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I've used a US-QWERTY keyboard layout my entire life. I've seen other layouts that do things like reduce the size of the enter/backspace keys, move the pipe operator (|) and can't wrap my head around how I would code on those.
What are your experiences? Are there any layouts that you prefer for coding over US English? Are there any symbols that you have a hard time reaching ($ for example)?
I use a variant of the Neo-Layout called Bone. It's an ergonomic layout optimized for German and English text. The base layer is already different (see the linked page), but I also really like it for programming, since there's an entire layer with easily accessible symbols:
I should try that out. I've been using DVORAK for a while but have been thinking of switching to NEO
I use US-QWERTY but with the pipe/backslash key as backspace, and the key where backspace usually is gets turned into two keys, pipe/backslash and grave (yes, there is a keycode for grave (`) by itself).
On UK keyboards the £ replaces the $ and $ replaces '
Double quotation marks " are in the same place though so a lot of british programmers don't use single quotation marks because they are hard to press. If your touch typing you have to reach all the way to the bottom right with your right hand little finger and it's just not worth it.
I use Spanish QWERTY layout and it's... weird for coding.
I'm used to it from my whole life so that's what I use but sometimes brackets or special symbols are weird.
I've always wanted to change to use US-International layout. So I can keep ñ and áéíóú, and also have easy access to coding symbols. But I have never got around it.
Anyhow I still think that whoever designed ISO layouts messed up. We should use US international layout. That's my two cents.
I'm Czech and also speak fluent German, but I rarely use my native languages on my personal PC, so I got used to the US layout. Nowadays I use US layouts that have my native letters on the AltGr key, my Linux pc has an "American - Czech, Slovak, German" layout like that and at work on windows I use the Czech Programmer layout. However, most of my coworkers use the regular Czech keyboard, even for programing, which freaks me out.
quick AZERTY users this is the time to show we exist!
Well, after trying a US keyboard for coding I never went back to a french one. It's so much easier...
I have read somewhere that france and belgium have a minor code deficit compared to eurooeab countys that use qwerty.
Looking it up its not hard to see why.
Interesting, but I'm skeptical. Couldn't find anything that corroborates.
I understand your premise as a quality deficit, but really the issue I had was typing speed / convenience.
It's more of a QOL thing. The final code is the same quality I think.
Also, we spend much our time reading and thinking about the code rather than writing it.
The British want a stupid as fuck they moved the tilde into a weird spot and you're basically can't do it
I grew up with DE ISO and switched to US ANSI with EurKey a few years ago. ANSI is so much better for programming!
Also more options for key caps.
I want to try ANSI also, but it seems pretty hard to find in EU. I've considered getting a keychron for my gaming setup but I don't want a full on mechanical for work, and I don't want to use ISO at work and ANSI at home because it will screw with my muscle memory.
AliExpress is your friend. Also there are great options on Amazon, depending on your location.
Why not use a mech at work? Because it's too loud?
Yeah I don't want to be a nuisance to my office neighbours. Right now I'm using a logitech mx keys, I could try looking for an ansi version of that.
I will probably order a keychron with low profile switches for my home setup, so I depending on how quiet it is I might get that for work as well.
I alternate between US-QWERTY and LT-QWERTY. My biggest problem is typing ž instead of =
As a German I have to admit that the ANSI US layout is the one American standard that's superior to the European ones. That said, I still need some Umlaute and accented letters from time to time, which is why I use the EurKEY layout, which adds all of those keys back and many morek, most of them accessible without having to use a dead key.
On a Mac you can just type regular ANSI vowels and umlauts are added automatically. There must be some way to get that working on other platfroms?
How does that work? Umlauts can totally change the meaning of a word.
Konnte - was able, könnte - could, musste - had to, müsste - should, hatte - have had, hätte - would have.
Pro tip for fellow yuropean devs: you can change the layout, and learn it easily.
Pro tip for fellow ISO enjoyers living in yurop: a keyboard on Amazon costs 20$. If you're using a laptop you can order one from the UK, it's mostly the same, except beware of the mental asylum layouts that move this | key to the bottom left. You can also buy a laptop from amazon.com if you filter by "global shipping". Power bricks always work with 110/220/240, the cable that goes into the plug is easily exchangeable for 10$.
Some premium brands let you choose the layout. E.g. xmg, slimbook.
Pro tip for enjoyers of any layout: You don't need to buy a different physical layout to type in a different layout. You can just switch it out on the software side. The computer has no idea and does not care what's printed on the keycaps.
ANSI all the way. I get irrationally angry about any other layout 😡
I can't even wrap my mind around people who use 60% keyboards and use a bunch of extra function keys let alone anything more drastic
