Being a developer can quickly become uncomfortable without a development keyboard . Indeed, despite the fact that we can see you as a programmer working comfortably seated all day, the reality is quite different and your wrist and hand bear witness to this. A developer keyboard will allow you to improve your typing comfort and therefore your productivity.

Obviously, this is valid if you have developer skills because it is not this programming keyboard that will grant you programmer skills . So, we offer you this comparison and buying guide so that you can choose the best developer keyboard suited to your needs.

Know before you buy!

• Developer keyboards can be membrane, chiclet or mechanical. Mechanical keyboards are also the best in typing comfort.
• An ergonomic keyboard with wrist rest is essential for accumulating hours of programming.
• Some developer keyboards have media keys dedicated to programming, coding, and other tasks of a developer.

Comparison of the best keyboards for developers!

1. LOGITECH G513: enjoy a high-performance keyboard

The Logitech brand no longer needs to be introduced for connoisseurs in the field of gaming. This time, it offers us its G513 mechanical keyboard. Featuring a customizable RGB lighting system with Logitech G HUB software, the latter is downloadable and allows you to configure the lighting per key with a variety of 16.8 million colors. Equipped with G LightSync technology, the next-generation RGB lighting system is driven by actions taken in over 300 games.

Featuring GX Browns mechanical keys, these switches are designed to optimize your performance and offer exceptional tactile response. This keyboard also has a functionality specially dedicated to games to avoid false manipulations. 12 additional keys are offered to allow you to get the most out of the keyboard. With a 26-key memory option, customize them to save your combinations.  

Designed for an attractive design and an aluminum alloy, this keyboard results in a high quality finish with its chassis imitating a brushed metal blade. And to give you more comfort, this Logitech G513 keyboard is equipped with a removable memory foam wrist rest, which actively and fully returns to its basic shape. This sturdy wrist rest is resistant to user sweat.

The USB relay device simplifies connecting your accessories like mouse, flash drive or even your phone to the Logitech keyboard for data transfer or direct charging. It is compatible with Windows 7/8/8.1/10 operating systems. And to assure you of the quality of the product, the brand offers 2 years of warranty.

Advantages :

• Attractive design and a sought-after finish;
• High quality material;
• Solid and durable chassis;
• Provides more comfort to the user;
• Sensitive mechanical keyboard;
• Better typing experience;
• Customizable LightSync backlighting per key;
• Adjustable light intensity;
• Removable foam wrist rests;

The inconvenients :

• Complicated backlight features;
• Logitech Hub Software Limited.

2. DAS KEYBOARD 4 Ultimate: enjoy a unique experience when using it!

The DAS KEYBOARD 4 Ultimate is a mechanical keyboard that stands out from other accessories in its category. It is one of a kind with its original design and incomparable typing experience, specially dedicated to developers/programmers.

A completely blank keyboard, the keys have no keycap markings. The DAS KEYBOARD 4 Ultimate is made with high quality materials, which makes it very robust. The top panel of the keyboard is made of anodized aluminum. Cherry MX mechanical key switches are high performance and provide tactile and audio feedback. They are made of gold plated and can last up to 50 million keystrokes. An oversized media control button is located to the right of the keyboard that allows the user to quickly adjust the volume, and allows quick access to media controls.

The DAS KEYBOARD 4 has a two-port HUB 3.0 to transfer your data without going through the computer very quickly. The transfer speed can reach 5 Gb/s. It is backward compatible with all USB 2.0 and 1.1 devices. And for added comfort and to raise the keyboard by 1.2 inches, it is equipped with a magnetically detachable foot bar, which works like a ruler.

To offer you its advantages and performances, this keyboard is equipped with wide compatibility, this keyboard is suitable for Windows , Mac OS and Linux operating systems. It does not require any installation process or driver. The dimensions of the keyboard are 45.8 x 17.3 x 2.03 cm for a weight of 1.3 kg. The USB cable is 2m long with a single USB Type A connector.

Advantages :

• Attractive and original design;
• Very high quality material;
• Solid structures;
• Precise mechanical keyboard;
• Tactile and audio key feedback;
• Media control button;
• HUB 3.0 ports;
• Fast and simple data transfer;
• Detachable foot;

The inconvenients :

• Nothing to report.

3. Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 (HHKB): a keyboard specially designed for programmers

The HHKB brand or Happy Hacking Keyboard offers us its keyboard specially dedicated to programmers. This is the Professional 2 model. With dimensions of 29.4 x 11x 40 cm and a weight of 530 g, this keyboard is designed with an ergonomic and compact design. Made up of 60 keys, the layout is almost symmetrical which allows the user's hands to never have to leave the rest row. This system provides more precision, reduces wrist and finger fatigue, and helps optimize your time.

The keys of this HHKB keyboard are in a sculpted cylindrical shape to offer you better ergonomics. It provides more comfort to the fingers and helps keep the hands on the resting row. The key switches feature Topre technology, which eliminates sound with each press which is an excellent setting for professional coding and programming. The lifespan is 30 million keystrokes.  

UNIX system is provided for better key layout. To delight programmers/developers, the CTRL key is placed to the left of the A key to allow you to be more productive and to make the keys more accessible.

This Professional 2 model features a two-port USB 2.0 HUB. This is to facilitate the connection of your different devices to the keyboard. To avoid wrist fatigue, it is equipped with 3 height settings, you can adjust it as you wish and is guaranteed for 2 years by the manufacturer.

Advantages :

• Ergonomic and compact design;
• Almost symmetrical and accessible keys;
• Quiet keys;
• Ideal for developers and programmers;
• Key layout designed for greater accessibility and productivity;
• Equipped with 2-port USB 2.0 HUB;
• Keyboard height adjustable to 3 levels;
• 2 years warranty.

The inconvenients :

• Plastic finish;
• No backlight.

4. RAZER Huntsman Elite: Take advantage of optomechanical switches for better typing

RAZER is a very well-known brand in the field of IT, it presents its Huntsman Elite keyboard, a gaming keyboard which is perfect for developers/programmers. With a new original and sought-after design, the dimensions of this keyboard are 44.4 x 14 x 3.5 cm for a weight of 860 g. Made from a matte anodized aluminum coating and a plastic chassis, this keyboard boasts an impeccable finish.

Featuring a customizable RAZER Chroma lighting system, all 4 sides of the keyboard are equipped with full RGB LED bottom lighting and 38 customization zones. The brand offers 18 levels of intensity adjustment with an option to turn off the lighting. With integrated multimedia controls including 3 buttons and a fourth topped with a multifunction wheel. You can experience advanced options through the Razer Synapse 3 software.

Razer optomechanical keys feature an integrated optical sensor, with each key press the receiver is activated by a light signal for activation at an impressive speed. The lifespan of the keys is approximately 100 million keystrokes. You can save up to 5 profiles to save your key combinations.

This Huntsman Elite keyboard model from Razer comes with a magnetic and ergonomic wrist rest. Designed with soft faux leather, this material offers more comfort and makes the user more comfortable. It also features bottom lighting for 20 customization zones.

Advantages :

• Sophisticated and original design;
• Good manufacturing quality;
• Solid ;
• Responsive switches;
• Good typing quality;
• Media controls;
• Comfortable wrist rest;
• Customizable backlight;
• Adjustable intensity of lighting effects;

The inconvenients :

• Thick chassis;
• Non-detachable wrist rest;
• Noisy keys; 
• Razer Synapse 3.0 software required for Chroma functions;
• Razer Synapse 3.0 software incompatible on macOS;

5. Corsair K63 Wireless: choose this small wireless mechanical keyboard that offers optimal performance

The Corsair K63 Wireless is the brand's first wireless keyboard model. It uses the same bases of the K63 wired version. For a price of €193.47, the keyboard has an ergonomic and compact design. To provide more comfort to the user, it comes with a wrist rest and a tilt adjustment. This Corsair K63 Wireless keyboard is equipped with a lighting system for each key only in blue. You can control the brightness directly on the keyboard without switching

powered by a battery, a long micro-USB cable is provided for charging, but also for wired use. Wireless connectivity is linked by Bluetooth, which allows you to pair two devices at the same time. You can switch between them by pressing FN+F9/F10.

With dimensions of 36.6 x 17.3 x 4.1 cm, this keyboard is smaller than the wired K63. The layout of this keyboard has been revised, Corsair has kept the multimedia keys, but has also removed the numeric keypad. Several additional features have been added, including the Windows lock key, a backlight brightness adjustment button, keyboard shortcuts for going to sleep and even shortcuts for navigating Android devices (back, home, home view). together and research).

