👋 About Rafa
Hi! I’m Rafa, I’m in Toronto and I’m a Software Engineer.
I'm a board game enthusiast who codes for a living, and in my free time, I practice Wing Tsun with my Kung Fu brothers — often to the soundtrack of extreme metal.
🥰 Rafa’s Keyboards
In the beginning, I used whatever keyboard was in front of me. Around 2012, I developed a preference for the Logitech K350, which became my daily driver. Later on, I wanted a good Bluetooth keyboard, and the Logitech ERGO K860 caught my attention with its unique design. At that time, ergonomics weren’t really top of mind for me — I just wanted something fun to type on.
The ERGO K860 turned out to be a hit — I loved it instantly and even bought three units, just in case it was discontinued. That was probably my first real step toward caring about ergonomic keyboards. A few years later, I randomly came across Martin Fowler’s Kinesis Advantage2 review, which sparked my curiosity — but after a disappointing sales experience and concerns about Bluetooth performance on the 360, I moved on.
Next, I tried the MoErgo Glove80. It was amazing in many ways — super comfortable with excellent keycaps — but I wasn’t adapting well to the curved keywell and the tenting felt flimsy, so I returned it. I was torn between the Lily58 and the Dygma Defy, but I really wanted a consumer-grade product with solid tenting and no DIY hassles.
“Eventually, I chose the Dygma Defy in mid-2024 — and I’m so glad I did. It's definitely the best keyboard I've ever used.”
At first, the thumb clusters felt overwhelming — too many keys I didn’t see myself using. But over time, I adapted by ignoring what I don’t need. The tenting is excellent, the build quality is outstanding, and I’m very happy with it.
🚀 Rafa’s Ergonomic Journey
Interestingly, I didn’t start this journey due to pain or discomfort — my main drive was the fun factor. When it comes to health, I notice less stress on my shoulders and back. But now, if I type on a standard laptop keyboard for even two hours, I quickly notice how uncomfortable it feels and how many little things bother me.
“My experience with the Dygma Defy has raised my standards — and I’m never going back.”
That shift in standards is what keeps me consistent with the Defy every day, both for work and play.
🖥️ Rafa’s Setup
Lenovo or Dell laptop with Linux as the operating system, with an ergo mouse between my split keyboard. I also have a standing desk that I regularly keep in the standing position, combined with an LG Dual Up monitor for extreme coding performance :)
Day to day, my colleagues are fans of VIM motions and they’re intrigued when I say I can use VIM motions directly from my keyboard on any text editor I want, including Gmail.
When it comes to what changed the most, it’s the mix of comfort and flow — less shoulder and back stress, and more focus thanks to a layout that works with me.
Tenting is so sweet! I use 20 degrees of tenting and I am so happy with it. I also like the Bazecor app — other keyboards can offer advanced features like a web interface or even a programming language, but I find Bazecor to be just right. Bazecor is a nice balanced app.
Look, I am a software engineer and I am pretty sure I can configure a keyboard with VIA/QMK — but I would not bother with that unless really necessary.
🤖 Rafa’s Layers
On L1, not much is happening — it’s somewhat close to the original design except for the thumb keys. Some of the thumb keys are rarely in use (like the arrow keys) but they’re useful when I cannot use the second layer.
L2 is where the magic happens. Oh! Yes baby, now I have VIM motions-like in any text editor. I even use my VIM motions on L2 in VIM itself — because now I like my design better than the original VIM.
On L3 I keep media controls so I can quickly adjust volume, brightness, and Bluetooth connectivity without breaking flow.
Thanks, Rafa!
From mainstream boards to the Dygma Defy, your journey shows how curiosity — and a bit of fun — can lead to better ergonomics, flow, and everyday joy at the keyboard.
Do you have a good story about you and your Dygma Keyboard? Fill out our survey and share it with us!
