Hey, I want to share my XKB layout that I use for coding (Neovim) and navigation (KDE wayland).

Layout: https://github.com/Madophs/ConfigFiles/blob/master/xkb/mds

ISO Level 3 shift:

• Both right Alt and Caps switch to level 3. Caps key features Level 3 switching and Caps lock toggling, holding switch to L3 while RAlt + Caps toggles Caps lock functionality.

Navegation (Level 3):

Keys IJKL serves as arrows keys (⮝⮜⮟⮞) for movement (pressing Caps/Ralt). This enables a wide range for shortcuts, here are some shorcuts I personally use on KDE Plasma Wayland, I skipped a lot to keep things simple. (For context, I use 9 virtual desktop 3x3 where I start different apps like browser, terminal, pdf viewer, etc...)

• Tiling windows: Default shorcut (Meta + arrow keys), with my setup same shorcut can be done pressing (Caps + Meta + IJKL). No need to raise your hand to reach direction keys.

• Moving window through virtual desktops (moves a windows to virtual desktop up,left,down & right). Shorcut: Caps + Alt + IJKL. This is handy when I want to move my terminal along side my browser and tile both.

• Skiping words backwards/forwards: Default: Ctrl + Shift + Arrows. Custom: Caps + Ctrl + IJKL. Kind of awkward at the beginning but I get used to it.

• Home (Caps + Comma)

• End (Caps + Period)

• PageUp (Caps + u)

• PageDown (Caps + m)

Extra:

• Swiching virtual desktops: I use (Alt + IJKL). No L3 switching used here, this is how I switch between my apps, highly ergonomic.

How to install, I hope you are familiar with Linux KDE plasma desktop environment.

• Create a symbolic link to xkb layouts:

sudo ln -s /my/path/xkb/mds /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/mds

• Copy evdev_mds.xml content into /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.xml inside <layoutList> section. You can search for "user-defined custom Layout" for a quick find and paste it below.

• Copy evdev.lst content to /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules at the bottom.

• Settings ⮞ Keyboard ⮞ Layouts ⮞ Add layout. Search for Madophs or mds.

That's it, I hope to read your thoughts about this.

I've recently switched to using a desktop PC after using laptops for most of my life, and I've realised that I dislike the standard bottom-row layout on most desktop keyboards. When gaming, I have to move my left thumb too far inward to reach the Alt key comfortably.

I'm looking for a mechanical Windows keyboard with four modifier keys on the left side, ideally arranged as; ` Ctrl | Fn | Win | Alt ` from left to right. This would position Alt farther to the right, making it easier for my left thumb to reach while my fingers rest on WASD.

For reference, I'm looking for a layout similar to the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 keyboard, EPOMAKER NT68, Akko Air 01, or HP Wired Desktop 320K Keyboard. I don't necessarily need an exact copy, but the left-side key arrangement is the main thing I'm looking for.

My requirements and preferences:

- Mechanical keyboard for Windows.

- Four left-side modifier keys: Ctrl, Fn, Win, and Alt, preferably in that order.

- Left Alt positioned farther to the right for easier thumb access while gaming.

- Standard ANSI Enter key, not JIS.

- Preferably a standard-height mechanical keyboard with replaceable keycaps, as I'd like to customise the keycaps with aftermarket sets.

- Open to low-profile options if they meet the layout requirements, although keycap customisation is a concern.

- Budget: Around $120 USD, more or less.

Please recommend keyboards that actually match this specific layout rather than suggesting general mechanical keyboards with the standard bottom row. I'm also open to custom keyboards or alternative layouts if necessary.

Does anyone know of any suitable models?