Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Colemak VS Colemak Mod-DH

Compare Colemak VS Colemak Mod-DH and see what are their differences

Colemak logo Colemak

Colemak is a modern keyboard touch typing layout designed to be a practical improvement on QWERTY and Dvorak layouts.

Colemak Mod-DH logo Colemak Mod-DH

Colemak Mod-DH is a minor modification to the Colemak alternative keyboard layout, moving the heavily-used 'D' & 'H' keys to the bottom row assignments for both index fingers.
  • Colemak Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-26
  • Colemak Mod-DH Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-23

Colemak features and specs

  • Efficiency
    Colemak is designed to minimize finger movement, which can lead to increased typing speed and reduced fatigue over time compared to the traditional QWERTY layout.
  • Ease of Learning
    For users already familiar with QWERTY, the Colemak layout is relatively easy to learn since it retains many of the same positions for frequently used keys and changes only 17 keys.
  • Comfort
    By reducing finger movement and distributing workload more evenly across fingers, Colemak can be more comfortable to use, potentially reducing the risk of repetitive strain injuries.
  • Modern Design
    Colemak was created in the 21st century, taking into account modern typing habits, such as increased use of shortcuts and programming, making it more suitable for today’s computer users.

Possible disadvantages of Colemak

  • Limited Compatibility
    Colemak is not widely available by default on many devices, requiring users to install third-party software or adjust system settings, which isn't always possible in every environment.
  • Learning Curve
    Switching to Colemak requires a period of adjustment and practice, during which typing speed may decrease, and users need to invest time into learning the new layout.
  • Incompatibility with Existing Keyboards
    Most physical keyboards are labeled with the QWERTY layout, making it less intuitive to use the Colemak layout without special keycap overlays or blank keys.
  • Community and Support
    Compared to QWERTY, there is a smaller user base and community for Colemak, which might limit the availability of resources, tutorials, and support from other users.

Colemak Mod-DH features and specs

  • Ergonomics
    Colemak Mod-DH is designed to reduce finger movement compared to QWERTY and other layouts. By strategically placing the most commonly used keys under the strongest fingers, it aims to minimize finger strain and promote a more natural hand positioning.
  • Familiarity
    Mod-DH retains most of the standard Colemak layout, providing a relatively easy transition for those already using Colemak. This means that users can benefit from the ergonomic improvements without having to relearn an entire new layout from scratch.
  • Optimized for Comfort
    The keys are arranged to maximize comfort, with a focus on reducing lateral finger movement. This can help prevent repetitive strain injuries and increase typing speed over time by reducing awkward finger movements.
  • Balanced Workload
    The layout balances the workload between both hands, preventing overuse of any single finger or hand. This balance can improve typing efficiency and comfort, particularly for touch typists.

Possible disadvantages of Colemak Mod-DH

  • Learning Curve
    Even though it's designed to be an improvement over Colemak, there is still a learning curve involved, especially for those transitioning from a more common layout like QWERTY. It requires commitment and practice to become proficient.
  • Limited Support
    Because Colemak Mod-DH is a niche layout, it might not be supported out-of-the-box on all systems or devices. Users may need to manually install and configure the layout on their operating systems.
  • Compatibility Issues
    While most modern systems can support custom layouts, there might be instances where third-party software only recognizes standard layouts, leading to potential compatibility issues with certain applications.
  • Adjustment Period for Non-Colemak Users
    For those not already familiar with Colemak, Mod-DH presents an additional layer of complexity, requiring an adjustment period to become comfortable and efficient with the layout.

Colemak videos

Switching To Colemak: My Experiences And FAQ

More videos:

  • Review - 5 Years of Colemak - Good choice? My experience
  • Review - Colemak/Custom Keyboard Layout – Is It Worth It?

Colemak Mod-DH videos

No Colemak Mod-DH videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Colemak and Colemak Mod-DH)
Video Presentation
49 49%
51% 51
Keyboards
45 45%
55% 55
Office & Productivity
48 48%
52% 52
Monitoring Tools
39 39%
61% 61

User comments

Share your experience with using Colemak and Colemak Mod-DH. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Colemak Mod-DH might be a bit more popular than Colemak. We know about 43 links to it since March 2021 and only 36 links to Colemak. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Colemak mentions (36)

  • Why the Dvorak keyboard didn't take over the world (2014) [video]
    Anecdotally, I gave Dvorak a try and became somewhat proficient, but ultimately reverted back to QWERTY for one reason: keyboard shortcuts! Control-C|V|Z are all transformed into either two-handed shortcuts or right-handed shortcuts. In either case, I can't copy/paste while selecting text with the mouse (since I'm right-handed). I now use Colemak (https://colemak.com/) which doesn't have this issue and I'm quite... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Not all keyboard layouts are born equal...
    Like, well, the original US layout, or Colemak. Suddenly, all those "hard-to-type" special characters and shortcuts start to make sense... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Anyone have experience with Neovim and Colemak or Devorak keyboard layout?
    I started out using colemak.vim from the https://colemak.com webpage. Rather quickly I found that there were some things that I didn't like about the configuration, so I started modifying it. Eventually I had enough changes that I uploaded a fork of the configuration:. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Anyone have experience with Neovim and Colemak or Devorak keyboard layout?
    For reference, here's the keyboard layout: https://colemak.com/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Change the alphabet so it matches the order on the QWERTY keyboard. Everything that is currently organized in alphabetical order must be changed.
    Lets change all new keyboards to the Colemak layout, and change the order of the Alphabet to match. Source: almost 2 years ago
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Colemak Mod-DH mentions (43)

  • Workman Layout for Vim
    Last year during a couple month break I had between jobs I decided I would learn a new keyboard layout as it was something I always wanted to do, but never wanted to commit to the learning process while I still needed to be proficient at typing. I chose to learn Colemak-DH [0]. Before learning I was around a 75-80 WPM Qwerty touch typist. I went all in and did a lot of heavy practice. It took me around a week to... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Suggest a layout for 5 column and 3 row split keyboard
    I’ve learned a lot from Seniply and Miryoku, both designed to take advantage of small keyboards. They both default to Colemak-DH, which is good. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Placement of letters on the index finger: lateral stretch vs. DSFBs
    u/stevep99’s Colemak-DH mod is built with just this observation, and though many are fine with the vanilla Colemak, I think DH/m is a smart mod. It is a common concern, shared by the BEAKL layouts (Xay Voong and u/iandoug) and others. My first letter-on-thumb foray was with RSTHD, which I still think is brilliant, but even better with D<->P swapped, for this reason. Source: over 1 year ago
  • True and related.
    QWERTY layout? In 2023? For job that requires a lot of typing? Colemak Mod-DH. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Layout suggestions to someone who is not good at any layout yet.
    In comparison, the layout is a relatively minor effect, but the choice of layout can reduce finger travel and awkward finger motions, which is good. Colemak DH is a solid and popular choice. See also A guide to alt keyboard layouts. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Colemak and Colemak Mod-DH, you can also consider the following products

NeO - NeO is a powerful outliner built for OS X.

Programmer Dvorak - Almost Dvorak, optimized for programming tasks. This layout retains the classic Dvorak number order.

Carpalx QGMLWY - A Carpalx variant with V fixed in its QWERTY position.

Maltron Letter Layout - Also known as "Malt" for short.

Carpalx QGMLWB - Carpalx is a modifiable keyboard layout system that is based on applying a quantitative model of typing effort. QGMLWB is the fully optimized layout for letters.

Arensito - Designed by a programmer, for programming. Named for its home position letters. Also known as Hallingstad's layout, for its inventor.