The Rsthd Keyboard Layout

About

RSTHD was created in 2016 using computer-aided design to combat repetitive stress injury. It was the first thumb-alpha layout that effectively optimized a broad set of metrics rather than focusing mostly on travel distance or SFBs. Keygen, the program that generated RSTHD, was the first keyboard layout optimizer written in Rust.

For more on the making of RSTHD, read the original blog post.

What’s Wrong With Qwerty?

QWERTY became ubiquitous due to the runaway success of the Remington No. 2 typewriter, which used it. Its own merit (or lack thereof) as a keyboard layout was not a major factor in the typewriter’s success.

Many alternatives to QWERTY have been proposed, each claiming improvements based on their own metrics. Typing on QWERTY requires more effort and less comfortable hand motion than almost every alternative, including contemporaneous ones, regardless of which metrics are used.

What Makes Rsthd Unique?

RSTHD is designed for people who primarily use a split ergonomic keyboard.

RSTHD takes E out of the main grid and puts it on the thumb, unlocking better optimizations by gaining an extra home row key. It encourages slow movement of the whole hand rather than twitches of individual fingers.

It prefers rolls over alternation and in-rolls over out-rolls. As for finger usage, it is heavy on index, moderate on middle and ring, and low on pinky.

How Can I Use It?

To use RSTHD, you need a programmable keyboard with extra thumb keys such as the ErgoDox EZ. Refer to your keyboard’s documentation for how to customize your firmware.

The ANSI version of RSTHD maintains a similar hand-feel on standard keyboards with minimal swaps, so you don’t need to use a completely different layout when you are away from your main keyboard. A Mac download of this version is available.