Why the Right Keyboard for Programming Matters

The keyboard is arguably the most important tool in a programmer’s arsenal. If you spend a third of your day behind a computer typing code, the right keyboard for programming can help improve your typing experience, from ergonomic designs that can prevent repetitive strain injuries to quick access to common commands via alternative layouts and programmable macros. A generic office keyboard is probably not going to deliver the comfort and customizability that you need to excel at your job.

Discover what you should look for in a keyboard that fits — and enhances — your daily workflow.

Getting started with a keyboard for programming 

Keyboards come in a variety of sizes and configurations, and aspects like key layout and switch choice can determine the quality of your typing experience. A keyboard for programmers, coders, and enthusiasts of all stripes will strike the right balance between the following attributes:

• Ergonomics: Size can also impact comfort — typically, smaller keyboards tend to be more ergonomic as they reduce finger travel while typing. Split keyboards and other ergonomic designs can also increase comfort by fitting to your natural wrist resting angle.
• Versatility: Keyboards for software developers will, at minimum, come with programmable macro keys, while some keyboards offer fully remappable key configurations.
• Durability: Sturdy frames and quality keycaps guarantee long-term use — especially if you plan on bringing your keyboard on your commute.
• Accuracy: High-quality switches ensure keys activate when pressed. A keyboard that drops semicolons or closed parentheses is the last thing you need when you’re deep into a coding session.

The good news is that most high-end keyboards are comfortable, versatile, durable, and accurate by default. To find a device that suits your preferences and programming habits, you’ll want to think about key switches, size options, keyboard layouts, and more.

Factors to consider when choosing a coding keyboard

Once you’ve committed to buying a high-end keyboard, the rest is mostly down to your personal preferences. Start by thinking about whether you prefer mechanical or membrane keys, as well as how much physical space you’re willing to dedicate to a keyboard. From there, you can hone in on more niche considerations, such as remapping keys and selecting layouts.

Mechanical vs. membrane switches

Just like gamers and touch typists, many programmers have strong feelings about whether to buy membrane or mechanical keyboards. For a brief summary:

• Membrane keyboards are what you’ll find in most offices. They consist of a single polymer “membrane” with keycaps on top. Pressing down on a keycap sends an electrical signal the computer recognizes as a keystroke. Membrane keyboards have few moving parts, which makes them quiet and inexpensive.
• Mechanical keyboards are a common sight in the gaming and keyboard enthusiast spheres. Every single keycap on these keyboards has a dedicated mechanical switch underneath it. These switches contain plastic “stems” and metal springs, which give tactile feedback after every keystroke.

If you want the responsiveness of a mechanical keyboard with the soft, quiet touch of a membrane keyboard, you have options. The innovative Topre switch, for example, fuses both membrane and mechanical elements for a unique feel and satisfying typing experience.

Size options: Full-size, TKL, 60%, and more

Any size keyboard can be good for coding, so choosing the best design comes down to your taste and space:

• Full-size keyboards are the model you’ll find in most stores and workplaces. They tend to measure about 17 inches across, which is a fair bit of desk space. On the flip side, you get about 104 keys, including a row of function keys, a dedicated number pad, four arrow keys, and a set of navigation keys (Home, PgUp, PgDn, etc.).
• TKL keyboards drop the numpad, but otherwise contain all the same keys as their full-size counterparts. They have about 87 keys and measure about 14 inches across. Programmers who want arrow and function keys but who don’t need a numpad should look into TKL models.
• 60% keyboards are also called “mini keyboards,” and it’s an apt name. These devices are about 60% as large as a full-size keyboard (thus the name), contain roughly 61 keys, and measure about 12 inches across. These keyboards don’t have function, arrow, navigation, or numpad keys, instead relying on programmable shortcuts for those features. Different manufacturers use different key layouts to ensure easy access to Enter, Delete, Shift, and other vital keys.

The right keyboard for coding is ultimately whichever one you find most comfortable, so take some time to figure out which keys you use all the time and which you almost never touch. You may also want to measure your desk to see how much space you can spare.

Keyboard programmability

Some high-end keyboards allow you to reprogram keys, either via specialized software or directly through the hardware. Programmability is one of the best features you can have in a coder keyboard. There are three main reasons why:

• Keyboard macros: Creating macros lets you insert large blocks of text or automate repetitive keystrokes with a single button press. You could start coding from a familiar template instantly or add a complicated sequence of operators without any typos.
• Key remapping: Programmability is good to have on any keyboard, but it’s particularly important on mini keyboards. If you don’t have arrows or function keys, you’ll need to remap buttons or set up shortcuts instead. Otherwise, you’ll be reliant on a mouse for navigation, and that’s much slower.
• Custom shortcuts: Programming doesn’t just involve typing. You also have to open apps, clear caches, and find saved files. You may also want to consult video tutorials or play music while you work. Programmable keys let you set up shortcuts for any of these functions.

Are mechanical keyboards good for programming?