Advantages :

• Good quality in general;
• Ergonomic design;
• Reduced keyboard size;
• Equipped with multimedia keys;
• Soft and pleasant strike;
• Backlighting per key;
• Macro programmable keys;
• Bluetooth connection on 2 devices;
• Long cable for wired use and charging;
• Anti-ghosting;
• Suitable for gamers and developers;
• Responsive switches;
• Comfortable wrist rest;

The inconvenients :

• Backlighting not customizable and only in red;
• Noisy keys;
• Does not have a numeric keypad;
• No RGB lighting;
• Single key switch option
• Flimsy wrist rest;
• Lack of lighting synchronization

Who are these keyboards for?

As you can see, these keyboards are aimed at developers. Indeed, these users often work on their desktop or laptop computer for long hours . Thus, in addition to remaining in front of a screen for a long time, they risk pain in their wrists and hands (tendinitis, pressure, etc.), hence the importance of keyboards for development that improve typing comfort.

When we look at keyboards for developers, we realize that they are often gaming keyboard models. There is nothing surprising in that! Gamers appreciate cutting-edge professional technologies for their video games. Even though some developers like gaming, many gamers like development, programming and coding . This is how we end up with keyboards for programming that look like gaming keyboards.

What are the differences between a classic keyboard and a developer keyboard?

Apart from what we have just stated, one may wonder what major difference there is between a classic keyboard and a developer keyboard?

Although a developer keyboard may have dedicated media keys to aid in coding and programming sessions, a computer keyboard is still a keyboard. However, where someone will only be interested in office automation and word processing, and will only spend a little time in their day in front of their computer, a programmer will need a comfortable and responsive keyboard thanks to switches and high-performance keyboard format such that it can program on a computer without feeling tired.

This is how a developer keyboard differs from a classic keyboard specific to office automation and short word processing. As you can guess, programming keyboards are more expensive than others, due to the technologies they contain.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a developer keyboard?

A developer keyboard has advantages and disadvantages and this is what we invite you to see now.

Advantages

The advantages of a keyboard for development are multiple. Firstly, typing comfort is increased through switches . We will detail what a switch is and how to choose it in our buying guide. Either way, this keyboard will improve your productivity as a programmer in addition to serving as a gaming keyboard if that interests you. As a result, these keyboards are more responsive and their ergonomics are designed to be equipped with wrist rests.

Additionally, your office is your work environment, often equipped with a computer and an attractive mouse. Developer keyboards are often RGB in the same way as gaming keyboards, which is ideal for properly dressing up your desktop computer.

The inconvenients

We tell you , there is no real disadvantage to choosing a developer keyboard . Indeed, there would be if you choose one that does not suit your needs. For example, you took a programmer's keyboard in a classic format with a numeric keypad when you wanted a TKL format due to lack of space, or you chose a membrane keyboard when you needed a mechanical keyboard...

Apart from the price of developer keyboards which can make many people pale, the disadvantages of these are dictated by the question: Is the programming keyboard that I have chosen adapted to my needs?

So that you are sure to choose the best keyboard for developers , we offer you this buying guide analyzing in detail the technical characteristics of a good development keyboard.

Developer Keyboard Buying Guide

This buying guide aims to help you choose a development keyboard suited to your needs as a computer programmer , by detailing the technical details and telling you which ones to favor when purchasing a developer keyboard.

The type of key on your keyboard

This is one of the most important purchasing criteria when you want to choose a computer developer's PC keyboard Indeed, choosing the keys you will press on a daily basis means choosing the typing comfort you will have . The type of key on your computer keyboard is what will determine 90% of its price. Please note that there are 3 types of keys when purchasing a developer keyboard (we do not count virtual keyboards):

• Membrane keyboards
• Chiclet keyboards
• Mechanical keyboards

Remember that a qwerty keyboard and an azerty keyboard are exactly the same thing apart from a few keys. Note that you can switch from one to the other on Windows 10 by doing ALT+SHIFT.

But then what are the advantages of each of these types of keyboard for programming? We suggest you see it immediately!

Membrane keyboards

Membrane keyboards are the keyboards most commonly found on the market. Many developers like this type of keyboard because they started programming and coding on these computer development keyboards. As a result, they appreciate the habits developed with this typing feedback.

