Considerations for 3x5 and 3x6 layouts with additional layers for non-letter characters

[jtrv]

Hello I really appreciate your thorough work in the documentation and methodology behind engram. I am considering using this layout with a more minimal ortholinear design such as the corne or gergoplex. I was going to try and adapt a layout from feelings and assumptions after trial and error once I create one and test it. However I thought I should reach out and see if you would consider applying your methodology to alternative smaller layouts to maximize the ergonomics of the additional layers as well.

As an additional challenge if you might be willing:
Considerations for modifier keys or key-down/up events. I.E. using xcape (to escape when ctrl is tapped and act as ctrl when held down) these could double up thumb keys ie

Left Thumbs     
 _____________   _______________   _____________
| lower-layer | | mod/backspace | | ctrl/escape |
 -------------   ---------------   -------------

Right Thumbs
 _____________   _________   _____________
| shift/space | | alt/tab | | upper-layer |
 -------------   ---------   -------------

[driccio]

Hello Jacob,

I wonder the same about engram on 3*6 layout. I was thinking to inspire me from : https://github.com/manna-harbour/qmk_firmware/blob/miryoku/users/manna-harbour_miryoku/miryoku.org

You can also see that (I guess I found it here on the repo) : https://configure.zsa.io/ergodox-ez/layouts/dam5g/latest/0

Hope it can help you.

[xsova]

Hey Jacob,

I have been trying to solve this for about two weeks, and this is what I was able to come up with. I really enjoy the design of the Miryoku layout, but when I decided to switch layouts, I wanted to do it right the first time.

What I came up with:

• Add one column on each side of standard Miryoku layout
• Redesigned Num layer to go across the top of both hands (I know this is a bit of a nono)
• Redesigned Sym layer to match num layer's top row
• Made Sym layer work as shift for outer and inner Base layer symbols (allowing for real shift key on Base layer)
• Made Sym layer's lower rows better for () {} <> [] (which are things I type often enough to warrant it as a dev)
• Removed reset keys on every layer to prevent accidental triggers when attempting to use Num or Sym
  -- My keyboard (ZSA Voyager) has a reset button built into the hardware, so it is obsolete anyways

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!
Here is the QMK stuff for people not using ZSA's Oryx