The ZeLDA (Zero-Look-Down Access) Layout is a minimalist approach to keyboarding. The philsophy is that you should never have to reach farther than one adjacent key. It's still a QWERTY, but seriously improved.

See the 2017 Open Source Bridge session and slides for more details.

It is built completely on open source, leveraging the QMK Firmware Toolkit.

Compared to a traditional keyboard, ZeLDA offers the following improvements:

• minimal reaching for any key for more comfort
• unstaggered grid layout (avoid twisted hands)
• a conservative spacebar: seven thumb-reachable keys! (vs 3)
• high quality keys -- it's mechanical!
• tiny desktop footprint
• symmetry (all modifiers are on both hands)
• 2-keys-for-1-finger modifier combos (with proper caps)
• easy chording
• trivial "sixth finger" palming

See the Getting Started Guide for more details.

brew install avrdude avr-gcc dfu-programmer

1. Get yourself a Planck (or use something like QWERKey with xmodmap/xcape)

2. Install the QMK prerequisites.

3. git clone QMK.

4. cd qmk_firmware/keyboards/planck/keymaps/ and clone this repo

5. cd back up to the top level

6. Build/upload with make planck/rev4:zelda:flash

7. Tweak keymap.c to your heart's content

http://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#_default_keybindings

A sample i3config file has been provided as a starting point for configuring i3. Its mappings correspond to the diagram.

• Full 104-key functionality rolled into 45 keys
• Custom switches of your choosing
• Two-key-per-finger combos
• Redundant mappings
• Lazy mappings for right-hand only work (left-hand rest)
• Dual-mode keys: hold or tap
• Mnemonics for symbol keys
• More symbols not needing Shift or other modifier
• Symmetric, comfortable modifiers: Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Super
• All four modifiers neatly organized on pinkies
• Tiny spacebar for more thumb keys
• Ortholinear to remove crazy staggered and twisted hands
• Smarter one-hand numpad
  • 789 numpad on top
  • OR, 123 on top for easier reach of higher frequency keys (Benford's Law)
  • opposite of Lower key
  • numlock
• Friendly to Tiling Window Managers (TWM)
• Easy transition to/from qwerty
• "Palm" keys: combinable (you should make them tall and soft)
• Everything scrunched for easy reaching (Ergo!)
• Everything programmable; instructions for uploading custom mappings
• Four default key map modes built in (cycle through with hotkey combo)
• Intuitive layers
• Key combo shortcuts optimized for web browsers and programming editors
• Cheat sheet on back (future)
• Standard Cherry style replaceable keys
• Anki picture-cards for memorizing finger combos (future)

Bonus:

• All keychords can be one-handed
• How-to usage videos (future)
• Works well with Firefox mouseless browsing plugin

Copyright © 2020 Woodpecker Makery (WPM) LLC

Distributed under GPLv2/v3, same as QMK Firmware.