TL;DR - stick with Dvorak or switch to an ADNW-version, which is a 'better Dvorak'.
Let's look at some options.
1. Stick with Dvorak. It is a good layout and present on lots of computers/operating systems. I don know what language(s) you type in - English, French, Finnish, Python, Java, Bash ? If the troubling
ls comes from linux commands, the easiest solution is of course to make an alias for that. So that when you type for instance
hs in the terminal, this will give the command
ls2. Switch to Colemak. I would not recommend this. Colemak is said to be easier to learn, because closer to qwerty. But this is not relevant to you. Also, Colemak claims that 'rolls' are superior to 'alternation'. This is - to me - doubtful.To me, rolls are easier to learn, that is a real plus. But after a while they start to feel like clusters, that break the typing rythm. Finally, all layouts have nice words and bad words. Like the Dvorak ls. You will get some hard to type Colemak words in return.
3. Use something else. There are hundreds of layouts (see for instance
http://patorjk.com/keyboard-layout-analyzer/#/config patorjk or
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Keyboard_layouts ) Me, I like a scientific, facts-based approach. I know of three algorithms that promise exactly that: Carpalx (
http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/carpalx/? written in Perl) , MTGAP (mathematicalmulticore.wordpress.com/the-keyboard-layout-project/ , written in C) and ADNW (adnw.de, written in C++) . Since I don't understand Perl, I sticked to MTGAP and ADNW.
Let me present the contestors!
MTGAP layout (made for English)
ypouj kdlcw
inea, mhtsr
qz/.: bfgvx
Some stats, by the MTGAP algorithm: Inward rolls: 10.49%, Outward rolls: 2.41%, Same hand: 34.47%
Same finger: 1.40%, Row change: 12.56%, Home jump: 0.99%
This looks goodMTGAP version for Dutch + English (Calculated by me, using MTGAP software)
.uopy xclbv
aienh mdrts
:,?kq fgwjz
I use this one for a while, it is easy to learn and nice to type on. The MTGAP family I see and improved Colmakes, in the sense that they are all about (inward) rolls and low distance. Since keyboards often entail compromises, this goes at the cost of a lower alternation, more 'clusters' of letters on one hand - which can be akward, and a worse balance over fingers and hands. For instance, the index or middle may be overused, one hand may have a too high load etc. But still: very good layouts.
Next, two ADNW versions: the official ADNW (optimized for English + German) and an ADNW version I calculated for English only, using the ADNW software. ADNW focuses on alternation and prevention of adjacent finger use. Rolls are bad in this view, especially between pinky and ring. Just like Dvorak thought.
ADNW (optimized for English/German)
ku"./ vgcljf
hieao dtrnsx
y?,qb pwmzß
ADNW_ENGLISH (optimized for 100% English, calculated by me using the ADNW software)
kyu." zlmdpv
rieao hnstcw
xß?,/ jqfgb
Are custom layouts worth the trouble? The answer is Yes. I ran an English text through these two layouts, using the the same ADNW algorithm to calculate performance. For comparison, Dvorak and Qwerty are also included. As a side note: I try to be careful with scores, since algorithms is not neutral, but based on lots of assumptions. As a result, the Carpalx algorithm rates the Carpalx layout as the best layout. And the MTGAP algorithm rates the MTGAP layouts as the best ones. For this reason, I did not rate Colemak with the ADNW criteria. However, I think it is reasonable to use a 'Dvorak inspired algorithm' to evaluate Dvorak-like layouts, so I did rate the 2 ADNW variants an Dvorak. Plus, for fun, Qwerty).
