Mechanical Keyboards

I use the function keys regularly:

• For programming
• For gaming
• For general functions when interacting with the desktop (continued)

Having once seen an infographic of F# key allocations, I considered it neat and it stayed in my memory, so I started using them in a similar way:

• F1 help - thankfully, most programs implement that by default
• F2 rename
• F3 for either a search bar or split viewspace
• F4: don't remember what was in the infographic, but apart from Alt + F4, I use it to open the embedded terminal wherever available. Other combinations using F4 are used to open the terminal in different ways
• F5 refresh. I recently saw a bug report with a workaround that made me feel like KWin might actually benefit from F5 to force redraw all windows and the whole screen
• F6: similar and complementary functionality to Tab for using keyboard focus.
• F7, F8, F9: alright, not only did I forget what was shown in the infographic but also didn't find much use of these (I do use them for gaming though)
• F10 for "New ..." menu as in New folder/file
• F11 Fullscreen
• F12 different things in different cases, but usually view related stuff. Sometimes an alternative print screen function

I have been trying to select and procure components to build my own keyboard and if I ever do, I'll be adding the F13 - F24.

But of course, I'm not very into splits and I go with the full 104 keys thingy

I don't know if it exists, but I want a vertically staggered keeb, with F1-F24. Why does this not exist (and if it does, it'll cost 700 EUR) ;_;

The more annoying thing is they don't duplicate the middle keys, especially B. I don't always touch type using the "official rules" so I frequently found myself trying to press a key that didn't exist.

I gave up on split keyboards anyway - a good desk and chair are much more important.

I'd assume most people on minimal split keyboards use vim bindings or similar. that's what I usually do and I have a quefrency and wireless corne. I only end up using fn keys if I'm playing games. for programming I'd rather have mnemonic chords like <space> p c for project menu then compile instead of remembering f7 or whatever

on that note though, a quefrency might fit your needs. it has 8 fn keys on the side and the others on a layer. otherwise you can always get custom pcbs, it's work but it's not that bad

I will answer with a simple question: When's the last time you had to press a function key and a number key at the same time?

When it comes to split keyboards and other kinds of shaped keyboards, smaller is usually better to a point. Standard keyboards are usually more fixed in place and as such, the size doesn't matter as much as long as you can still reasonably use it.

Probably because layering and chording easily let you access the F-keys while not having them take up so much space.

Programmer here: Haven't used a function key in years.