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i wonder if i'm the only person operating the left/down/right cursor keys with my knuckles and also thinking about making a custom fw for my reform keyboard to turn the middle spacebar (which is split into 3 spaces) into a layer change key so i could use hjkl or hujk or so as the cursor keys

minute

i.e. i do something like this so i don't have to move my hand

but instead something like this would be much more ergonomic (middle space as layer change, hjk... as cursor)

noticed that i often also use the left shift like this :D

@mntmn The keyboard that I use at home (Keyboardio Model 100) has a palm key that shifts you to a layer where hjkl are arrow keys. It works well I think! This feels similar ergonomically so I bet it'd also be pretty nice

@mntmn
I have been thinking along similar lines. I would really like the layer shift key to work as normal modifier + pressed key combo for any other key combination though.

While I have a few more scancodes that I would want to assign on that layer in the firmware, I am always in need for easily-reachable modifier keys to use in Emacs or as compose keys for other characters that I configure in user land.

I am still just waiting for some spare time to finally hack on my reform keyboards FW 😹

@mntmn

I usually use holding caps to activate my layer for hjkl as arrows.

@mntmn About layer change for cursor keys, there are some existing layouts that already do this using M4 like the Neo2 layout or one of its successors, the Noted layout:
dl.neo-layout.org/grafik/bilde
Maybe existing solutions can be re-used or used for inspiration.

@mntmn I rarely use the arrows anymore and my primary keyboards a small split keyboards with no arrows at all. I used to have hjkl mapped to arrows but I have a hard time using the h key for navigation and eventually changed it to use ijkl instead....on a layer of cause. I have it remapped in vim as well and this is where I spend a lot of my day.

@mntmn huh, i always thought the MNT keyboards all ran qmk already :D
in any case, it sounds like you could use hold-taps for a variety of things :)

@mntmn I also do this! I go up/down with j/k, and left/right with ←/→.