Why is typing code slower than typing text?
French text mainly uses letters and a few common punctuation marks. Code, on the other hand, constantly uses special characters: braces {}, brackets [], parentheses (), angle brackets <>, semicolons, colons, pipes |, backslashes, underscores, at signs. These keys are less practiced and often located in uncomfortable positions on an AZERTY keyboard.
Which special characters to practice first?
The most frequent ones depend on the language. For JavaScript and TypeScript: {} () [] ; => "" '' `backticks`. For Python: () [] : "" '' # @. For HTML/CSS: <> / = "" '' : ; {}. The good news: about twenty characters cover 90% of coding needs.
How to practice code typing?
Method 1: type existing code snippets. Take a file from your project and retype it from scratch. It's simple and directly useful. Method 2: use Expert Dactylo's "Code" mode which offers exercises with real code (JavaScript, Python, HTML) and measures your speed specifically on these characters. Method 3: practice keyboard shortcuts in your editor (VS Code, IntelliJ). Auto-completion reduces typing, but you need to type fast what it doesn't complete.
Is the AZERTY keyboard a handicap for coding?
A bit, yes. Braces and brackets require AltGr on AZERTY, versus a simple key on QWERTY. Many French-speaking developers switch to QWERTY for this reason. But with practice, you can easily compensate for this disadvantage on AZERTY.