Ask HN: How to code with a broken wrist? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How to code with a broken wrist?

"Snowmageddon" in DC has broken my wrist. (At least I think it has but it is impossible to find a non-emergency doctor right now.) Has anyone who had a similar experience found a way to code effectively with one hand?

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Didn't xkcd have a perl based hack that mirrored a keyboard so you only needed to type on one side and it guessed when you meant the actual key or the mirror one.

http://blog.xkcd.com/2007/08/14/mirrorboard-a-one-handed-key...

Reading it now, the mirror shift is manually activated, probably a good job for a foot pedal, he only suggests automating the switching.

Exactly what i need. Thanks.

Hello. Go get the wrist taken care of. You are risking permanent damage to your hands. Coding can wait.

Seriously. You think you've broken your wrist but want to go to a non-emergency doctor? Huh?

I thought it was a sprain on sat. DC hospitals are in a bad state still. 12-18 hour wait for wrists. I have an appointment at two set up yesterday morning.

Broke my wrist a week ago. I'm using one-handed Dvorak. Probably goo enough but slow learning. Thinking my wrist will be fine by the time I learn it. ;) Also use Windows sticky keys. If you don't already, now is a good time for using hotkeys and snippets / bundles

Use dvorak. I know it sounds ridiculously simple but it works. And also it will help you learn new something for the rest of life. I say take this opportunity and at least try.

My second advice would be to really type with one hand (if your regular hand, right or left, is not broken). I did my high school CS project this way. Was fun.

Coding is more about thinking than typing anyway. (In that spirit you can try pair programming.)

I did dvorak for two years. I enjoyed. I agree regarding coding is not typing, but moving so slow is very frustrating.

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