If you are a programmer, you understand that you need a specialized code keyboard just for you. You know that you are typing and thinking at the same time.
You do not want to lose your train of thought just because you looked at your fingers’ position on the keyboard or you were typing slowly. As a programmer, you know that you need to type faster to catch up to your ideas before you forget about it.
With that said, let’s look at the most essential functions you should think about when purchasing a keyboard for programming.
Why Do You Need a Mechanical Keyboard?
A wired tactile ergonomic keyboard is also called a mechanical keyboard. It is designed to meet your typing needs. It is a lot different from the common, widely used keyboards because it makes use of switches that determine a keystroke. If you press a key, the switch underneath will be activated, sending signals to the PC about the key you pressed.
When you use this keyboard, the tactile is different. It seems like it is automatically sending a signal to your brain, giving you satisfaction and guarantee that you’ve pushed a particular key and you’re ready to press the next one. The ticking sound is louder compared to ordinary keyboards. You will be able to type faster with more precision, and you will become more productive as a programmer.
The mechanical code keyboard is built to last. One famous keyboard company sells two types of keyboards: the rubber dome and the mechanical one. The company tested each kind. They saw that mechanical keyboards could withstand up to 50 million presses compared to the rubber dome-built ones which could only endure up to 15 million presses.
Due to its benefits, the mechanical keyboard’s price is higher than the rubber dome one. However, as you can see, it is an investment to make and will save you more money in the long run.
What Makes a Good Mechanical Keyboard?
- A good tactile feedback
An ideal programming keyboard should provide satisfying feedback as you press a key because it will enhance your typing speed. - Quiet
Quietness is not a big deal if you are working alone and if you love the loud sounds of your keyboard ticking. However, if you are working in an office with your co-workers sitting around you, choose a quiet code keyboard. Keyboards that are too loud can distract people around you.
Mechanical keyboards are louder than standard keyboards. However, once you get used to typing with one without pressing so hard on every key, a mechanical keyboard becomes just as quiet as the standard ones.
If you’re looking for a quiet mechanical keyboard you’re going to need one with brown switches, as they’re the quietest types of switches you can get. Check out this list for a comprehensive overview of the quietest keyboards here.
- Brand
Although the brand is not a huge factor in choosing the best mechanical keyboard for programming and gaming, buying from brands with a good reputation ensures that you will get the high-quality product. Just expect a higher price. - Features
The first thing that you want to do is to look for the keyboard’s available features. If you are a gamer, you would want a keyboard that has all the dedicated features and ghosting protection. If you’re a programmer, you want a coded keyboard where you can reprogram the keys, so you can type faster.
The backlight illumination feature is what you might want to look for in a programming keyboard. if you love working at night or in the dark. It is useful to make you focus on the screen more. You don’t have to look at your keys from time to time to make sure that you’ve pressed the right key. Also, this feature is pretty handy when it is dark, making you more productive even at night time.
- Price
You can find the best budget keyboard for programming for less than $100. However, because these are cheaper, you will have to forgo some of the less usable features like the illumination effects.
The best programming keyboards should make a job easier for you. Think dedicated media keys, macro programmable keys, and tactile typing. In addition, mechanical keyboards last much longer and can be cleaned easier (since the keys an be removed).
If you are using a rubber dome keyboard, you are exerting more force on your fingers than you should. This type of keyboard does not offer the same tactile and sound feedback as the mechanical keyboard does. As a result, it will leave your fingers to feel more tired and strained. For this reason, buying a coded keyboard is an investment.