The advantage of membrane keyboards lies in their accessibility. In fact, they are the cheapest on the market (not all low-end) , which will delight small budgets. In addition, unlike their mechanical counterpart, these are silent keyboards that will not drive you crazy during long programming sessions, which your neighbor or your wife will also appreciate.

Either way, these keyboards are the entry level you can find as a developer. As a result, their durability is low as well as their transmission speed . These inexpensive developer keyboards may be right for you, but at the cost of less typing comfort.

Chiclet keyboards

Very popular with programmers, chiclet keys are comfortable and quiet. In fact, you have probably already seen them! These are these famous flat keys that are commonly found on laptops to save maximum space. These flat keyboards are extremely comfortable, explaining the positive feedback about them from computer developers .

The disadvantages of these keyboard keys are their transmission speed and their price. Indeed, these are not reactive and only guarantee the advantages described above. In addition , chiclet keyboards are becoming rare and charge a very high price for their typing comfort, which is not advantageous.

Unless for you, these keyboards are the holy grail of developers, we do not recommend them, the quality-price ratio being disadvantageous for programmer keyboards.

Mechanical keyboards

Mechanical keyboards are the most recommended developer keyboards on the market. Programmers wishing to invest in a high-end keyboard with great durability must turn to a mechanical keyboard.

Indeed, in addition to being extremely solid compared to others, these developer keyboards have extraordinary typing feedback thanks to their switch providing unparalleled typing comfort. In addition to this, they are extremely responsive with a very low transmission speed (in ms).

The transmission speed is the time between the moment you press a key and the action on the screen. This must be less than 5ms for a good user experience. On a mechanical keyboard, information is not sent when the key is pressed but when you start to press the key.

Regardless, there are few downsides to mechanical developer keyboards other than they are noisy (compared to quieter membrane keyboards) and they are very expensive. However, this is the price of a long-term investment.

The switches

We talked about it a little, the switch is a technology present in each key of your keyboard. This is what ensures the transmission speed and typing comfort of your developer keyboard. The best known being Cherry MX.

There are 3 categories of switches :

• Click-free linear displays
• Linear with click
• Touchscreens with click

Click-free linear displays

More comfortable for some and less for others, this type of switch on your developer keyboard designates keyboard keys whose pressure required for activation is more or less important than normal such that you have to put 60g of pressure on the instead of 50g for example.

Linear with click

This is the most popular switch among keyboards for development . Here, the force required at the start of the movement is greater than that at the end of the movement, providing exceptional feedback and typing comfort.

Touchscreens with click

If you have already used a mechanical keyboard, you have tasted this type of switch most of them.

What format for your keyboard?

Not all programmers have a small laptop or a large desk, especially since it's often a mess on it. The importance of choosing a developer keyboard adapted to the space you have at home is therefore obvious to many computer scientists and programmers.

In addition to ergonomic keyboards with particular shapes, we can summarize keyboard formats in 2 categories:

• Classic formats
• TKL formats

The classic keyboard

Classic keyboards are those that are widely available on the market. In addition to the classic AZERTY or QWERTY keys, these developer keyboards are equipped with a numeric keypad , very practical when programming or coding.

However, these keyboards for computer development take up a lot of space . Thus, they are difficult to transport and suitable for a desk with little space. This is why many developers will appreciate the TKL format.

The TKL keyboard

Take a classic keyboard and remove the numeric keypad which is just a handy shortcut, and you get a TKL keyboard . As you can see, the advantage of this type of developer keyboard is the significant space saving you have next to your desktop computer. Additionally, a TKL format is easily transportable allowing you to code anywhere, as long as you have a computer near you.

The ergonomics and design of your keyboard

Some development keyboards have special designs whether purely aesthetic or ergonomic . No matter which PC keyboard design you choose, it must be adapted to your wrist . Indeed, as a programmer, you spend several hours a day in front of your computer, doing one keystroke. It is therefore very important to ensure the comfort of your wrist to avoid joint pathologies linked to your activity.

We advise you to go for a developer keyboard with a wrist rest. This is the minimum as a computer programmer.

As for aesthetics, it’s up to you! In general, RGB keyboards are popular . Have you ever seen a great keyboard with colorful key backlighting It's RGB. Depending on the developer keyboards you choose, the backlit keyboard can be customized or not changing the color, brightness and location of the backlight. In any case, it is more pleasant to type on a beautiful keyboard .

