README.md 2.5 KB

Selenium33

A Vim-friendly Arsenik mod:

  • 3 home-row mods per hand for Ctrl, Alt, Super
  • 3 layer-tap keys under the thumbs: Shift/Backspace, Navigation/Space, Symbol/Return

base, navigation and sym layers on a 33-key keyboard

Selenium uses 4 layers (instead of 3 for Arsenik), which makes it a natural fit for 34-key keyboards like the Ferris.

Extended Navigation

  • Vim-like navigation in all apps, with any OS layout
  • super-comfortable Tab and Shift-Tab
  • mouse emulation: previous / next and mouse scroll
  • easy left-hand shortcuts

Vim navigation layer on a 33-key keyboard

This Navigation layer has a few empty slots on purpose, so you can add our own keys or layers.

NumRow >> NumPad

In Symbol mode, pressing the left thumb key brings up the NumRow layer:

  • all digits are on the home row, in the order you already know
  • the upper row helps with Shift-digit shortcuts
  • the lower row has dash, comma, dot and slash signs to help with number / date inputs

NumRow layer on a 33-key keyboard

Even on keyboards that do have a physical number row, this NumRow layer can be interesting to use in order to minimize finger movements further more. And it makes it easier to mix symbols with numbers (e.g. [0]).

Implementations

Kanata

kanata configuration

It turns out the Atomic mod can support all Selenium33 features smoothly. You should definitely use Atomic and tweak it to your liking instead of using this. :-)

QMK

The QMK implementation is a bit different:

  • it takes advantage of the 4 thumb keys
  • the Navigation layer uses a mouse emulation on the left hand

In fact, this is what I ended up with for my beloved Ferris in the first place, and Arsenik/Selenium is an attempt to fit most of this magic into my laptop keyboard.

QMK code

# from the `qmk_firmware` root:
make ferris/0_2/bling:1dk:flash