My Dygma Defy layers

This repo explains my approach to using layers in my Dygma Defy keyboard.

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Layers

Layer 1 (Base)

• Base layer
  • Colemak layout with added scandinavian letters
  • Utilizes home row modifiers (GACS order)
    • For more information on home row mods refer to this page
• Left side
  • Capslock is replaced with escape for easier access
  • Escape is replaced with my shortcut to accept code completion in my IDEs
  • Enter in the bottom left corner helps with one handed use
  • Most of my layer changing is on the left hand thumb cluster
    • Shift 2 -> Symbols
    • Lock 3 -> Navigation
    • Shift 6 -> IDE shortcuts
  • Inner column utilized for undo, copy, cut, paste
    • Super Copy has tap -> ctrl + c and 2tap -> ctrl + shift + c
    • Super Paste has tap -> ctrl + v and 2tap -> ctrl + shift + v
• Right side
  • Backspace replaced with windows snipping tool shortcut
  • Couple of layer changing buttons
    • Shift 6 -> IDE shortcuts
    • Lock 7 -> Gaming layer
    • Lock 8 -> Numpad
  • Macro Next_buf inputs [b, used in neovim
  • Macro Prev_buf inputs ]b, used in neovim

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Layer 2 (Symbols)

• Symbols layer with F-keys

  • Contains all symbols available in the finnish keymap
    • The point is to never have to use top row numbers for symbols

• Left side

  • Tab replaced with Alt+F4
  • Capslock is there if it is ever needed
  • Inner column has movement keys for windows virtual desktops

• Right side

  • Backspace and delete have ctrl added as a modifier for easier whole word deletion
  • Inner column has zoom in and out keys

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Layer 3 (Navigation)

• Navigation layer
  • Arrows and modifiers found here when they are needed
  • The way to access Mouse layer
  • Ctrl + b is here to make moving between tmux splits easier with arrow keys

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Layer 4 (Mouse)

• Mouse layer
  • Right hand moves cursor
  • Right thumb does clicks to make dragging motions easy
  • Left hand scrolls

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Layer 5 (Mods + F-keys)

• This layer is not in use, and no other layer has a key to move here
• Mods + F-keys for when they are needed in combination

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Layer 6 (IDE shortcuts)

• JetBrains IDE shortcuts

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Layer 7 (Gaming)

• QWERTY Gaming layer

  • Added various common keys to left side thumb cluster to make them easier to access
  • Inner column for more number keys
  • Space is shifted one spot to the left because hand rests on WASD instead of home row

• Things to improve

  • Getting back to base layer is cumbersome if I need to use chat
  • Left Ctrl feels a bit weird being above shift, but the other way around shift felt weird so it's a compromise

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Layer 8 (Numpad)

• A bit of color added to help learning the layer