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Add to SafariWhen comparing Programmer Dvorak vs Maltron Letter Layout, the Slant community recommends Programmer Dvorak for most people. In the question“What are the best keyboard layouts for programming?” Programmer Dvorak is ranked 2nd while Maltron Letter Layout is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose Programmer Dvorak is:
J and K are where C and V are on QWERTY. H is still left of L.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Vim keybindings still make sense
J and K are where C and V are on QWERTY. H is still left of L.
Pro Made for programming
This keyboard took a stand and optimized the Dvorak standard for programming.
Pro Easy to learn if you're already used to Dvorak
The letter keys are the same, so it's not nearly the same mental jump as Qwerty to Dvorak.
Pro Keyboards are designed for human comfort
Pro Programmer punctuation without shifting on the top row
The top row is hardest to reach, and shifting doesn't make this easier. Programmers uses punctuation far more than numerals, so it makes sense to shift for the numerals instead of the punctuation.
Pro Preinstalled on Linux
You can enable it systemwide when you're installing Ubuntu.
Pro Open source
The keyboard layout is open source and available for edition.
Pro Typing feels more comfortable
Completely subjective of course.
Pro Easily switch between Standard Dvorak and Programmer's one
Dvorak Simplified Layout is more general and available on all OS, if we need to type on other's computer, we can still use the Dvorak Simplified Layout for typing.
Pro Better number arrangement
The smallest numerals are the most frequently used, so why should they be on the weak fingers of the left hand? The order still makes sense too. Odd numbers on the left, even numbers on the right, ascending from the inside out (with the least used numeral '9' in the middle).
Pro Don't need to buy another keyboard or move keycaps around
Having the original QWERTY labels is useful for other people using your computer or if you ever need QWERTY. Not having keycaps labeled in Dvorak forces you to learn to touch type. All QWERTY keyboards can be remapped to Dvorak in your operating system settings, so you don't need a physical Dvorak keyboards.
Pro Number arrangement is the same as the original Dvorak keyboards
Pro More use means more usage
If an individual uses this and tells other people or they try it, the layout will be more popular, and those people will tell people and the world will change.
Pro Other people can't use your computer unless you switch it to QWERTY for them
Pro Punctuation is also optimized
The comma and period are more frequent than KVJZXQ.
Pro E on the thumb
E is the most used English letter by far at almost 13%.
Pro Highly optimized for frequency of use
This includes di- and tri-graphs, as well as the individual letter frequency.
Cons
Con Other people can't use your computer unless you switch it to QWERTY for them
Con Keyboard controls for video games and other applications are all made for QWERTY
If you want to game, the WASD keys are completely unusable. You either need to switch to QWERTY (and then switch to Dvorak every time you want to use in game chat) or spend time remaping every key, because games don't come with Dvorak keymaps. Sufficiently popular games might have Dvorak mods.
Con It takes a couple weeks before you're back to a usable speed when switching from QWERTY
Achieving your old QWERTY speed can take a month or more.
Con Dvorak users usually still use QWERTY on their smartphones
Dvorak is made for ten fingers. Its main ideas, such as maximizing the number of "finger rolls" and alternating hands, don't make much sense when you're typing with your thumbs.
Con SHORTCUTS nightmare
Shortcuts, Shortcuts, Shortcuts, it is a total nightmare for users even used it for years.
Con Typing numbers is hard
Numbers are arranged for their characters, not in ascending order. You also have to shift.
Con It probably won't make you type much faster, if at all
Con Punctuation moved, not just letters
Punctuation moved in addition to letters, meaning that the learning curve is that much harder coming from QWERTY because nearly every key is in a different place.
Con Requires a physical keyboard
The Maltron layout requires an expensive physical Maltron keyboard. Most layout options are a simple change in software, to remap existing keys. (Touch typists mostly don't look at the labels anyway.) But there's no way to add the required thumb keys for this layout in software.
