Aldoo

In a similar situation, I managed to extract the broken bit with a needle and some perseverance. I did not have to heat the needle.

Unless I am mistaken, keyd is a kernel level input remapper (like kmonad and kanata). So it is a lower level component: even if you use keyd, xkb will still be there, downstream. The situation would be roughly the same as with xmodmap… except it won’t even be enough!

Indeed, this method consists in mapping scan codes to other scan codes. At this level, there is not the notion that a key produces a character yet. Hence concretely, kernel level input remapping (like QMK, btw) cannot be used to map a key to a character that is not already declared in a higher level component (usually in xkb or xcompose, but it can also be a another component using X11 API, such as xmodmap, for instance).

My first ergo split was a Kimiko (roughly the same as a Sofle v2) which also had this num row I quickly stopped using (I ended up affecting it to F keys, still useless anyway; even for switching VTs I tended to use F keys from one of the layers).

My current daily driver is a 3x6 dactyl with a 4th key under middle and ring finger columns and… a 6 keys (2 rows) thumb clusters. All 6 keys can easily be reached because of the 3D shape. I would say only a couple of keys among the 50 are not really useful, hence it is the sweet spot for me now (for a sculpted keyboard anyway; for a flat one, I have to make it work with smaller thumb clusters).

Anyway the similar layout of the thumb clusters and similar goals (Linux user; typing in French) made me want to comment :).

Very nice keyboard!

For French, I like having a 4th alphabetical key under the middle finger (for instance, move the innermost thumb key a little upward so that is contiguous with the middle finger column). This allows having all the most common characters in the main layer (also using most of the outer pinky columns for this purpose).

Otherwise does this 2 row cluster work well for you? (In particular the upper row)

Concerning the technical trick with xmodmap, I have the feeling you are adding much complexity just for the sake of using qmk’s graphical configurator. Since you are already using xkb (obviously, since there isn’t any serious alternative under X11 or Wayland!), why not configure everything in xkb layout? This way you can configure any existing character without any strange workaround or third party tool! Then your use qmk just for fancy stuff (layers, combos, hold-tap, … ).

The usual argument against xkb is that you cannot bring your keyboard around and have it ready to use on any machine. But since you are using xmodmap, I assume it is not a concern for you, is it?

Kailh choc’s actuation point is only 1.3mm, which is really close to Cherry MX Speed’s (1.2mm).

Of course the two categories concern very different switches, but isn’t this the main trait of speed switches (compared to other MX switches) ?

All my Dactyls are hotswap, so I cannot compare… But it seems that, as expected, stuff is more likely to move and break solder joints when you have hotswap sockets.

A cure for this is to make sure everything is securely glued to the case, but the point of hotswapping, in my case, was the ability to hotswap the whole matrix wrt the case so I can iterate case versions until I print the one with the best parameters.

So after the prototyping phase is over, I encourage you to glue everything you can glue, and screw everything you can (some per-key pcbs, such as the su120, have screw holes… but probably it is even better to use flexible per-column pcbs, instead of per-key, as solder joints that do not exist cannot be broken!).

Facing with the same problem (not exactly: my keyboard have a few more keys than the Corne), it always felt more disruptive to me to interrupt the flow with layer switching than to stretch the pinkies to the outer column (or middle fingers to an extra row) for uncommon characters.

So I used Bépo (and now use Optimot) with very little adptations.

It implies outer column stuff must move either to thumb clusters (for the most used keys) or to layers, to give priority to letters.

A split, 2 hands, keyboard that sometimes can be used one-handedly should not be the same as a one hand keyboard.

Somehow, it should include all the uncompromising layout of a typical split keyboard, plus a set of keys on the left side, replicating the right side keys, but maybe with some adaptations. It could also be just another layer on the left side, but I don’t believe this would cover the need expressed by op.

It could be interesting to develop a project from idea (3).

What shape should have the left hand side for instance, assuming it should have ~40 keys under a single hand?

If you are allowed to configure the keymap on all your host systems, the way to go is to choose a keymap having all required characters (for instance, standard Bépo), install it everywhere, and have your keyboard produce (sequences of) keycodes depending on this.

An alternative would be to input Unicode characters via XCompose under Linux and WinCompose under Windows. The latter claims to be compatible with the former, so it’s worth a try (but you need to be allowed to install WinCompose, of course!)

Other Unicode input methods based on alt+number/ctrl+shift+U+number/… all are OS specific unfortunately.

Edit: btw, PM me if you want my QMK macros for dead key based diacriticized characters.

Considering that you never press enter next to space, there is no same finger bigram involving these two keys, so I believe it makes sense.

Right hand consonants must have been the reason indeed (t, s, r, n, … ). It is counterbalanced by the fact that punctuation is on the vowel side, but I suppose it doesn’t count as much.

I used to have space on the right, but it was pointed to me that, with my layout (for a reason I cannot remember!), space on the left would be more convenient. So I switched.

However the key symmetrical to space is not enter, but backspace, both keys being the most used in my thumb clusters (I used to have both on the same side, and it was quite bad).

Enter is on the left thumb, next to space.

Are these flat-dish keycaps OK for you?

Have you considered other profiles? There are quite a lot of available models you can print (most notably: Chicago Steno, LPX, even clones of commercial ones such as MBK, LDSA or CFX!).

Maybe we both suck with soldering irons?

Concerning choc switches, I believe the main reason I am still using only MX keyboards is the lack of silent choc switches. So yes, current choices really are too basic.

Nonetheless I started a choc keyboard project (currently on standby, hopefully not forever!), and I think I like the 20g gChoc switches I ordered for it (I don’t know if I will be ok with the noise or if I will finish tape modding the whole lot… ).

Wow, I did not expect such a thorough answer!

I still only had the time to skim through it, but I believe it deserves is own post!

Good point about Dactyls.

I would love to be able to use mine without wondering when this or that part will get disconnected and when the board is due for the workbench again…

On the other hand, knowing I can have exactly the layout I need, it would be difficult to accept paying 400 or more for a better built board when you already know it has a suboptimal layout (or features in general).

Speaking of which, a good comparison between KA360 and Glove80 would be interesting…

It’s an interesting design. I wonder if that could work with high profile MX switches and keycaps.

In Dactyls, the reason keys often face inward is as to keep key tops is close to each other as possible. Facing outward would obviously have the opposite effect, but with low profile keys it is less noticeable.

Now, there is one case you really want the keys closer, it is between 2 columns belonging to the same finger.

Convex in the X direction, concave in Y one, it’s a saddle shape, isn’t it?

Edit. Ah no sorry it’s more subtle: there is a stairway effect. The keys face outward, but those in the middle are indeed deeper!

Probably you could not do better than actually 3d-printing the stl (or have it printed)…