/zsa-voyager-vscode

Ideas for going without a mouse in vscode

Primary LanguagePythonApache License 2.0Apache-2.0

Using the Keyboard More with VSCode

(source for a blog entry on this subject for ZSA here)

Ideas for avoiding the use of mouse in order to improve workflow speed and reduce RSI risk. This repo is specifically aimed at the ZSA voyager keyboard but other keyboard users can take advantage of most of these ideas.

  • Get a decent ortholinear keyboard

    • e.g. the excellent ZSA Voyager. For a layout starter on a Voyager see my config

  • Use some Hyper Key navigation and window management bindings in vscode

  • Memorize additional useful keyboard shortcuts for editing and navigating

  • Use a trackball with no switches instead of mouse

    • https://ploopy.co/nano-trackball/
    • the only product like it I could find that looked appropriate. All others, are designed like mice and would need to move the hand too much to operate.
    • this implies configuring mouse buttons and wheel in a layer in a custom keyboard. It is also most appropriate for a split keyboard so the trackball can sit near one thumb.
    • This idea was a FAIL - but maybe a better trackball would work? this one just feels way to sensitive when finishing a move.

  • Using the above, learn zero glances at the keyboard. (neck RSI!)

  • Heatmap shows good distribution of finger usage after a morning's coding