231 lines
10 KiB
Markdown
231 lines
10 KiB
Markdown
algernon's layout
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=======================
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This is an unconventional layout for the ErgoDox EZ. For more details about the
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history of the layout, see my
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[blog posts about my ErgoDox journey][blog-ergodox].
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[blog-ergodox]: https://asylum.madhouse-project.org/blog/tags/ergodox/
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Some of the things in the layout only work when one uses Spacemacs and GNOME
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under Linux. Your mileage may vary.
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## Table of Contents
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* [Layouts](#layouts)
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- [Base layer](#base-layer)
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- [Experimental layer](#experimental-layer)
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- [Hungarian layer](#hungarian-layer)
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- [Navigation and media layer](#navigation-and-media-layer)
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- [One-handed layer](#one-handed-layer)
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- [Steno layer](#steno-layer)
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- [LED states](#led-states)
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* [Building](#building)
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- [Using on Windows](#using-on-windows)
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* [Changelog](#changelog)
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* [License](#license)
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# Layouts
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## Base layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/28f7eb305fdbff943613e1dc7aa9e82b)
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At its core, this is a Dvorak layout, with some minor changes. The more
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interesting parts are how certain keys behave:
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* The keys on the number row double as function keys, when held for a bit longer
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than an usual tap. This allows me to use the function keys without having to
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switch layers.
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* The `Shift`, `Alt`, and `Control` modifiers are one-shot. When tapped, they
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are considered active for the next key press only. When double tapped, they
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toggle on, until a third, single tap sometime later. When held, they act as
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expected. My usual pattern is that I use these for the next keypress only, so
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this behaviour is perfect. If I need them held, I'll just double-tap.
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* The `GUI` key is special, because when I double-tap it, it sends `GUI + w`,
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which pops up an application selector. It also switches to a one-shot layer,
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where the number row on the left half turns into app selector macros, for the
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most common things I usually want to switch to. Otherwise it behaves as on a
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normal layout.
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* The `ESC` key also doubles as a one-shot cancel key: if tapped while any of
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the one-shot modifiers are in-flight (as in, single-tapped, and not expired
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yet), it cancels all one-shot modifiers. It also cancels the **Hun** layer, if
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active. Otherwise it sends the usual keycode.
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* The **Media**, **Arrow**, and **Hun** layer keys are one-shot, the **1Hand**
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and **STENO** keys are toggles.
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* Toggling the **Arrow** layer toggles between the cursor arrows and the paging
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keys on the bottom row.
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* Tapping the `:` key once yields `:`, tapping it twice yields `;`.
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* The **Lead** key allows me to type in a sequence of keys, and trigger some
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actions:
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- `LEAD u` enters unicode input mode, by sending the GTK+ key sequence that
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does this.
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- `LEAD l` uses the unicode input method to enter a `λ`.
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- `LEAD s` does a lot of magic to type in a shruggie: `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`
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- `LEAD y` types `\o/`.
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- `LEAD w m` maximises the currently focused window.
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- `LEAD e` makes the [experimental layer](#experimental-layer) the default.
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- `LEAD v` prints the firmware version, the keyboard and the keymap.
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## Experimental layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/6ff50bf71248e05aab5b3fec4fae3d08)
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While using the standard Dvorak layout, I encountered a number of
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inconveniences, and on this layer, I am playing with ideas to make the layout
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feel better. Initially, it was based on [Capewell-Dvorak][cpd], but that too,
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had shortcomings I was not happy with. So now this is something inbetween, with
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own observations thrown in. How it works out in the long run remains to be seen.
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[cpd]: http://www.michaelcapewell.com/projects/keyboard/layout_capewell-dvorak.htm
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## Hungarian layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/b160f6ec90d58c127c114c89f66e9dc9)
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On this layer, the accented characters are at the same position as their base
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variant. For some, which can have other diatribes, the long one is on top,
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short's on bottom. Tapping any of the accented characters takes us back to the
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base layer.
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## Navigation and media layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/c59c453f9fe1a3238ba1494e7e5c6892)
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This layer is primarily for navigating with the cursor or the mouse, and some
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media things.
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## One-handed layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/edff2495135955b8963198dace7f7ece)
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The one-handed layer is used in situations where the right hand is occupied, by
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mousing around, for example. Tapping the `OTHER` key switches which side is
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active. For the most part, keys remain in their usual position. When the right
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half is active, keys are mirrored to the left half.
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The differences are as follows:
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* The `ESC` key has been moved to the bottom row, so the `OTHER` key is easier
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to tap.
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* Most keys on the thumb cluster now have dual uses, and these do not change
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when switching sides:
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- The `Space`/`Backspace` key sends `Space` on tap, `Backspace` when held
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for longer than a normal tap.
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- The `Enter`/`Shift` key sends `Enter` on short-tap, `Shift` on long-tap.
