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Comment by msluyter | Hacker News Reader

I used to use and love emacs, but I stopped because the various control key combinations were too hard on my hands.

Did you try mapping caps lock as a control key, like on the Sun keyboards? Before I did this I had trouble with Emacs, but since then it's been perfect for me.

This is good advice, but it's not enough.

I found I had to actively train myself to use two-handed key chords. Right control-w, left control n, etc.

I remapped my CTRL, ALT and Left Shift keys so I can easily press them with my thumbs in any combination (I use a TypeMatrix).

No more alternating nonsense. Pressing modifiers is instantaneous and requires no thought.

And here are some great instructions for major systems.

http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/MovingTheCtrlKey

I ended up doing this on all three of Windows and Red Hat (work) and Mac once I got used to it.

The mouse has always been 10 times as hard on my wrists as the most intense emacs fiddlings. I'm actually happy to spend more time doing a task just to keep my hand off the mouse.

Although this might be a bit extreme, a Kinesis Advantage might help you; Bill Clementson talks about how he uses his here: http://bc.tech.coop/blog/060131.html . I write a review of the keyboard itself here: http://jseliger.com/2009/07/20/kinesis-advantage/ .

You realise that Emacs is highly customisable, right? I mean, if that was really the reason, why not remap some of the more common sequences?

I'm starting to reach this point too. And I can't seem to convince myself to buy fancy (expensive) keyboards - even though I /know/ I should.

If you haven't already, just swap your CTRL and CAPS lock keys. That makes for a pleasant typing experience.

I used to use a Typematrix 2030, but have gone back to standard keyboards. I use viper and vimpulse in emacs, so I'm currently using the following mappings (in addition to a Dvorak layout):

CapsLock key = Backspace (I hate that reach)

Tilde key = Escape (for VI)

Escape key = CapsLock (for when you need it)

Backspace key = Tilde

My windows keys also function as Control, so that I don't have to be super accurate when using my pinky joint (where my pinky meets my palm) to press it.

At first, this combination looks weird. But thinking about it, it makes great sense.

Having the tilde so far away is pretty annoying in a shell, but I haven't invested the time in coming up with something better.

I prefer to have it as an additional ctrl, who needs caps anyway? And while you're at it, use the Windows keys, too (if you have 'em). Dividing keyboard shortcuts between Control, Alt, Meta (and maybe Hyper) is much nicer…

Then install smex[1] and searching for commands in the long form is much faster, so you don't need to have that many shortcuts in the first place.

And the fastest and easiest key press is the one you don't have to do: Learn to use keyboard macros, you won't regret it.

[1] http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/Smex

I've done that, and I don't even use Emacs.

+1. I'm trying to use Eclipse right now.

I love the Emacs way - but this uber productivy is exactly what f*cks up my hands.

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