The Confusion Around the Word 'Layout' 

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The word "layout" can be confusing, especially for newcomers, and I've noticed some common confusion when discussing Glorious Engrammer and Enthium, as well as the question, "What is the best layout?" This is because "layout" can have different meanings when talking about the Glove80. Below is an explanation of what "layout" can mean in conversations in the Glove80 community on Discord:

1. Physical Arrangement of Keycaps

Example from Discord: "Here’s an image of my current keycap layout".
This is about how the keycaps are arranged on the keyboard. With the Glove80, you can rearrange them however you like. It's perfect for people who prefer an alternative alpha layout like Dvorak, Colemak DH, or Enthium over the standard QWERTY.

2. Alpha Layer (Base Layer)

Example from Discord: "I'm French and use the AZERTY layout".
The alpha layer is the main set of keys on the keyboard, like letters, numbers, and punctuation. QWERTY is the most common alpha layer, but there are other layouts like Dvorak, Colemak-DH, Enthium, Engram, Aptmak, and more.

With the Glove80, you can easily change the alpha layer using the layout editor. You can also create different alpha layers in your keymap and switch between them whenever you want.

Colemak-DH is a popular choice for people who want an easier switch from QWERTY. If you want to take it slow, the Tarmak method helps you learn Colemak-DH in five steps.

Enthium is another alpha layer used a lot in the Glove80 community. It’s great for English and is popular with developers. The best alpha layer for you depends on your personal choice and the language you use—what works for English might not work as well for other languages.

Learning an alternative keyboard layout (alpha layer) is generally about comfort rather than speed. For many, including myself, the speed increase primarily comes from learning proper touch typing during the transition.   Recommended: Why are the fastest typists on QWERTY?

3. Layout Editor configuration files   (keymaps)

Example from Discord: "MoErgo has an Advanced Layout Example for the Layout Editor".
The MoErgo Layout Editor simplifies customization, eliminating the need to manually write configuration code.
It allows you to create a digital configuration that defines the actions assigned to each key, configure your alpha layer, set up layers, and much more. Once you're done, you can compile the configuration by clicking the 'Build Firmware' button. This process combines your digital configuration with the firmware into a .uf2 file, which is required to update the Glove80 and apply your changes.

Popular use cases in the configuration include:

• Home-row mods: Modifier keys positioned on the home row for faster access.

• Layers: Layers dedicated to symbols, numbers, or special characters.  

• AutoShift: Automatically capitalizes letters or triggers alternative functions when keys are held longer.

• Combo, Macros, Hold-Tap and much more. See ZMK doc.

Popular Layout Editor layouts in the Glove80 community include Glorious Engrammer and its simplified counterpart, TailorKey.

Sunaku's Glorious Engrammer is an advanced ZMK configuration (keymap) that has support for multiple different Alpha layers, it supports Engram, Ethium, Colemak-DH, QWERTY and others.

Key Takeaways

The term "layout" can refer to any of these aspects, so it’s important to be more specific when discussing layout.