Our Developer Keyboard FAQ

We have answered many points to allow you to choose the best keyboard for developers , which will give you typing comfort adapted to your needs. However, we understand that certain questions remain unanswered. This is why we intend to answer them in our FAQ on programmer keyboards.

Q1 – Which connector should you choose for your development keyboard?

It's a legitimate question. Indeed, it would be a shame to realize that our developer keyboard is not compatible when leaving the store, and to have to go back to buy an adapter. Rest assured, these cases are rather rare because almost all keyboards sold commercially have the same connectors making them plug and play. This term, from the gaming community, refers to computer equipment that simply plugs in so that everything is automated and can be used immediately.

The keyboards for developing are equipped with a USB port making them very easy to use. You just need to plug in your keyboard for it to work.

Q2 – Which is better between a wired keyboard and a wireless keyboard?

In the previous questions, we talked to you about the connectivity of wired developer keyboards . However, many programmers will appreciate Bluetooth keyboards , that is to say wireless keyboards . To answer your question, we suggest you see the advantages and disadvantages of these 2 types of keyboards for developers:

• Wired keyboards
• Wireless keyboards (Bluetooth)

Wired keyboards

As the name suggests, these development keyboards must be plugged in by cable to work. Most PC keyboards on the market are equipped with a USB connection allowing everyone to connect their PC without asking too many questions. But then, what are the advantages of a wired keyboard?

These developer keyboards have the best possible transmission speed . In fact, the connection is direct, so there is no latency due to a wireless adapter or Bluetooth . In addition, you don't risk any unpleasant surprises! In fact, these computer keyboards do not need to be recharged, giving them, on the one hand, great practicality, and on the other hand, great durability because the battery will not decrease over the months. These developer keyboards are a sure value.

The disadvantages of this type of keyboard? The cable that adds to the myriad of wires already present on your desk. As long as you are not very well organized, this defect is significant and will generate a lot of programmers who will prefer to use wireless keyboards.

Wireless keyboards

The opposite of wired keyboards are wireless keyboards. There are 2 types on the market in the same way as PC mice such as Bluetooth keyboards and keyboards with adapters . They are essentially the same, except that connecting the latter is easier than the former but takes a USB port constantly to your PC.

In any case, these developer keyboards have the advantage of not adding any cables to your desk, making it completely clean. In addition, it is the ideal type of keyboard to carry to work, on vacation and to friends, the wire does not bother you in your bag.

The downside of these keyboards for computer programmers? The transmission speed is much lower because the connection to the PC is not direct. However, these keyboards are most appreciated by developers who do not need very low latency, being more the panache of gamers wanting high performance .

Q3 – Can I use my developer keyboard for something else?

Of course, in general developer keyboards are very close, if not exactly the same, as gaming keyboards. Therefore, by investing in a developer keyboard , you will have a multifunction keyboard for office automation, word processing, programming, coding and gaming. In addition, these technological gems (like mechanical keyboards) will provide you with typing comfort in all daily computing activities. So don’t hesitate to use your developer keyboard on other things!

Q4 – As a developer, should I invest in a mat and mouse?

We could tell you that you are obliged and make the fortune of keyboard-mouse sellers, but this is not the case. Unless you want to invest in a complete setup so that your desktop computer is well equipped and you are bathed in optimal comfort, as a developer , there is no point in investing in a large mouse or a premium mouse pad.

Indeed, you are a programmer and your main tool is your development keyboard. Other devices are secondary.

Now if you want to treat yourself, go ahead with your eyes closed! We were only responding to you through the prism of the die-hard developer.

Q5 – Which brand should I turn to for a developer keyboard?

When you want to invest in a keyboard for developers, you can be lost as the number of brands offered and the number of models in these brands is large. As in the comparison above, we can give you some ideas. Many programmers like Logitech keyboards. It's often with these that they started and they find it difficult to move on. Aside from that, you have a brand that is more popular, particularly among gamers, being a bit like the Apple of PC peripherals . This brand is Razer. Their developer keyboards are excellent, but beware of the price which may be steep.

It is generally towards these 2 brands that you may be tempted to turn and towards which you will find very good developer keyboards.

Q6 – What is the budget for a developer keyboard?

In order to guarantee you very good typing comfort , we advise you to purchase a programmer's keyboard with a minimum of €80 in your pocket. As a result, you will be sure to have a durable keyboard that you can rely on and type on without problems.