need proof read when I’m feel like it
Lately I’ve been interested in split keyboard and if you read my previous article you will know my interest started because of some YouTube videos and most likely from ThePrimeagen. I quite like his ranting even though sometimes It’s a bit much (LOL). I’m also have a mechanical keyboard hobby before but not really extreme since I’m poor. The most I do is just buying a barebone keyboard, then researching and buying switches after that of course comes the keycaps. I also trying to lube my switches but It’s really time consuming so I just lube 40% of my switches 😅. I’m also buying some cheap wooden wrist wrest since I feel the keyboard is a little tall and that’s all.
Using normal mechanical keyboard is fun and the sound and feel is really satisfying, but I feel like one of my most
strongest finger which is my thumb is only doing one thing which is pressing the spacebar…both of them is actually
only pressing the spacebar(well some times alt but you got the idea). While my weakest pinky finger is trying their
best to move around pressing and holding bunch of different keys. From shift to enter to backspace to tab to
CapsLock to ctrl to ; and bunch of symbol is actually pressed using my pinky. And then from there I start
researching about split keyboard and just buy it for my birthday.
Fortunately there’s one that’s pretty cheap on my local online shop that’s about $100. It’s design in house by Keyboard Kasep which is inspired by Sofle split keyboard. I actually didn’t really do much research about the keyboard layout and just jump the gun since my birthday is coming soon. Their shop also have a really good rating and it’s pretty cheap for a split keyboard so I just ended out buying it. The quality also quite good all in all I’m satisfied with the purchase.
When the keyboard arrive my first impression is it’s actually really small and I can actually carry it anywhere without
any hassle. It’s really convenient since It’s two part and not one big rectangle box that I have to stuffed on my backpack.
But just like learning vim, learning to use split keyboard is really suck for the first time. Your
typing speed will be dropping a ton and it really make you considering to stop using it. So if you interested to use and
learn split keyboard just take your time. It really messed up your brain on the first time. You going to need to
readjust your finger positioning and for me it’s the pinky. The pinky position is felt unnatural since usually I’m using
‘horizontal aligned keyboard’ and now I’m using ‘vertically aligned keyboard’. My pinky keep pressing the p even
thought I want to press the ;. My typing speed also down from about 70~ wpm to 15~ wpm and it’s actually mentally hurt
me 🤣. But I actually take the time and about one week my typing speed is already bearable about 30~ wpm. Still not great but
at least not miserable.
Then as usual I started to search how to make my keyboard layout and typing really efficient. Since it’s still really
early I still can change my habit easily and so I search for split keyboard layout recommendation. Then I found about
Miryoku Layout which it 36 keys layout. It looks intimidating at first and
how the heck you can code with just 36 keys. Well the secret is of course layers. Just like when you hold down Shift
in your keyboard to change ; into :, Miryoku layout is using layers. A lot of it. 6 layers total. But of obviously
you can modify it as you need. In fact my keyboard support 10 layers and I’m using 8 layers of it. Well the other 2 is
just so I can use my keyboard one handed while I’m eating or just browsing casually since my keyboard also support mouse
mode. Yes I can map my keys to move my mouse cursor and completely ditch my mouse.
Miryoku also have a principle of only 1-u movement from your home row. So your every finger only need to move one key
from your home row and that’s another game changer for me beside the mouse mode. You can read more details on their
documentation. Me personally ditch the home row mod which get me annoyed
since it feels not consistent and also all the thumb keys is tap-hold only. So to press esc I actually need to hold
the right-right-thumb key first then press the left-left-thumb key. Sometimes it can get quite tricky and some people
hate doing ‘chording’ keys but I’m fine with it. After all it’s all about preferences.