CarpalX

QGMLWY

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Finger	1	2	3	4	7	8	9	10
Usage	2.97% (P5)	7.18% (P17)	11.89% (P61)	15.78% (P82)	18.33% (P97)	12.64% (P41)	8.85% (P41)	5.14% (P18)

	Same Finger	Full Scissor	Half Scissor	Lat. Stretch
Bigram	3.04% (P92)	0.15% (P69)	1.59% (P54)	1.10% (P78)
Skipgram	6.08% (P89)	0.43% (P74)	3.45% (P95)	3.38% (P99)

	No Thumbs	Left Space	Right Space
Weak-ish Redirs.	0.21% (P11)	0.27% (P5)	0.35% (P9)
Weak Redirects	0.16% (P19)	0.07% (P20)	0.07% (P20)
Other Same Finger	28.20% (P92)	18.10% (P91)	18.10% (P91)
Rolls : Alts	1.45 (P35)	1.96 (P51)	1.39 (P29)
2-Roll In : Out	1.27 (P55)	1.09 (P52)	1.12 (P48)
3-Roll In : Out	3.09 (P68)	4.54 (P86)	1.81 (P64)

Author

Martin Kryzwinski

Year

2005

Finger Map

Traditional

Official Website

QWYRFM

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Finger	1	2	3	4	7	8	9	10
Usage	2.97% (P5)	6.96% (P10)	10.56% (P29)	20.05% (P98)	18.47% (P98)	12.64% (P41)	8.41% (P29)	2.71% (P7)

	Same Finger	Full Scissor	Half Scissor	Lat. Stretch
Bigram	4.48% (P97)	0.20% (P77)	4.17% (P97)	4.12% (P100)
Skipgram	7.29% (P94)	0.65% (P97)	3.01% (P84)	1.43% (P74)

	No Thumbs	Left Space	Right Space
Weak-ish Redirs.	0.50% (P31)	0.45% (P17)	0.37% (P14)
Weak Redirects	0.13% (P12)	0.06% (P14)	0.06% (P14)
Other Same Finger	33.40% (P98)	21.80% (P97)	21.80% (P97)
Rolls : Alts	1.99 (P75)	2.39 (P75)	1.58 (P55)
2-Roll In : Out	0.72 (P4)	0.72 (P8)	0.95 (P15)
3-Roll In : Out	0.97 (P40)	1.81 (P59)	0.46 (P19)

Author

Martin Kryzwinski

Year

2005

Finger Map

Traditional

Official Website

QWKRFY

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Finger	1	2	3	4	7	8	9	10
Usage	2.97% (P5)	6.96% (P10)	9.38% (P18)	21.19% (P100)	18.83% (P100)	15.98% (P89)	4.74% (P3)	2.71% (P7)

	Same Finger	Full Scissor	Half Scissor	Lat. Stretch
Bigram	6.09% (P100)	0.21% (P82)	2.64% (P92)	3.83% (P99)
Skipgram	7.76% (P99)	0.52% (P91)	2.57% (P57)	1.49% (P76)

	No Thumbs	Left Space	Right Space
Weak-ish Redirs.	0.49% (P29)	0.44% (P16)	0.37% (P13)
Weak Redirects	0.15% (P18)	0.07% (P20)	0.07% (P20)
Other Same Finger	36.03% (P100)	24.20% (P100)	24.20% (P100)
Rolls : Alts	1.91 (P71)	2.32 (P69)	1.62 (P62)
2-Roll In : Out	0.85 (P24)	0.75 (P13)	1.16 (P53)
3-Roll In : Out	1.43 (P58)	1.81 (P60)	1.14 (P53)

Author

Martin Kryzwinski

Year

2005

Finger Map

Traditional

Official Website

CarpalX is a series of layouts the first keyboard layout analyzer program to use simulated annealing.

• QGMLWY is the fully optimized version,
• QWYRFM is the best result within 10 swaps of QWERTY, and
• QWKRFY is the best result within 5 swaps of QWERTY.

CarpalX’s model of typing effort does not explain the particularities of why it penalized some kinds of motions over others, but based on metrics, QGMLWY was heavily optimized to minimize redirects. In exchange for remarkably low redirects, it has very high SFN stats.

Install

Kanata

Kanata is a keyboard remapper that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

1. Install Kanata by following “Step 1: Set Up Kanata” in Nova’s Kanata setup guide:

   Step 1: Set Up Kanata (Kanata Guide for Alt Layouts)

2. Download the Kanata config file for the desired version of CarpalX:

   CarpalX (QGMLWY)

   CarpalX (QWYRFM)

   CarpalX (QWKRFY)

3. Make sure you know how to type your computer password using CarpalX.

   Caution

   Skipping this step will lock you out of your computer. If you forget how to type your password using CarpalX, look up CarpalX on another device, such as a phone, when unlocking the computer.

4. Run Kanata with the downloaded config file and make sure the layout works as you expect:

   kanata --cfg path/to/config.kbd

5. To have CarpalX activate whenever your computer starts up, follow the instructions to “Automatically start Kanata”:

   Automatically start Kanata (Kanata Guide for Alt Layouts)

macOS

There are two downloads available for macOS:

Method	Admin Required	Notes
Native	Optional	Does not require 3rd party key remapping software. Admin is required to install for all users and use on first login.
Karabiner-Elements	Yes	Requires 3rd party key remapping software, including the installation of a Driver Extension. Allows for remapping of only specific keyboards.

Native

1. Download the .keylayout file for the desired version of CarpalX:

   CarpalX (QGMLWY)

   CarpalX (QWYRFM)

   CarpalX (QWKRFY)

2. Install the .keylayout file:

   Single User

   Copy the downloaded .keylayout file to ~/Library/Keyboard Layouts. Create the folder if it does not exist.

   All Users

   Copy the downloaded .keylayout file to /Library/Keyboard Layouts.

   Note

   By default, macOS hides the “Library” folder. To navigate to it in Finder, open the Go to Folder dialog (Go → Go to Folder… in the menubar, or Command-Shift-G) and type in the path shown above.

3. Restart macOS.

4. Open System Settings.

5. Go to Keyboard → Text Input → Input Sources → Edit… and add your new CarpalX layout.

6. Press the “+” button at the bottom left.

7. Search for “CarpalX,” select your new layout, and press Add.

Note

If you forget how to type your password on CarpalX and get stuck on the Lock Screen, you can switch to your old layout using the Input menu at the top of the screen.

Karabiner-Elements

1. Install Karabiner-Elements:

   Karabiner-Elements

2. Download the Karabiner rule file for the desired version of CarpalX:

   CarpalX (QGMLWY)

   CarpalX (QWYRFM)

   CarpalX (QWKRFY)

3. In Karabiner-Elements Settings, go to “Complex Modifications,” then press “Add predefined rule” at the top.

4. Make sure you know how to type your computer password using CarpalX.

   Caution

   Skipping this step will lock you out of your computer. If you forget how to type your password using CarpalX, look up CarpalX on another device, such as a phone, when unlocking the computer.

5. Scroll down to the “CarpalX” section and enable the rule you want.

   “All keyboards” remaps CarpalX onto all keyboards while connected to this computer. Select this reason unless you want to exclude some keyboards from remapping.

   “Built-in keyboard only” remaps your device's built-in keyboard, as well as any other keyboard for which “Treat as built-in keyboard” (under the “Devices” section) is enabled. Select this option if you plan to map CarpalX onto an external keyboard using custom firmware.

6. To use CarpalX on the password entry screen before logging in, follow the official instructions:

   How to enable before login