kmonad VS awesome-split-keyboards

have you actually tried that? afaik they don't get you the perfect home row mods due to some limitations re. how they implement the tap vs hold logic

https://github.com/kmonad/kmonad/issues/228

I use kmonad[1] to have QMK-like functionality on any keyboard.

https://github.com/kmonad/kmonad

You can create F13-F24 purely in software with key mapping tools. On Windows, one way is with the PowerToys Keyboard Manager: remap some unimportant keys to F13, F14, etc. Another way is with KMonad (cross platform), and define the keymap with KeyF13, KeyF14, etc.

There you have the software link : https://github.com/kmonad/kmonad

Other option I would suggest for any linux user with keyboards without QMK is to try KMonad https://github.com/kmonad/kmonad

I converted to Ortho keyboards with column stagger rather than row stagger and I haven't looked back. If you haven't, I suggest checking out /r/ErgoMechKeyboards for some great options. https://kbd.news/ is also a really good resource, as is https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards.

Check e.g. this github repository for examples of that type of keyboard. Better shell out some $$ and adjust to one of those now than to have tendon/joint/nerve damage for decades.

There are many ready-to-go ones in this list: https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards

You should consider adding links to the comparison site for split keyboard kit layouts, and perhaps the list of Awesome Split Keyboards. They're both good starting points for checking out what's out there, though the Awesome list can be a bit outdated by now.

Awesome Split Keyboards will give you an idea of how the boards look and links to vendors or open source projects (ie. sending Gerber files to a PCB fabricator of your choice)

Awesome Split Keyboards

Apologies for the incorrect image link. I assumed it could be edited afterwards. Btw here is the reference image link: https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards/blob/master/img/Ergotravel.jpg