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* The `Apps`/`BASE` key can be used to go back to the base layer, by
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long-tapping it. A short-tap will send the `App` key, as usual.
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## Steno layer
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[](http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/401ef9a84369e47c57f9aedcf0a0d667)
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This is to be used with [Plover](http://www.openstenoproject.org/plover/),
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nothing really fancy here. The **STENO** key toggles the layer on and off, and
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sends the toggle command to Plover too.
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## LED states
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The primary purpose of the LEDs is to show the modifier status, a secondary, to
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show which layer is active. Each modifier, `Shift`, `Alt` and `Control` each
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have their designated LEDs: the *red*, *green* and *blue*, respectively. When a
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modifier is in a one-shot state, the respective LED will turn on with a dimmer
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light. If the modifier is toggled on, the brightness of the LED turns full.
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For the layers, the following rules apply:
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* When the [Experimental layer](#experimental-layer) is toggled on, LEDs will
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light up from left to right in a sequence, then turn off. When the layer is
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toggled off, the LEDs light up and turn off in the other direction. No LEDs
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are on while the layer is active.
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* When the [Hungarian layer](#hungarian-layer) is active, the *green* and *blue*
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LEDs are on.
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* When the [Navigation and media layer](#navigation-and-media-layer) is active,
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the *red* and *green* ones are on.
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* When the [One-handed layer](#one-handed-layer) is active, the *green* LED is
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on and bright, and either the *red* or the *blue* one is going to slowly
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blink, depending on the currently active side.
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* For the [Steno layer](#steno-layer), all LEDs will be turned on.
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Unless noted otherwise, the layers use a dim light for the LEDs, while modifiers
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use a stronger one, and modifiers override any layer preferences. For example,
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when on the one-handed layer, with the left side active (*red* light blinking),
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if `Shift` is on, the *red* light will be constantly on.
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# Building
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To make my workflow easier, this layout is maintained in
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[its own repository][algernon:ez-layout]. To build it, you will need the
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[QMK][qmk] firmware checked out, and this repo either checked out to something
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like `keyboards/ergodox_ez/algernon-master`. One way to achieve that is this:
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[algernon:ez-layout]: https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout
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[qmk]: https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware
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```
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$ git clone https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware.git
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$ cd qmk_firmware
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$ git clone https://github.com/algernon/ergodox-layout.git \
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keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/algernon-master
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$ make KEYBOARD=ergodox_ez KEYMAP=algernon-master
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```
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From time to time, updates may be submitted back to the QMK repository. If you
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are reading it there, you can build the firmware like any other firmware
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included with it (assuming you are in the root directory of the firmware):
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```
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$ make KEYBOARD=ergodox_ez KEYMAP=algernon
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```
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## Using on Windows
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The keymap default to forcing NKRO, which seems to upset Windows, and except the
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modifiers, none of them work. If you experience this problem, recompile the
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firmware with `FORCE_NKRO=no` added to the `make` command line.
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# Changelog
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## v1.2 - 2016-06-22
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* The forced NKRO mode can be easily toggled off at compile-time, to make the
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firmware compatible with [certain operating systems](#using-on-windows).
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* The `:;` key has changed behaviour: to access the `;` symbol, the key needs to
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be double-tapped, instead of shifted.
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* The `=` and `\` keys were swapped, `=` moved to the home row, on both the
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[base](#base-layer) and the [experimental](#experimental-layer) layers.
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* The arrow and navigation keys were redone, they are now more accessible, but
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the navigation keys require an extra tap to access.
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* The **Emacs** layer is gone, replaced by a simplified
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[navigation and media](#navigation-and-media-layer) layer.
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* `LEAD v` types the firmware version, and the keymap version.
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* On the [experimental](#experimental-layer) layer, the `L` and `Q`, and the `K`
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and `G` keys were swapped.
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* The [Steno](#steno-layer) layer gained a few more `#` and `*` keys, to make it
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easier on my fingers.
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## v1.1 - 2016-06-14
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* The keyboard starts in NKRO mode, bootmagic and other things are disabled.
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* A [Steno](#steno-layer) layer was added, to be used with Plover.
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* An [experimental](#experimental-layer) layer was added, something halfway
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between Dvorak and Capewell-Dvorak. A work in progress.
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* `LEAD y` types `\o/`.
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* Some keys on the [Base](#base-layer) layer have been moved around:
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- `?` moved to the left pinky, left of `Q`.
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- `=` shifted one row down, but `F11` stayed where it was.
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- `-` on the left half was replaced by `Tab`.
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- `Tab`'s original position is taken by a `Media Next`/`Media Prev` key.
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- `:` now inputs `;` when shifted.
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* `ESC` cancels the [Hungarian](#hungarian-layer) layer too, not just modifiers.
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## v1.0 - 2016-05-26
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Initial version.
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# License
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The layout, being a derivative of the original TMK firmware which is under the
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GPL-2+, this layout is under the GPL as well, but GPL-3+, rather than the older
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version.
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