https://github.com/ckat3/zmk-config
Custom 34-key layout for English, French, Portuguese and coding
https://github.com/ckat3/zmk-config
keyboard-layout zmk
Last synced: about 1 month ago
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Custom 34-key layout for English, French, Portuguese and coding
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/ckat3/zmk-config
- Owner: ckat3
- Created: 2022-03-25T12:31:45.000Z (about 4 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-17T13:42:03.000Z (2 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-17T16:07:19.088Z (2 months ago)
- Topics: keyboard-layout, zmk
- Language: AutoHotkey
- Homepage:
- Size: 691 KB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
[def_sfb]: ## "Same Finger Bigram, i.e. pressing two successive keys in the same column."
[def_mod]: ## "Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and Windows key."
# The Zé Quoia 34-key layout
I'm a coder as well as a translator of English, French and Portuguese, so I made this layout which is highly optimized for all these usages. It also performs very well in Spanish, and can find its way to ß for the occasional Notstandsmaßnahme. I find it a joy to use, so that it's sure to be my endgame.
Its ergonomics are lightly premised on the [A. Dux](https://github.com/tapioki/cephalopoda/tree/main/Architeuthis%20dux)'s aggressive column stagger and pinky splay, but it should work fine on any 34-key board.
The ZMK source was written to be used on top of [Bépo](https://bépo.fr), as QWERTY's need to recur to certain ASCII alt-sequences would mean trouble for my cross-platform usage.
## Features
* Lower row favored instead of the upper.
* Low on [SFB][def_sfb] and redirects and high on alternation, but
* Still features some very enjoyable rolls (`'s`, `you`, `which`…).
* Easy combo for `qu`, which is much more frequent than a loose q.
* Combos for bothersome common sequences (`bj`, `ão`, `õe`, `ãe`, `ção`, `ções`).
* RH navigation layer for efficient darting through text, including Vim-style homerow arrows but with `^←` and `^→` on the sides.
* LH conceived to be used alongside a mouse on RH (sorry, lefties).
* Modified LH numpad leaves homerow for `0123`, which account for some 75% of all typed digits.
* Utility layer on LH home row featuring unlimited alt-tab or ctrl-tab in both ways, history navigation, and full mouse control with three cursor/wheel speeds.
* Promptly accessible one-shot layers to insert symbols and accented vowels with only two key taps.
* Automatic placement of narrow non-breaking space for French punctuation.
* Manually implemented capsword.
### Integrations
#### Dedicated scripts included for
* [AutoHotKey](https://www.autohotkey.com/): mouse control, dark mode toggle, and double/single display toggle
* [ControlMyMonitor](https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/control_my_monitor.html): change brightness and other settings of external displays
#### Suggested shortcuts for
* [PowerToys](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/) launch and clipboard history, both from base layer
* [Everything](https://www.voidtools.com/) search from home row
## Layout
The outer home row keys act as [modifiers][def_mod] when held.
Each thumb key activates a certain layer while held. The thumbs sit on their outer keys by default; the inner ones, when pressed, are one-shot switches. This works great for symbols and accents, which are less often used in sequence.
Here's a rough outline of the main layers:
### Base
q - y . ? k c h w j
u o i a f g t r s n
z é p , x v d m l b
e spc
### Accents (inner right thumb)
û ô î â ¿ ç ' " bj
ú ó í á ã ^ ` ´ ñ
ù õ ï à ¨ ß ~
### Numbers (hold outer left thumb)
| 7 8 9 ? $ [ ] # %
0 1 2 3 ; : + - * /
4 5 6 , . < > = \
_ spc
### Symbols (outer left thumb)
| @ æ œu ! $ [ ] & ~
{ } ( ) ; : ^ ` /
— − « » , . < > = \
_ spc
## Performance
On the benchmarks I ran this layout scores very near the top, right next to the (English-focused) likes of [RSTHD](https://xsznix.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/rsthd-today/) and [MTGAP](https://mathematicalmulticore.wordpress.com/the-keyboard-layout-project/). But Zé Quoia depends so heavily on combos and layers that any complete mechanical analysis of it would have to be highly opinionated in its parametrization.