Which thumb key for space and return on the Sofle?

Which is your preferred thumb key for space and return on the sofle? Default has return on the left and space on the right. I’ve been using it opposite for a bit with space on the left and was liking that but figured I’d try it out in the default config for a bit. Not sure which I like more / which one feels more comfortable. What’s your preference? Do you use space on the left or the right side? Is there a reason for the enter/return key being on the left and space on the right by default?

RanzQ,

I started with space on the right mainly because I used to type like that on a 60% keyboard. Then swapped to make gaming easier and I really wanted to keep a single layout so that I can easily chat during gaming without switching layers.

Next, I wanted to learn a 3x5 layout for possibly building such a board in future and took some inspiration from more compact layouts. Now I have shift on the right and enter on a layer. Here’s my layout I’ve been using for months now: keymapdb.com/keymaps/ranzq/

uqs,

Space left, Enter right, so it’s more like a regular setup.

Also, for WASD gaming you need the space on the left.

Aldoo,

I used to have space on the right, but it was pointed to me that, with my layout (for a reason I cannot remember!), space on the left would be more convenient. So I switched.

However the key symmetrical to space is not enter, but backspace, both keys being the most used in my thumb clusters (I used to have both on the same side, and it was quite bad).

Enter is on the left thumb, next to space.

moosh,

Ah, that’s an interesting place to put it, hadn’t considered that location!

galilette, (edited )

One argument for moving space to a specific hand is so space is assigned to the vowel hand. If you are on a layout with definitive vowel / consonant hand split, then the theory goes that it is more frequent for words (at least in English) to begin with a consonant, and separately, also end with a consonant. By having space on the vowel hand, you are promoting hand alternation.

Personally I have vowels on the left hand but still use right thumb for space. I do have ‘e’ on left thumb, but right hand thumb has been a habit since I learned qwerty on a mechanical typewriter…

Aldoo,

Right hand consonants must have been the reason indeed (t, s, r, n, … ). It is counterbalanced by the fact that punctuation is on the vowel side, but I suppose it doesn’t count as much.

Corr,

I’m also a backspace on opposite thumb user. Feels better/makes more sense than enter for me

moosh,

Yeah, that does make sense. So where’s enter for you?

Corr,

I have enter on right thumb next to space, and on a combo left hand. I also use the combo as a way to hold enter, since my main enter key is a layer tap

moosh,

What do you mean by a combo?

Corr,

It’s when you press 2 keys at the same time to get a new output. So I press c+c on qwerty to get enter.

Here are the QMK docs for combos

moosh,

Oh, interesting! QMK enables some pretty impressive stuff!

Corr,

They have some great functionality for sure. Combos, tap dances (which I don’t use much of personally), and the leader key are all super super useful for compressing the footprint of a keymap down

moosh,

Now that I understand combos, what are tap dances?

Corr,

Similar concept in that it let’s a key do multiple things. In this case, you can assign a key to have multiple outputs based on how many times you tap it, and another output for hold. Docs for it

Corr,

I have always typed with space on right hand. I also have enter on the right hand because I had tab on my left hand and wanted left handed alt+tab. This ran into an issue with not having enter on left thumb when my hand is on the mouse so now I have a combo for enter on my left hand too lol.

That said, space on right for life

moosh,

Ah, I’m having to relearn to type a bit since I learned to touch type as a kid and hit space with both thumbs.

Corr,

Interesting. I feel like I’ve never heard of that. Everyone I know only uses a specific thumb for space. But some people use their thumb for shift so there are definitely some unconventional ways to type

moosh,

Maybe it’s non conventional? Guess it just sorta came naturally and I just hit space with which ever thumb was on the hand opposite of the last pressed key as I was finishing up a word.

Corr,

Fair enough man. Good luck with finding what’s right for you!

fhein,

I swapped space to left side for all my keyboards, otherwise games become unplayable. No idea why default seems to be on the right side.

moosh,

This was my reasoning for it too. Guess with enter on left you can mouse and hit enter at the same time?

Corr,

I learned to type with space on my right thumb. That said, I have a gaming layout that puts space on left thumb for obvious reasons

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