Personal keymap configurations for 40% mechanical keyboards
Less keys, more intention. The 40% layout forces every key to earn its place — no redundancy, no wasted reach. Home-row mods keep fingers anchored, layers keep everything accessible without leaving home position.
Principles:
- Home-row mods (GACS) on both halves
- Layers by function: navigation, symbols, operators, mouse
- Muscle memory over labels — the layout rewards commitment
My daily driver. 34 keys, split ergonomic, column-staggered.
Technical keymap (keymap-drawer)
| Period | Keyboard | Keys | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2022 | DZ60RGB | 60% | First custom, first VIA config |
| Feb 2023 | Keychron Q4 + Q0 | 60% + numpad | Separated the numpad — thinking in modules |
| Apr 2023 | Keychron Q9 | 40% | The jump. 18 months of intense iteration |
| Jan 2024 | Keychron Q9 Plus | 40% + knob | Layers stabilize |
| Oct 2024 | Epomaker TH40 ×2 | 40% | Multi-mode (BT, 2.4GHz). Two units, daily refinement |
| Apr 2025 | Vortex Core Plus | 40% | Third brand, same philosophy |
| May 2025 | Windstudio Hola Mini | 40% | First Vial board |
| May 2025 | YMDK Ferris | 34, split | First split. Tap-dance for accents |
| Jun 2025 | ZSA Voyager | 52, split | First premium split. Validates column-stagger. Layout on Oryx |
| Aug 2025 | SplitKB Halcyon Ferris | 34, split | Daily driver. The destination |
Each step removed keys and added firmware intelligence. The path goes from hardware (more keys) to software (more layers).
34-key split (daily driver):
- SplitKB Halcyon Ferris — column-stagger, Vial
52-key split:
- ZSA Voyager — column-stagger, Oryx
40% (rotation):
- Epomaker TH40 — Black Gold (QMK/VIA), Purple (VIA)
- Vortex Core Plus — Black/Brown
- Keychron Q9 / Q9 Plus — Black, Blue, White
- Windstudio Hola Mini — Vial
- YMDK Ferris — Vial
60% (retired):
- Custom DZ60RGB — Gray
- Keychron Q4 — Blue
keyboards/
├── splitkb/ Halcyon Ferris (Vial + firmware)
├── epomaker/ TH40 variants (VIA + QMK)
├── keychron/ Q0, Q4, Q9, Q9 Plus
├── vortex/ Core Plus
├── windstudio/ Hola Mini
├── ymdk/ Ferris
└── dz/ DZ60RGB
admin/ SVG generation tooling
local/ Nushell keyboard utilities
- Firmware: QMK, VIA, Vial
- Visualization: keymap-drawer via
admin/vil-to-svg.nu - Shell: Nushell utilities for keyboard management
MIT — see LICENSE.md
As Orpheus' music could move stones, these keymaps aim to make code flow effortlessly.