Break changes with the v0.8 (brackets)

[antoinentl]

I try the 0.8 version, and I discovered a change for typing the brackets []{}:

• v0.6:

• v0.8 (or v0.8.1):

For me it's something like a break changes.
Is it an intentional change? If so, is it possible to keep the old way for the brackets?

[fabi1cazenave]

It is an intentional change, yes.

TL;DR: do you really prefer getting these brackets with a dead key rather than with AltGr+ASDF ?

Now the long story…

In the very early days, one of the project goals was to make the AltGr key optional. So there’s always been a way to get those brackets {[]} and <> signs without AltGr, even on an ANSI keyboard. I think getting <> on dead key + ZX was okay-ish, but to me, these brackets on a same-pinky combo has always seemed the most unnatural thing ever.

Lafayette’s main goal is to bring a better QWERTY. Having {[]} on the home row (with AltGr+ASDF) is a big part of it; and the whole AltGr layer is designed to make things like ->, =>, </, />, (0), [1], ("") as fluid as possible… and I thought, maybe some users have missed that because there was another way to get those brackets — which would be a sign of bad design (poor self-discoverability).

So with 0.8, I’m proposing to split the project in two parts:

• the classic Lafayette layout, requiring 3 dead keys and an AltGr key;
• the Lafayette42 variant, requiring a single dead key and featuring an even better but really optional AltGr layer.

If neither layout suits your needs, I’d be interested in reading your feedback.

[fabi1cazenave]

Pinning this issue, hoping to see as many replies as possible on this.

[fabi1cazenave]

@antoinentl your feedback would be interesting here. ;-)

• Do you really prefer getting these brackets with a dead key rather than with AltGr+ASDF ?
• If this is the case, isn’t the Lafayette42 variant best suited for you than Lafayette v0.6 ?

I’m not against keeping the old behavior per se, but I’d like to make sure I understand the use case.

[fabi1cazenave]

Thinking out loud, would this be a better default view to introduce Qwerty-Lafayette ?

[antoinentl]

@fabi1cazenave Thanks a lot for the explanation and the historic description, very interesting and useful! The clarification help me to understand the original goals and my misunderstood of the tool. I think I was not using QWERTY Lafayette at its full power, and your explanation made me understand it. I will learn to type AltGr+ASDF, it's more concise 🚀 + ⌨️ Go ahead with the v0.8, and the Lafayette42 variant is a possible alternative if that new version doesn't suite with my needs. (And if I want I can always go back to the v0.6.)

By the way the default view just above seems better!

You can close that issue when you want.

[fabi1cazenave]

Thanks for your contribution, that’s really appreciated. :-)