suggest something like https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku