This is the repository for my own keyboard mapping implemenatations.
H
, J
, K
and L
are not only the navigation keys in Vi or Vim, but also the keys in many websites and web applications. Haven't you used keyboard shortcuts on Facebook or twitter?
Unfortunately, those keys lose their advantages with Dvorak layout that is claimed to have many advantages on writing. Here's the mix-in layout!
':dpyfgtrw/=
aoeuihjkls-
zqcnxbmv,.
Modifiers tend to be remapped commonly by programmers by swapping Control-L and Capslock to make it more comfortable to access Control key, however, this keymap has way more different modifier mapping.
Esc 1 2 3 ...
Tab ' : d ... Delete
Shift_L a o ... Space
Return Shift
Alt Mod Control ...
Shift key is very frequently used with number key, so it is placed at a higher row to make it easier to access Shift key with numerical (from 1 to 5) one by one hand at once.
Return key is placed at the left-bottom corner because your carret will go the leftmost of the below row (sorry for LtR-centric value view; this was true for me). Unlike a typewriter, Return key is a usual key, not a lever, so the place of the key should be an analogy of what the key does.
Same reason above, Space key is the rightmost part of the home position row.
Put the file on your X11's xkb directory. Then,
% setxkbmap alvi alvi-ctrl
If you are using a keyboard that has a Control key next to A
key (like Sun Type-6 keyboard or Happy Hacking Keyboard),
% setxkbmap alvi # This is the default