Dotfiles

Keyboard Layout: Programmer’s Dvorak

If the keyboard layout appears unfamiliar, this is intentional due to the Programmer's Dvorak configuration.

What Is Programmer’s Dvorak?

Programmer’s Dvorak is a variant of the Dvorak keyboard layout designed specifically for programmers. It places symbols like { } [ ] ( ) and operators like = + - * / in more convenient locations, optimizing coding flow and reducing finger travel.

It’s different from:

  • QWERTY – Standard for most users.
  • Dvorak – Typing-optimized layout.
  • Programmer’s Dvorak – Typing and coding optimized.

This layout may initially feel unfamiliar to new users.

Layout Preview

Layout Preview

🔗 Wikipedia: Programmer Dvorak 🔗 Visualizer: Keymap Drawer

How to Switch Back

If you're not used to it and just want your usual QWERTY back, here’s how to fix it:

On NixOS

Edit your Home Manager config (usually nixos/modules/xserver.nix):

{
  services.xserver = {
    xkb.variant = "dvp"; # change this to "us" for QWERTY
  };
}

Qtile Layout Indicator

The bar uses a KeyboardLayout widget to toggle between layouts. Here's the relevant snippet from home-manager/modules/desktop/qtile/src/config.py (Line 405):

    widget.KeyboardLayout(
        fmt="{} ",
        foreground=colors["base09"],
        configured_keyboards=["us dvp", "ge", "us"],  # remove "us dvp" to avoid Dvorak
        display_map={
            "us dvp": "DVP",
            "ge": "GE",
            "us": "US"
        },
        option="caps:escape",
        **powerline("back_slash"),
    ),

Use Super + Space to toggle layouts at runtime. Default is DVP, but you can remove it from configured_keyboards if you want.

Heads-up

  • Caps Lock is Escape via option="caps:escape" — change it if you want.
  • Both QWERTY and DVP layouts coexist for easy toggling and compatibility.

Why I Use It

  • Faster coding ergonomics
  • Less finger strain & fatigue
  • Improved workflow efficiency

Perfectly integrated into my workflow, especially with modal editors like Neovim.

Changing It System-Wide (NixOS example)

Want to ditch DVP for good?

{
  services.xserver = {
    layout = "us";
    xkbVariant = ""; # empty string means default
  };
}

TL;DR

Layout Seen Reaction What to Do
Programmer's Dvorak Confused Run setxkbmap us
Want to keep it? All good Learn & enjoy

Resources to Learn

This layout is active by default when setting up this repository.