Preferred keyboard layout for programming [closed]

Question

I started out with programming about two months ago I think now, and I'm fooling around in either C# or Clojure (I have serious decision-problems). Anyways; I'm from Norway, and we use a different kind of keyboard layout than the English-speaking countries. I don't know how for example Germany or Frances' keyboard-layouts are compared to ours, but it really is a pain to code in (Norwegian QWERTY-layout for those interested).

Anyways; reaching for the (), [] and {} really makes my fingers hurt because I have to stretch my fingers really. Also, although this is minor it still makes me quirk, the <> is also painful to reach for.

So, I was wondering if anyone have any tips on the layout to use? Is reaching for (), [] and {} much better on the English QWERTY-layout or is it nearly the same? And lastly; is DVORAK actually a good layout for programming?

Thanks in advance :)

Cerveny

Please take questions like these to programmers.stackexchange.com, they're offtopic here. – Pyle

Really? I thought that it was actually allowed to ask about such things here since they are related to programming and I am in no way a expert programmer nor interested in professional discussion on software development as programmers.stackexchange.com says. Anyways; sorry if it's misplaced. – Cerveny

@Sondrizzle: Programmers is a relatively new thing. Nor is the line absolutely bright and clear, but it is certain that code problems stay here and people problems go there. Understanding the gray areas? Um....weeelllll...the thing is....ya' see.... Anyway, as yet we can't migrate things there, so if this is closed you'll have to repost. – Amanita

@Sondrizzle: Welcome to SO. It's a place with many different programmers and very different opinions. Some will think that only questions that can be answered with code are on-topic, others that anything related to the business of creating software is. The middle is somewhere in between. Don't take it personal, if one of your questions isn't accepted by "the community". This one is a good one but a bit in a gray area in my opinion because it is also subjective which keyboard layout fits best. – Unders

IMO any question that involves "preferred" things and especially bodily discomfort is very much "subjective and argumentative", and hence off-topic. Indeed, please don't take it personally. :) – Pyle

Okay, so what you're basically saying is that I should repost my question on Programmers and remove 'preferred' and similar to make it more objective? Or at least try to? :) – Cerveny

The question would be a fine fit for programmers.se as-is, since programmers.se is specifically for subjective and argumentative questions like this one. Stackoverflow OTOH is not a good fit for this question any way you slice it. – Pyle

Answer 1

C-like programming languages show their US-American heritage proudly by using symbols that are awkward to reach on most other keyboard layouts. I've resorted to US International which allows me to type {}[]\ without breaking my fingers but at the same time still being able to type characters like ä, ö, ü and ß which I don't want to give up in my native tongue (some others using a US layout do and I feel physical pain every time spelling is sacrificed for convenience on their part).

Dvorak at least looks good enough for that. However, the costs for changing the layout there are likely much higher than to another QWERT[YZ] layout.

Unwonted

Answer 2

Disclosure: I am biased. :-)

Incidentally, I'm from Norway too! US Qwerty is better for programming than Norwegian Qwerty. Still, it strains the right pinky and has bad hand and finger alternation.

Fifteen years ago I said to myself: There has to be a better way to place the symbols that are used for programming on the keyboard than this. And thus I created the Programmer Dvorak layout, which is specifically designed to make it easier to type the parenthetical symbols commonly used in programmming languages such as Clojure and C#.

As a base for the alphabetical keys I chose the (classic) Dvorak layout, which I consider the best, scientifically documented layout for English. Even when programming, most of what you type is prose (keywords, function names, comments, documentation).

For me, I consider it a great success: I have no longer any finger muscle fatigue, and I type as quickly if not faster than before.

But, a keyboard having a fixed number of positions, there are some tradeoffs to be made: If one key is given a new place, then the one that previously occupied that location must also be moved. The trick is in making the advantages gained greater than the disadvantages.

The main one I did was to demote the number keys to shift status, and the nordic characters to composed ones. If you predominantly write your mother tongue, then this may not suit you.

If you want to teach yourself Dvorak, then be prepared for a transition period of three to six months of really slow typing. I did it when writing my thesis.

Disfrock

Answer 3

There's also the option of adapting the layout to your needs with Microsoft's Keyboard Layout Creator. A slight problem with that of course is that it won't make the captions on the physical keys move. For that you'll need the outrageously expensive Optimus Maximus keyboard. ;)

Mandamandaean

Well, it's probably also a pain if you're somewhere else and need to type ;-) – Unwonted

Answer 4

I was going to recommend DVORAK, Programmer DVORAK, or even Norwegian DVORAK layout, but it seems reaching for those braces and other symbols will still be less than ideal.

Sondrizzle, isn't the problem due to the fact that you have to twist your right hand for the AltGr? If so, have you sought out a keyboard with two AltGr keys, one on the left and one on the right? How about mapping your caps-lock key to AltGr? That feels like it may be your best immediate solution.

Orvie

Well, reaching for them isn't really a problem, I have kinda long fingers, it that I have to constantly use AltGr or Ctrl to reach them, and on the Norwegian layout that makes for some real fingerbending. But thanks for the advice :) – Cerveny

DVORAK is a great way to go... if you can handle the breaking of decades of habit typing on a QWERTY. – Headline

Answer 5

I have, throughout time, learned both US and my native language (Serbian) layouts and use them alternately. I mapped CapsLock as a key to change the layout, and OS remembers which one is active in which application, so I don't have to switch them all the time: in Firefox it is Serbian most of the time, while in Terminal, NetBeans etc. it is US all the time. No custom-made layouts, no awkward key combinations to pull off characters not in the basic layout.

I never considered learning Dvorak for coding - I tend to use succint programming languages instead. ;)

Kaka