On my 34-40 key layouts I put all the symbols typically used together in programming on the same layer, including symbols that usually require Shift, along with all the numbers. This makes it comfortable to type whole formulas without leaving the symbol layer and without needing Shift. Important bigrams that I can type without switching layers in the middle include <= >= != += -= *= /= %= &= |= -> /* */ => := :) ;) . I also optimize the layer so that none of these are same-finger bigrams. Because = appears in so many bigrams, I found it convenient to map it on a thumb key.

I make sure all the mods are comfortable to use and in the same place on all my layers, either as bottom row mod-taps or on opposite side thumb keys or worst case as a oneshot mod. I don't need Shift on my symbol layer, so one less mod to worry about.

Probably my favourite feature for a programming key map is _ on a base layer thumb key. That makes typing snake_case_names a breeze.

IME, to use git effectively, and make sense of the man-pages, you have to know a lot of the internals of how git works. I found it helpful to read "Git from the bottom up" when I had to start using it professionally: https://jwiegley.github.io/git-from-the-bottom-up/

I find it easier to maintain two layouts (QWERTY and Colemak DH) if I use them on physically different keyboards. QWERTY on standard row-staggered, Colemak on ergo keyboards. When I was mixing both layouts on standard keyboards, I found it harder to switch and made more mistakes.

The "half-swept" version of Sweep does that already: https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/Sweep/tree/main/Sweep%20half-swept

The easiest way to make the board flippable if to mount the controller upside-down on one side. Half-swept uses solder jumpers for all the pads of the controller footprint, which does basically the same thing as flipping the controller.

Nice. The world needs more hex keyboards!

The title picture and the first picture in my post both show them installed. Here is a direct link to the title picture.

Thank you for the reference. I just watched the movie for the first time. I mean I was going for an organic looking shape with these keycaps, but maybe I succeeded a bit more than I intended. I should make a "special" version for Halloween.

Everything except the Y key you can get with a Perixx Periboard 535. It uses mechanical Choc switches.

The closest thing I've seen to moving keys to the other hand is keyboards with two B keys, so you can type it with either hand. I haven't seen that for the Y key.

You didn't specify whether you want row-stagger or column-stagger. Given that you don't want to change your typing habits, I'm guessing row-stagger is what you'll prefer. Transitioning to column-stagger would throw out a lot of your muscle memory and require some time to adjust, especially if you're used to non-standard fingering. Typing Y with the right hand would be a minor change in comparison.

Pink switches are very light. I bottom out pretty hard, so they're probably wasted on me. It makes a nice percussive sound in the wooden case, though. But I do find them quite usable with these sculpted keys. I didn't like them on a Cantor with MBK key caps as it was too easy to actuate two keys at once by accident.

For me, Pro Red is probably the sweet spot for light linear switches.

I used to have two Type Matrix boards long time ago. It got me into thinking about more ergonomic layouts and taught me first Dvorak and later Colemak. I agree with others' comments about poor longevity. I also find that it's not a very ergonomic layout in hindsight.

Learning how to clone this layout in a custom mechanical keyboard is like jumping into the deep end. There may be other ways. E.g. get an XD75 or ID75 and make a layout that's "close enough". That takes PCB design and lots of firmware hacking out of the equation. But you'd still learn about different switches, layers, thumb keys, maybe home-row-mods if you want and ease you into more possibilities of firmware hacking. You may find a more ergonomic or efficient layout than the Type Matrix that way, as well.

I need to fix the position and angle of split keyboards. If the halves move too easily, I lose accuracy. Therefore I prefer non split keyboards. If they have angled halves that allow the wrists to be comfortable, that's the best of both worlds for me.

I constantly switch between an ergo keyboard with Colemak DH and standard keyboards with QWERTY at work. Somehow they feel different enough that I can keep the muscle memories separate and switch easily.

Check out lowprokb.ca. Their excellent sunset switches are on sale right now. They have other choc switches, too. And they ship from Canada.

Nice write-up! Out of the Choc switches I've tried, Sunsets are my favourites, too. I agree that Pinks are too light. I lubed mine and don't find them wobbly, though. Pro-Reds are borderline for me. I think part of the problem is the flat MBK key profile that makes the edge of the next key too easy to hit by accident. Too bad LDSA key caps never came back in stock.

I find the Sunsets are more scratchy when I hit them off-center. If I hit them just right, they feel smoother than MX Clears and more satisfying than MX Browns I have on other boards.

Yeah, I wasn't really happy with the height and sharp edge of the taller keys. The latest version flattens that a bit. It still has the lower half a spherical dish facing the key well, but flattens out above that. This makes it more versatile as a thumb key as well.

https://github.com/fxkuehl/mantis/raw/main/assets/mantis-v0.3-leds.jpg

https://github.com/fxkuehl/mantis/blob/main/keycap/keycap-v3-28.stl

Awesome! Thank you for sharing. I want to to try and use PCB assembly for the next version of my keyboard. I'll bookmark this post for information and inspiration.

The keycaps are my own design, 3D printed at JLC. Their footprint matches these: https://fkcaps.com/keycaps/hex. They were the original inspiration for this layout and I used them on early prototypes.

I made a short demo video. Sorry about the bad audio: https://youtu.be/Rh3bqSVHcbg

BTW, not sure if you're aware of my Mantis keyboard design. It was inspired by the same hexagonal key caps but has since evolved to my own 3D printed sculpted hexagonal key profile, which is a lot more comfortable for typing: https://github.com/fxkuehl/mantis

My v0.1 prototype resembled your keyboard. But your PCB is much prettier. And I haven't designed anything with an integrated controller. Kudos! I bet this is not your first PCB design.

I'm guessing your layout uses 2 keys for each pinky, 5 for each index finger and 2 for each thumb.

Ergodox has a layout similar to Kinesis Advantage keyboards, particularly the thumb cluster. There are low profile versions of it. A quick search got me this: https://www.slicemk.com/products/ergodoxlp-wireless

A bit late but I found this an interesting project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTKbrcy7GT0

I'm not currently planning a split version. But I do get the question enough that I may reconsider it in the future. That said, I feel the concept with an aggressive angle between keyboard halves resulting from a nearly unbroken hex grid, built-in tenting and keywells through stacked PCBs works best for a compact unibody design.