So here we go. How does typing English prose go on the following layouts? Interpretation of numbers: Lower is better: * Higher is better: #
THE BEST
ADNW_ENGLISH 291.491 Total score(*) 179.388 Base score(*) lefthand righthand
0.882 SameFinger(*) 7.423 Shift-SameFinger(*) top 6.1 13.1
kyu.ö zlmdpv 65.718 Alternation(*) 28.070 Shift-Alternation(*) mid 39.5 31.4
rieao hnstcw 1.016 In--/outwards(#) 6.177 IndirSameFinger bottom 3.3 6.5
xßü,ä jqfgb 8.665 Neighbouring(*) 9.226 Shift-Neighbouring(*) sum 49.0 51.0
8.8 8.7 14.2 17.3 --.- --.- 15.8 11.0 14.3 9.9 Sh 2.0 0.8
VERY GOOD
ADNW 337.581 Total score(*) 189.071 Base score(*) lefthand righthand
2.052 SameFinger(*) 17.995 Shift-SameFinger(*) top 4.5 12.0
kuü.ä vgcljf 70.173 Alternation(*) 25.534 Shift-Alternation(*) mid 38.3 31.8
hieao dtrnsx 2.043 In--/outwards(#) 7.458 IndirSameFinger bottom 6.1 7.3
yö,qb pwmzß 7.827 Neighbouring(*) 16.064 Shift-Neighbouring(*) sum 48.9 51.1
8.9 9.6 12.9 17.6 --.- --.- 18.9 11.4 10.8 10.0 Sh 1.7 1.0
GOOD
Dvorak 348.893 Total score(*) 186.358 Base score(*) lefthand righthand
2.662 SameFinger(*) 13.058 Shift-SameFinger(*) top 6.0 16.8
ß,.py fgcrlö 70.517 Alternation(*) 33.563 Shift-Alternation(*) mid 36.1 30.5
aoeiu dhtnsü 1.617 In--/outwards(#) 6.624 IndirSameFinger bottom 3.0 7.6
äqjkx bmwvz 11.139 Neighbouring(*) 20.861 Shift-Neighbouring(*) sum 45.1 54.9
9.7 8.3 13.0 14.1 --.- --.- 16.5 13.3 13.7 11.4 Sh 1.8 0.9
VERY BAD
Qwerty 640.636 Total score(*) 346.732 Base score(*) lefthand righthand
6.804 SameFinger(*) 6.299 Shift-SameFinger(*) top 28.0 20.2
qwert yuiopü 52.755 Alternation(*) 41.474 Shift-Alternation(*) mid 22.1 9.5
asdfg hjkläö 1.080 In--/outwards(#) 11.226 IndirSameFinger bottom 6.8 13.3
zxcvb nm,.ß 21.628 Neighbouring(*) 12.586 Shift-Neighbouring(*) sum 56.9 43.1
9.1 8.4 18.5 20.9 --.- --.- 18.4 8.9 12.1 3.6 Sh 1.1 1.7
ADNW_ENGLISH scores better than Dvorak but also than ADNW, which is logical. I made ADNW_ENGLISH for English only, so when tested with English only text, it will of course score better than ADNW. Used with German or mixed text, ADNW will score better.
Anyway, ADNW_ENGLISH and ADNW compared to the original Dvorak show:
- a clearly improved overall improvement (total score)
- lower same finger use
- the same alternation
- better balance of hands (51/49 for DvorMax and ADNW against 55/45 for Dvorak)
- lower neighbouring keys - in contrast to Colemak, Dvorak wants to avoid direct rolls, like (colemak) AR or (EI). So, by Dvorak rules, lower neighbouring keys is good.
Qwerty scores bad with a high same finger, bad balance (57/43), bad total score, low alternation and uneven finger use.
CONCLUSIONS:
If you like the Dvorak typing rythm: - stick with Dvorak (maybe make an alias for ls),
- or switch to stock ADNW
- or calculate an ADNW version tailor made for your use
If you prefer rolls over alternation:
- switch to MTGAP
- or calculate an MTGAP version tailor made for your use
If you prefer rolls over alternation AND find resemblance to QWERTY important: - switch to Colemak or one of its variants, such as Workman, Norman etc.
As always, Your Mileage May Differ