Alternate Keyboard

keyboard layout computer interface

I switched to an alternate keyboard layout a few years ago and never looked back. It took about three months to feel natural, and the payoff was real: shorter finger travel, less strain, and a noticeable bump in accuracy.

Most of us are still typing on QWERTY, a layout designed in the 1870s to slow mechanical typewriters down. It was never optimized for comfort or flow, and it shows.

I tried Dvorak, but settled on Colemak because it keeps more keys in familiar positions while still improving efficiency. If you want a modern layout without relearning everything, Colemak is a good compromise.

Keyboard stickers can help with the transition on a standard board (keyshorts is a good place).

Training the New Layout

The secret ingredient is GNU Typist.

It includes Colemak and Dvorak drills, and the feedback loop is immediate. I like typing drills because they feel like a game and you can see progress quickly.

Install:

  • brew install gnu-typist
  • pacman -S gtypist (Arch)

Use it daily for a few weeks and the keyboard layout stops feeling foreign.

Moonlander, but Not Mine

I am using a Moonlander keyboard, I am a fan and would happily recommend one. The reason is simple: it lets you run Colemak on the keyboard itself.

That means you can keep your operating system layout set to QWERTY and still type Colemak anywhere you plug in. No OS‑level switching, no weird key mappings, no “wait, why is this laptop wrong?” moments.

Beyond that, the Moonlander has features that make layout transitions and ergonomic upgrades easier:

  • Fully programmable layers and per‑key remapping
  • Per‑key lighting, animations, and visual cues for learning
  • Swappable switches (clicky, tactile, silent) without soldering
  • Ergonomic split design with adjustable thumb clusters
  • Built‑in training tools and configurator support (via Oryx and Keymapp)

For anyone switching layouts or trying to reduce wrist strain, that combination is hard to beat.

Conclusion

Colemak makes typing easier and faster for me. Most of the motion stays on the home row, and I rarely need to contort my hands. Combined with Vim and other keyboard‑driven workflows, it is a meaningful quality‑of‑life upgrade.

Passwords can be confusing during the transition, so a good password manager like bitwarden is essential.