From b985fb49c89e6311d4ea001bfddf1272932daca2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Vidhu Kant Sharma Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:27:59 +0530 Subject: added new blog post --- content/blog/2023/switching-to-dvorak.md | 89 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 89 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/blog/2023/switching-to-dvorak.md (limited to 'content/blog') diff --git a/content/blog/2023/switching-to-dvorak.md b/content/blog/2023/switching-to-dvorak.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7324cbe --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2023/switching-to-dvorak.md @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ +--- +title: I'm switching to Dvorak... +date: 2023-12-12 +highlight: true +--- + +久しぶり!!! + +So I've finally taken the red pill and switched to the Dvorak Programmer layout; +and now you have to read about my experience *heh heh*. +Now whether Dvorak actually makes you more accurate and/or faster hasn't really been +proven and I won't be talking about that, but facts & logic aint gonna change my decision now. + +## Y tho + +I am not ashamed to admit that the main reason for this was because it's cool and quirky. +The *other* main reason is that I wanted to get better at typing. +I, like most people, learned typing the wrong way. I started out by looking at the keyboard +while typing, and slowly moved on to touch typing. but looking at the keyboard is bad +for your posture and eventually reduces accuracy. Surely it's possible to learn the +right way later on, but in my opinion it is just easier to forget everything and learn from +the start... preferably the hard way! Now that's where layouts like Dvorak and Colemak +come in handy. + +### Why not colemak? + +Dvorak (especially Programmer's Dvorak) seems more attractive as a programmer, +but who knows, maybe I'll try out Colemak one day too! +I will say that Colemak seems more sensible for keyboard shortcuts but I hated +the default ones anyways. But I love how Dvorak has commonly used symbols +in more accessible places. + +## First thoughts + +Initally it felt really hard but comfy in Google Docs (yes I sometimes have to use it) and +it was surprising how many words I can make just from the home row. +But when it came to other programs... Oh dude + +It was hell. It's still hell. I cannot use my window manager, I cannot use Doom Emacs, +I cannot use vim. Using a new layout is confusing enough, but it's 10x worse when your +brain just hits h,j,k,l without thinking. I somehow typed out a part of this article +in emacs but since "First Thoughts" I switched to vscodium just to keep my sanity. + +## Second thoughts + +Fuck my typing speed literally became 17% of what it used to be. It actually feels much +more frustrating than I imagined. I literally cannot use my pc properly anymore. +I'm sure I'll get it back bet for the time being typing this article on 14 WPM actually +feels like shit. I'm literally taking way too many sanity breaks. I've been writing this +since yesterday! + +On the plus side, `ctrl-t` and `ctrl-s` are soo much more comfier! I've already started +to fix my muscle memory. Before, I used primarily the left shift and almost always the +left ctrl key and with Qwerty I had to be constantly conscious about it in order to keep +the usage of the left and right keys balanced, which was almost impossible! With Dvorak +it's much easier because I'm building better habits from the start. That's not a Dvorak +thing; that's a new layout thing. + +## Does Dvorak help though + +Well yes and no... +In the end, it all boils down to your level of practise. With proper training you can +become the best typist while still using Qwerty. It's *you* who is improving! But +like I said, it's easier to start over with good habits rather than to try to forget +older bad habits. It's a more miserable experience but it's a one-time investment. +Also, I think what helps more is applying blanking stickers on your keyboard in order +to encourage you to not look at the keyboard. You *can* find ones meant to be applied +on keyboards online, but I used some paper stickers I had lying around. It doesn't +look as good since it's DIY but it gets the job done. + +With that being said, I do agree that Dvorak is a superior layout. It requires much +less finger movement to type the most commmon words and has many more combinations in +the home row. Only caveat for me is that most programs have keybindings that only +make sense for Qwerty. Vim is obviously hell at start, I wonder what Gimp and Kdenlive +would be like. + +### Qwerty is outdated! + +Qwerty was made for typewriters. It deliberately spreads apart more commonly used +letters, increasing finger movement. In the context of typewriters it makes sense +because it prevents jamming. But for computers, It's pretty outdated and less ergonomic. +The `;` key under the little finger has seemed funky ever since I learned touch +typing. Dvorak just makes better use of all the Fingers! Just the position of the +`s` key is a huge selling point for me. + +While other layouts require serious commitment, they also put less strain on your +Fingers! It's definitely isn't easy, and it's not for everyone. I've taken the red +pill, would you take one too? +Let me know! \ No newline at end of file -- cgit v1.2.3