Bépo-Code

Keyboard layout for code, English, and French.

Key features

• Bépo layout, slightly modified.
• Qwerty shortcuts, Ctrl+X/C/V are still together under the left hand.
• Arrow keys under the right hand, accessible with AltGr.
• Number pad under the right hand, accessible with Meta (Alt).
• Code symbols under the left hand, accessible with Meta (Alt).
• Modifier keys, as well as Escape, Delete, Backspace, and Enter brought closer to where the fingers rest.

Used everyday since 2019, this layout allows me to barely move my hands while touch-typing code, English, or French, and navigating and selecting text by characters, words, line, etc.

Installation on Linux

Set up keyd, place the file default.conf in /etc/keyd/default.conf, and run sudo keyd reload. Then add the content of the xkb-* files in their corresponding locations, and run setxkbmap us bepo-code-keyd (or select the layout in your system settings; note that a reboot might be necessary).

Note

Before using keyd, Bépo-Code was made with an XKB configuration which you can find here. Note that it is no longer maintained.

Layout

Key prefixes:

• S = Shift, example: Stab = Shift+tab
• C = Control
• A = Alt
• G = AltGr
• K = Control+k, example: KCSup = Control+K, Control+Shift+up

Key functions:

• [layer] key: activates layer if hold; does key if tapped (pressed and released)
• {layer}: toggles layer (layer stays active until toggled back, or clear is called)
• layer+: activates layer if hold, and also for the next key press if tapped
• (function): runs function, example: (clear) restores the main layer
• key1·key2: enters key1, key2, and left, to place the cursor between key1 and key2

Image created using jaroslaw-weber.github.io/keyfab.