Mechanical keyboards are good for programming, especially for those interested in a more refined experience. Programmers type for hours a day, writing, erasing, and re-writing code with enthusiasm and drive. That work dictates the right tool, and nothing can beat a customizable mechanical keyboard when it comes to satisfying typing. Some other benefits of going mechanical include:

Customizability

It’s easy to sink hours into finding the perfect setup for a mechanical keyboard, whether that’s due to switches, key height, keymaps, customizing dip switch setups, or any of the other factors that make mechanical keyboards unique. You can also deck out most mechanical keyboards with colorful custom keycaps.

Community

The community-oriented nature of programming resources like Github and MDN Web Docs transfers well to the hobbyist mechanical keyboard world. In fact, the r/MechanicalKeyboards Reddit community has more than 1 million members swapping tips and builds. You’ll likely even find builds explicitly created for (and by) programmers.

Compatibility

Compatibility is a primary concern for programmers when it comes to finding a good keyboard. It’s not unusual for programmers to swap between macOS and Windows when working on a project, but switching between workstations is cumbersome. It’s beneficial to have a keyboard that’s compatible with both operating systems, particularly if that keyboard is capable of toggling between the two with the press of a button. Most mechanical multi-device keyboards allow you to switch between devices seamlessly.

Noise level

In general, mechanical key switches produce audible, satisfying clicks as you type. Many enthusiasts love that sound and go out of their way to get loud, “clacky” switches. If you need a calmer work environment, there are also switches that are as quiet — if not quieter — than membrane keyboards. Consider your coding environment and be sure to look for quiet mechanical keyboards if you’ll be working in an office setting.

How to choose the right keyboard layout for programming

Depending on their languages of choice, programmers need colons, brackets, parentheses, ampersands, and other special keys as much as they need letters and numbers. Keyboard layouts designed for programmers help address these challenges.

QWERTY: The standard and its limitations

QWERTY is one of the best-known functional layouts (meaning it dictates what each key does, rather than how the keys are positioned on the board). That means many of the tools and virtual environments programmers may rely on were already built with QWERTY in mind, with hotkeys and other functions that make the most sense for that particular arrangement of keys.

For many programmers, it may make the most sense to go with the flow and stick with QWERTY, even if it requires extra reaching for some of the most common keys.

Dvorak layout: Pros and cons for programming

QWERTY’s long-standing alternative is the Dvorak keyboard layout. Named for its co-creator Dr. August Dvorak, this layout attempts to place the most commonly used keys on the “home row” where touch typists naturally rest their fingers.

While it’s easy to see the value of that kind of efficiency, it’s not without potential limitations for programmers. Since it has relatively few key positions in common with QWERTY, you may need to retrain muscle memory for common keyboard shortcuts. Meanwhile, its new positions for the colon and bracket keys aren’t necessarily an improvement for coding purposes.

Colemak layout: An easier-to-learn alternative

While Dvorak was built to stand on its own, the Colemak keyboard layout was created with conversion from the QWERTY standard in mind. It’s a sort of halfway point between QWERTY and Dvorak, built to prioritize placing common keys in the home row while otherwise retaining as many QWERTY placements as possible.

This makes Colemak easier to learn for programmers who are already accustomed to QWERTY, especially since it keeps common shortcut keys such as Z (for undo) and C (for copy) in the same places. That said, it wasn’t specifically designed to make programmers’ lives easier.

Workman layout: Aiming for efficiency in coding

The Workman layout was created by a programmer with the needs of programmers in mind. It reduces side-to-side finger movement and makes it easier to type common letter sequences with a single hand. In addition to aiming for improved comfort and speed, Workman also leaves several common shortcut keys in place so coders don’t have to retrain years of muscle memory.

On the other hand, Workman may take longer to learn than Colemak. As of this writing, it isn’t included by default with Windows or Mac OS, so you’ll need to install it manually.

Our recommendation: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S

Dr. Eiiti Wada designed the HHKB over 25 years ago to retain all the functionality a programmer needed while trimming unnecessary fat. The HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S is the latest evolution of that design philosophy. From its ergonomic curvature to its specialized layout, HHKB keyboards were built from the ground up to be some of the best keyboards for programming on the market:

• HHKBs are efficient: One of HHKB’s original innovations was its specialized layout, which lets users execute common commands without their fingers leaving the home row. This and other thoughtful tweaks to the standard QWERTY layout make HHKB a high-impact yet easy-to-learn upgrade.
• HHKBs are ergonomic: The HHKB Professional HYBRID lineup has a unique curved keycap surface arrangement that supports natural typing positions and minimizes fatigue during extended use.
• HHKBs are customizable: You can remap and reprogram every key on an HHKB.
• HHKBs are versatile: HHKBs can connect via both Bluetooth and USB-C, and are fully compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S supports wireless connections with up to four devices simultaneously.
• HHKBs are durable: Every HHKB model features ultra-durable key labels and keycaps for long-term use. Many HHKBs remain trusted tools for their owners for well over a decade.
• HHKBs are sleek: The HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S features a minimalist design and a matte color scheme. It’s a classy look, particularly the black-on-black colorway.

Check out our entire lineup of high-quality HHKB models to learn which one would work best for you.

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