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diff --git a/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/algernon/readme.md b/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/algernon/readme.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..6b7e8fa2e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/algernon/readme.md @@ -0,0 +1,230 @@ +algernon's layout +======================= + +This is an unconventional layout for the ErgoDox EZ. For more details about the +history of the layout, see my +[blog posts about my ErgoDox journey][blog-ergodox]. + + [blog-ergodox]: https://asylum.madhouse-project.org/blog/tags/ergodox/ + +Some of the things in the layout only work when one uses Spacemacs and GNOME +under Linux. Your mileage may vary. + +## Table of Contents + +* [Layouts](#layouts) + - [Base layer](#base-layer) + - [Experimental layer](#experimental-layer) + - [Hungarian layer](#hungarian-layer) + - [Navigation and media layer](#navigation-and-media-layer) + - [One-handed layer](#one-handed-layer) + - [Steno layer](#steno-layer) + - [LED states](#led-states) +* [Building](#building) + - [Using on Windows](#using-on-windows) +* [Changelog](#changelog) +* [License](#license) + +# Layouts + +## Base layer + +[![Base layer](images/base-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/28f7eb305fdbff943613e1dc7aa9e82b) + +At its core, this is a Dvorak layout, with some minor changes. The more +interesting parts are how certain keys behave: + +* The keys on the number row double as function keys, when held for a bit longer + than an usual tap. This allows me to use the function keys without having to + switch layers. +* The `Shift`, `Alt`, and `Control` modifiers are one-shot. When tapped, they + are considered active for the next key press only. When double tapped, they + toggle on, until a third, single tap sometime later. When held, they act as + expected. My usual pattern is that I use these for the next keypress only, so + this behaviour is perfect. If I need them held, I'll just double-tap. +* The `GUI` key is special, because when I double-tap it, it sends `GUI + w`, + which pops up an application selector. It also switches to a one-shot layer, + where the number row on the left half turns into app selector macros, for the + most common things I usually want to switch to. Otherwise it behaves as on a + normal layout. +* The `ESC` key also doubles as a one-shot cancel key: if tapped while any of + the one-shot modifiers are in-flight (as in, single-tapped, and not expired + yet), it cancels all one-shot modifiers. It also cancels the **Hun** layer, if + active. Otherwise it sends the usual keycode. +* The **Media**, **Arrow**, and **Hun** layer keys are one-shot, the **1Hand** + and **STENO** keys are toggles. +* Toggling the **Arrow** layer toggles between the cursor arrows and the paging + keys on the bottom row. +* Tapping the `:` key once yields `:`, tapping it twice yields `;`. +* The **Lead** key allows me to type in a sequence of keys, and trigger some + actions: + - `LEAD u` enters unicode input mode, by sending the GTK+ key sequence that + does this. + - `LEAD l` uses the unicode input method to enter a `λ`. + - `LEAD s` does a lot of magic to type in a shruggie: `¯\_(ツ)_/¯` + - `LEAD y` types `\o/`. + - `LEAD w m` maximises the currently focused window. + - `LEAD e` makes the [experimental layer](#experimental-layer) the default. + - `LEAD v` prints the firmware version, the keyboard and the keymap. + +## Experimental layer + +[![Experimental layer](images/experimental-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/6ff50bf71248e05aab5b3fec4fae3d08) + +While using the standard Dvorak layout, I encountered a number of +inconveniences, and on this layer, I am playing with ideas to make the layout +feel better. Initially, it was based on [Capewell-Dvorak][cpd], but that too, +had shortcomings I was not happy with. So now this is something inbetween, with +own observations thrown in. How it works out in the long run remains to be seen. + + [cpd]: http://www.michaelcapewell.com/projects/keyboard/layout_capewell-dvorak.htm + +## Hungarian layer + +[![Hungarian layer](images/hun-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/b160f6ec90d58c127c114c89f66e9dc9) + +On this layer, the accented characters are at the same position as their base +variant. For some, which can have other diatribes, the long one is on top, +short's on bottom. Tapping any of the accented characters takes us back to the +base layer. + +## Navigation and media layer + +[![Navigation and media layer](images/nav-n-media-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/c59c453f9fe1a3238ba1494e7e5c6892) + +This layer is primarily for navigating with the cursor or the mouse, and some +media things. + +## One-handed layer + +[![One-handed layer](images/one-handed-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/edff2495135955b8963198dace7f7ece) + +The one-handed layer is used in situations where the right hand is occupied, by +mousing around, for example. Tapping the `OTHER` key switches which side is +active. For the most part, keys remain in their usual position. When the right +half is active, keys are mirrored to the left half. + +The differences are as follows: + +* The `ESC` key has been moved to the bottom row, so the `OTHER` key is easier + to tap. +* Most keys on the thumb cluster now have dual uses, and these do not change + when switching sides: + - The `Space`/`Backspace` key sends `Space` on tap, `Backspace` when held + for longer than a normal tap. + - The `Enter`/`Shift` key sends `Enter` on short-tap, `Shift` on long-tap. +* The `Apps`/`BASE` key can be used to go back to the base layer, by + long-tapping it. A short-tap will send the `App` key, as usual. + +## Steno layer + +[![Steno layer for Plover](images/steno-layer.png)](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/401ef9a84369e47c57f9aedcf0a0d667) + +This is to be used with [Plover](http://www.openstenoproject.org/plover/), +nothing really fancy here. The **STENO** key toggles the layer on and off, and +sends the toggle command to Plover too. + +## LED states + +The primary purpose of the LEDs is to show the modifier status, a secondary, to +show which layer is active. Each modifier, `Shift`, `Alt` and `Control` each +have their designated LEDs: the *red*, *green* and *blue*, respectively. When a +modifier is in a one-shot state, the respective LED will turn on with a dimmer +light. If the modifier is toggled on, the brightness of the LED turns full. + +For the layers, the following rules apply: + +* When the [Experimental layer](#experimental-layer) is toggled on, LEDs will + light up from left to right in a sequence, then turn off. When the layer is + toggled off, the LEDs light up and turn off in the other direction. No LEDs + are on while the layer is active. +* When the [Hungarian layer](#hungarian-layer) is active, the *green* and *blue* + LEDs are on. +* When the [Navigation and media layer](#navigation-and-media-layer) is active, + the *red* and *green* ones are on. +* When the [One-handed layer](#one-handed-layer) is active, the *green* LED is + on and bright, and either the *red* or the *blue* one is going to slowly + blink, depending on the currently active side. +* For the [Steno layer](#steno-layer), all LEDs will be turned on. + +Unless noted otherwise, the layers use a dim light for the LEDs, while modifiers +use a stronger one, and modifiers override any layer preferences. For example, +when on the one-handed layer, with the left side active (*red* light blinking), +if `Shift` is on, the *red* light will be constantly on. + +# Building + +To make my workflow easier, this layout is maintained in +[its own repository][algernon:ez-layout]. To build it, you will need the +[QMK][qmk] firmware checked out, and this repo either checked out to something +like `keyboards/ergodox_ez/algernon-master`. One way to achieve that is this: + + [algernon:ez-layout]: https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout + [qmk]: https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware + +``` +$ git clone https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware.git +$ cd qmk_firmware +$ git clone https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout.git \ + keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/algernon-master +$ make KEYBOARD=ergodox_ez KEYMAP=algernon-master +``` + +From time to time, updates may be submitted back to the QMK repository. If you +are reading it there, you can build the firmware like any other firmware +included with it (assuming you are in the root directory of the firmware): + +``` +$ make KEYBOARD=ergodox_ez KEYMAP=algernon +``` + +## Using on Windows + +The keymap default to forcing NKRO, which seems to upset Windows, and except the +modifiers, none of them work. If you experience this problem, recompile the +firmware with `FORCE_NKRO=no` added to the `make` command line. + +# Changelog + +## v1.2 - 2016-06-22 + +* The forced NKRO mode can be easily toggled off at compile-time, to make the + firmware compatible with [certain operating systems](#using-on-windows). +* The `:;` key has changed behaviour: to access the `;` symbol, the key needs to + be double-tapped, instead of shifted. +* The `=` and `\` keys were swapped, `=` moved to the home row, on both the + [base](#base-layer) and the [experimental](#experimental-layer) layers. +* The arrow and navigation keys were redone, they are now more accessible, but + the navigation keys require an extra tap to access. +* The **Emacs** layer is gone, replaced by a simplified + [navigation and media](#navigation-and-media-layer) layer. +* `LEAD v` types the firmware version, and the keymap version. +* On the [experimental](#experimental-layer) layer, the `L` and `Q`, and the `K` + and `G` keys were swapped. +* The [Steno](#steno-layer) layer gained a few more `#` and `*` keys, to make it + easier on my fingers. + +## v1.1 - 2016-06-14 + +* The keyboard starts in NKRO mode, bootmagic and other things are disabled. +* A [Steno](#steno-layer) layer was added, to be used with Plover. +* An [experimental](#experimental-layer) layer was added, something halfway + between Dvorak and Capewell-Dvorak. A work in progress. +* `LEAD y` types `\o/`. +* Some keys on the [Base](#base-layer) layer have been moved around: + - `?` moved to the left pinky, left of `Q`. + - `=` shifted one row down, but `F11` stayed where it was. + - `-` on the left half was replaced by `Tab`. + - `Tab`'s original position is taken by a `Media Next`/`Media Prev` key. + - `:` now inputs `;` when shifted. +* `ESC` cancels the [Hungarian](#hungarian-layer) layer too, not just modifiers. + +## v1.0 - 2016-05-26 + +Initial version. + +# License + +The layout, being a derivative of the original TMK firmware which is under the +GPL-2+, this layout is under the GPL as well, but GPL-3+, rather than the older +version. |