Alternative keyboard layouts on Windows - why is this such a problem?

Question

I recently researched a bit about alternative keyboard layouts, and saw that it often seems to lead to issues: They don't run properly or aren't supported by some programs or whatever.

Now I'd like to know - from a programmer's perspective - why this has to be a problem.

Windows comes with a few layout choices, like quertz, querty, dvorak... so as long as you use them, you're good to go.

So obviously there must be some API, some encapsulation thing, that defines how these layouts interact with any software.

Now in theory, it should be simple to just use this pattern, create another template, install it and Windows just passes it on like any other layout.

I mean, that's what you call 'programming to interface', right?

But I really have no clue of operating systems and am now wondering:

What is it, that makes it hard, that leads to complications? What am I missing?

Answer 1

So I should probably, if I can't change the layout issue for now, at least get a good keyboard...

I could write my own text editor and implement Neo2 there.

I'd be even less compatible to the rest of the world. 😂

Answer 2

~ swim ~, thanks for giving me your perspective about Windows. That's right, they seem to put quite a bit of effort into keeping old stuff runnable.

Schindlabua, I lately started to do some translation work. If more of that comes my way, I might ideally be looking at one or two thousand pages of German text yearly.

So I think in that sort of case, where you're typing a lot, Neo might actually make a difference - if there's support that is.

Answer 3

Also I think that's mostly how it works but theres simply not enough work being done to add minimak or bepo or norman or maltron etc etc... and adapt it for english or german or russian or spanish etc etc...

Microsoft does offer a keyboard layout creator on their site so give that a try :P

Answer 4

Schindlabua, why don't the layout makers make use of that creator?

Answer 5

HonFu [#GoGetThatBugChamp!] Good question. I'm on goold old QWERTZ so I never really looked into it!

Answer 6

Schindlabua, have you already looked into it?

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_(Tastaturbelegung)

I think design-wise it totally makes sense, but what does it help if it's not supported? You'll hardly switch OS for that.

Answer 7

HonFu [#GoGetThatBugChamp!] Oh yeah Neo looks awesome to type on, especially with the maths symbols.

Thing is that you will be one of 5 people using it and so everytime you use a device that's not yours you have to switch back so I'm not really compelled to learn it (though maybe I should). Also my programming bottleneck is usually my brain and not my typing speed so QWERTZ is totally adequate in that regard too.

Some of my programmer friends switched to QWERTY because the ()[]{} keys are too damn convenient there but yeah, same thing. It hasn't been a big enough issue for me I guess though I totally get why people switch layouts.

Answer 8

HonFu [#GoGetThatBugChamp!] That's a usecase if I've ever heard one!

Answer 9

HonFu [#GoGetThatBugChamp!] Get the Cherry MX green switches, I love typing on them! They feel like the old IBM keyboards with lots of resistance.

Answer 10

~ swim ~, in my case it doesn't seem to be a hardware thing because I just used my laptop's built-in keyboard and tried to switch to another key layout.

Hm, so... code can be sucky, but in some cases involuntarily because the system updated and the API doesn't fit anymore...

When I asked Windows about the issue (Neo2 is not completely unknown, Linux and Google OS seem to support it), they said they don't support it from their side and don't support 3rd party solutions.

So basically that means that Windows adopts a 'What do we care' attitude towards solutions coming from the outside world?

Then it seems rather pointless to even try installing such a system, because anytime Windows makes an update, you could suddenly be cut off from your computer keyboard-wise - scary.

Today WAS scary: When I tried to type something, not only did it fail, but random windows kept popping up and closing, and even an attempt to turn it off failed.

I already began to think I shot my computer down...