Quite unfamiliar, huh?
Source
10th of June 2022
I have decided to split this post into some kind of chapters, hopefully it will make it easier to read
I had used the QWERTY layout since the first moment I laid fingers on a computer keyboard and until the summer of 2021 I wasn't even aware of other keyboard layouts and I couldn't touch type, although my typing speed was more than acceptable averaging about 65 WPM (words per minute).
As I had some free time on hand I decided to learn to touch type. Before opening up some kind of tutorial website I did some research on keyboard and typing in general and it turned out there were alternative layouts. It occurred to me that if I was going to learn to touch type, I have to do it properly and learn the "proper" layout.
I chose Dvorak.
Today it's June of 2022, my average typing speed when I use Dvorak is about 80-90 WPM and I deeply regret my choice. Typing in English is comfy but other languages feel weird, maybe it's because of my lack of practice, I don't know.
What I do know, is that I suck at programming with Dvorak. I work as a programmer, which means I use all kinds of braces and parenthesis on a daily hourly basis and typing them on Dvorak is very inconvenient, at least for me. Curly braces are located where the minus and plus buttons are on the QWERTY layout. Try to type them with your pinky finger, good luck.
Also, I often use my laptop while lying down in my bed. Having to put my fingers in the touch typer position every time I want to type anything is too cumbersome, especially when I do it just to write one or two sentences.
Nah, why would I go with the wise and "safe" option. I'm gonna learn Colemak!
I am worried about using Vim (I want to get more skilled at it) and I also worry
about using Colemak for other languages and typing while lying down but let's not be so pessimistic.
Worst case scenario I'll go back to square one and just learn QWERTY.
Wish me luck!
