Dvorak vs Programer's Dvorak

This page discuss whether Programer's Dvorak layout is better than Dvorak Keyboard Layout .

Programmer Dvorak (by Roland Kaufmann at http://www.kaufmann.no/roland/dvorak/)

Programable Dvorak is Dvorak with the following changes:

• The row for number and symbols “12345…” and “!@#$%…” are shift reversed. To type numbers, you have to hold Shift.
• The number keys are rearranged to follow the more ergonomic, original Dvorak layout: 75319 02468. It's that way because the digits 0 1 2 are used more frequently than the rest of digits combined, thus they are pressed by your index finger and pointing finger. [see Computer Languages Characters Frequency]
• Position for punctuation (For example, { } ( )) and math symbols (For example, +) is also rearranged, independent of the digit symbols arrangement. Frequently used symbols now have easier positions.
• Swap the keys ' and ;.

Overall, the Programer's Dvorak is marginally better than Dvorak. The 2 advantages it has over Dvorak are: ① Using the Dvorak's original arrangement for the number keys. ② rearranging the symbols. The other two changes made by Programer's Dvorak, the inverting number now, and swapping semicolon and apostrophe, may be worse, depending on what language you code. For detail, see:

• Efficient Layout for Numbers
• Keyboard Layout, Is Inverted Number Row Better?
• Semicolon vs Apostrophe Frequency in Computer Languages
• Computer Languages Characters Frequency

see also Best Way to Insert Parenthesis/Brackets