Why is the german keyboard layout so cumbersome for programming?

Question

seriously:

[] AltGr + 8/9

() Shift 8/9

{} AltGr + 7/0

<> < and Shift + < (this one's okay)

diamond(?) three right from l (can't use the symbol here: makes the Text bigger)

/ Shift + 7

\ AltGr + ß (to the right of 0)

& Shift 6

= Shift 0

When you have a german keyboard layout: do you switch for programming sessions?

Answer 1

ByteNirvana, SO is meant to be a place for questions that can be answered. This sounds more like a rant on your part.

I've suffered similar problems (on the mainframe) with keyboard contortions but it can usually be fixed by re-programming your interface (terminal emulators, may not be so easy with a real keyboard).

If I had to put up with those keystrokes then, yes, I'd switch for writing code. But you already knew that was the right answer, I suspect.

Answer 2

I guess these are the same for all European languages (well, maybe not French - they have the AZERTY layout, etc... but I don't know if any other keys differ).

I am using the Turkish layout and they are all the same; except: using an English keyboard forces me to use AltGr + " for <, AltGr + 1 for > and A ltGr + - for |, and also since the ß key is not present in any other language than German, it's AltGr + * for \ - it's the same key though.

I mean, it's just a matter of habits. I probably would code half my current speed if I switched to English layout now.

Answer 3

Because the people who invented the programming languages you're trying to use did so using US-English keyboards. So they used the symbols available to them on their keyboards.

Well, unless you're trying to program in APL anyway.

Answer 4

I find it very cumbersome to use the german layout as well. I'am using a different layout now, it's called "neo". I can only recommend it, I used to get cramps when typing a lot but that is now a thing of the past. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Neo