nixconfig VS miryoku

Shift was annoying to me, so I moved it to a thumb key. I also have cut copy paste on a layer too since I tend to rush when pressing it. Layers need to be instant for me too. Callum feels like too much work, and this is a happy medium. Here's a pic of my layout https://github.com/dlip/nixconfig/blob/master/keymaps/README.md

Here's my layout, L1, space, shift, L2. I found having shift as a homerow mod slowed me down, so it's on the right thumb https://github.com/dlip/nixconfig/blob/master/keymaps/sweep.png

I found the same as you, and initially tried Callum mods. But I found having to layer to one shot mods for the letter combos was frustrating. I ended up identifying that I was OK with ctrl/alt/super being home row mods, but shift and layers needed to be dedicated thumb keys. Here is my layout https://github.com/dlip/nixconfig/blob/master/keymaps/zmk/config/cradio.keymap

I often need to switch to my laptop so I created a layout that only needs 1 thumb key. I use this on my corne also https://github.com/dlip/nixconfig/blob/master/keymaps/kmonad/spaceonly7.kbd

I've seen https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku but it doesn't appear to be easily modified.

A 75% keyboard still require quite a lot of wrist movement, which is not ideal in your situation. It's better to learn to use layers, you could still have all the function keys and such with a 36 or 34 keys. With with such a small keyboard you don't need to move your wrist while typing. A Corne or even a Ferris Sweep can do the job with a proper keymap, like Miryoku.

If you prefer to have semicolon on Base you'd substitute custom Base, Nav, and Sym layers, swapping semicolon and slash, with https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku/discussions/85.

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.

Except for those who use Miryoku, which is not optimized for software development, probably every single person here will have its own custom keymap.

The keyboard on the other desk is a wireless Corne low profile kit I built up a while back using a couple nice!nano controllers and their low power display too. For general typing I don't have much of a problem going back and forth between the two, but the Corne is only 34 keys and I use a complex layout called Miryoku to get access to most symbols and functions I have by default on my 360.