This is my configuration for the Ergodox EZ keyboard that I have used daily since 2020. The core layout has remained largely the same over time, with minor iterative adjustments and optimizations.
- Keyboard:
- Color: White
- Keycaps: Blank sculpted
- Feet: Black
- Tip: Mark the keyboard feet and body with a pencil, to ensure proper feet orientation if the keyboard is ever disassembled or packed up.
- No RGB (Shine or Glow)
- Switches:
- Cherry MX Brown
- Filmed with 0.15mm films
- Lubricated with Krytox 205g0
- O-rings: 2mm, 40A hardness
- Install QMK
- Install
teensy_loader_cliusing your package manager - Clone the
https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmwarerepository - Clone this repository and move it into
qmk_firmware/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps - Inside
qmk_firmwarerunmake ergodox_ez:MMqd-ergodox-ez && teensy_loader_cli --mcu=atmega32u4 -w ergodox_ez_base_MMqd-ergodox-ez.hex && rm ergodox_ez_base_MMqd-ergodox-ez.hex
- Dimmed layer LEDs for low light environments
- Thumb cluster provides easy access to modifiers and layer switching
- Colemak layout
- QWERTY layout layer for gaming
- Mouse layer removes the need for an external mouse for day-to-day tasks
- Hand swapping while keys are held/toggled for easier access to keybinds when using keyboard in one hand and mouse in the other.
Disable unused keys to prevent miss-presses * Except for when it is easier/necessary for a key combination
- Optimize finger travel distances for common key combinations
- Utilize keys for multiple functions (tap for key, hold for modifier)
- Optimized for Vim, i3, and programming workflows
- Prevent unnatural finger stretching/compressing
All empty keys are keys inherited from Layer 0.
Note: Keys with dual functions can be held by double-tapping them quickly. The second tap will hold the base key, ignoring the modifier that would otherwise be triggered by holding the key down.
To improve thumb access, some keycaps are rotated 180° from their default orientation. This is especially important for keys near the thumb cluster, which are normally meant to be pressed by other fingers. Keys marked with x are rotated. The halves of the keyboard are mirrored.
,--------------------------------------------------. ,--------------------------------------------------.
| x | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|--------+------+------+------+------+-------------| |------+------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| x | x | x | x | x | x | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | | | | | |------| |------| | | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
`--------+------+------+------+------+-------------' `-------------+------+------+------+------+--------'
| | | | x | x | | x | x | | | |
`----------------------------------' `----------------------------------'
,-------------. ,-------------.
| x | x | | x | x |
,-------|------|------| |------+------+------.
| | | | | | | |
| x | |------| |------| | x |
| | | | | | | |
`---------------------' `--------------------'
,--------------------------------------------------. ,--------------------------------------------------.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | | | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+-------------| |------+------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| TAB | Q | W | F | P | G | Laye | | Laye | L | L | U | Y | ; | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| r 3 | | r 4 |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| LShift | A | R | S | T | D |------| |------| N | E | E | I | O | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| LCtrl | Z | X | C | V | B | | | | K | M | , | . | / | |
`--------+------+------+------+------+-------------' `-------------+------+------+------+------+--------'
| LALT | SWAP | | TAB/ | DEL/ | | TAB/ | DEL/ | | SWAP | |
| | HANDS| | SUPER| ALT | | SUPER| LALT | | HANDS| |
| | MOMEN| | | | | | | | MOMEN| |
`----------------------------------' `----------------------------------'
,-------------. ,-------------.
| SWAP | SWAP | | SWAP | SWAP |
| HANDS| HANDS| | HANDS| HANDS|
| MOMEN| TOGG | | TOGG | MOMEN|
,-------|------|------| |------+------+--------.
|SPACE/ | ESC/ | | | |Enter/| BACKS |
|Layer 2| LCTRL|------| |------|LSHIFT| PACE/ |
| | | | | | | Layer 1|
`---------------------' `----------------------'
When momentary/toggle swap hands keys are pressed, red and blue indicator LEDs light up. If swap hands is toggled and momentary swap hands is pressed, the LEDs briefly turn off to indicate the layout is not swapped.
The number keys are positioned based on the principle that larger numbers are used less than smaller ones, with more commonly used digits placed closer to the index fingers. Even numbers are assigned to the left hand, while odd numbers are on the right. The largest numbers are placed diagonally from the index fingers in the hardest to reach positions. This placement minimizes overall finger travel when entering numbers.
,--------------------------------------------------. ,--------------------------------------------------.
| | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | F6 | | F7 | F8 | F9 | F10 | F11 | F12 | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+-------------| |------+------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | | | | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | ! | # | ' | % | | |------| |------| + | - | " | & | = | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | _ | @ | ^ | ~ | ~ | | | | * | * | $ | ` | \ | |
`--------+------+------+------+------+-------------' `-------------+------+------+------+------+--------'
| | | | | | | | | | | |
`----------------------------------' `----------------------------------'
,-------------. ,-------------.
| | | | | |
,------|------|------| |------+------+------.
| | | | | | | |
| ( | ) |------| |------| | |
| | | | | | | |
`--------------------' `--------------------'
,--------------------------------------------------. ,--------------------------------------------------.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+-------------| |------+------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | | { | [ | < | | | | | | > | ] | } | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| |Mouse |Mouse |Mouse |Mouse | WWW |------| |------| WWW | Left | Down | Up |Right | |
| |Left |Down |Up |Right | BACK |------| |------| FORW | | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | HOME/| END/ |PDDWN/| PGUP/| | | | |Scroll|Scroll|Mouse |Mouse | | |
| | LCTRL|LSHIFT|LCTRL |LSHIFT| | | | |Down |Up |Accel2|Accel0| | |
`--------+------+------+------+------+-------------' `-------------+------+------+------+------+--------'
| | | | | | | Mouse | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | | | | |
`----------------------------------' `----------------------------------'
,-------------. ,---------------.
| | | | | |
,------|------|------| |------+--------+---------.
| | | | | | | |
| | |------| |------| Mouse 1| Mouse 2 |
| | | | | | | |
`--------------------' `-------------------------'
QWERTY layer for gaming with some extra keys for easy access.
,--------------------------------------------------. ,--------------------------------------------------.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+-------------| |------+------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | Q | W | E | R | T | Laye | | | Y | U | I | O | P | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| r 0 | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | A | S | D | F | G |------| |------| H | J | K | L | ; | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | Z | X | C | V | B | Y | | | N | M | , | . | / | |
`--------+------+------+------+------+-------------' `-------------+------+------+------+------+--------'
| | H | J | K | ESC | | | | | | |
`----------------------------------' `----------------------------------'
,-------------. ,-------------.
| U | I | | | |
,------|------|------| |------+------+------.
| | | O | | | | |
|SPACE |ENTER |------| |------| | |
| | | P | | | | |
`--------------------' `--------------------'
Certain frequently used keys have been rotated to sit directly under the index fingers rather than on the sides. This makes them quicker and easier to access compared to their default positions.
,--------------------------------------------------. ,--------------------------------------------------.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+-------------| |------+------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | | | | D | V | | | | | H | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | | | | | P |------| |------| M | | | | | |
|--------+------+------+------+------+------| | | |------+------+------+------+------+--------|
| | | | | G | | | | | | L | | | | |
`--------+------+------+------+------+-------------' `-------------+------+------+------+------+--------'
| | | | | | | | | | | |
`----------------------------------' `----------------------------------'
,-------------. ,-------------.
| | | | | |
,------|------|------| |------+------+------.
| | | | | | | |
| | |------| |------| | |
| | | | | | | |
`--------------------' `--------------------'