Interface Zen: Zenning out while writing code (1999)

http://slashdot.org/features/99/11/30/0954216.shtml

by aditya • 17 years ago

22 5 17 years ago

mcantor• 17 years ago

Short version: "Map Caps Lock to Control on modern keyboards."

Seriously though, I enjoyed his comparison of vi and its ilk to roguelike games. I'll definitely be using the "video game that gets stuff done on the side" analogy sometime. This article also made me wish that hjkl navigation was required for all programs.

Vivtek• 17 years ago

I have a hard time taking someone seriously who tells me that arrow keys harsh his zen calm.

jrandom• 17 years ago

As a former Vi user, I can kinda grok not liking arrow keys.

(_My_ arrow keys are the ones on the numeric keypad -- I almost never use Numlock. This is a hold-over from my first computer: An IBM PCjr that had arrow keys in a diamond layout instead of that hateful inverted-T layout that cramps one's thumb.)

aristoxenus• 17 years ago

If any of what he said rings true to you, you might be interested in a Kinesis Advantage keyboard. All modifier keys are under your thumbs at all times, as are Enter, Space, and Backspace. Arrow keys are horizontally arranged under your two dominant fingers on each hand:

http://tinypic.com/r/ouwshw/3

http://tinypic.com/r/10y3y94/3

Every key is hardware-remappable, and Escape is reachable with your middle finger. I've mapped F1 to "Escape-:" to get me a vim command prompt in one keystroke.

jcl• 17 years ago

I would have chosen the reverse of the default mapping of the up and down keys. The most common vertical keyboard movement is downward, so it should be under the stronger finger. The vi keyboard movement commands make the right choice in this respect.

Interface Zen: Zenning out while writing code (1999)

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