[dukha]

First, you need good mechanical keyboard. Some people will advocate for specific models or switches, but you need to choose one by yourself by typing on it.

Second, you need to learn touch typing. There are some tips:

a) buy keyboard with blank keycaps;

b) if you can't buy such keyboard (you really should), try to pull out keycaps and randomly change their order;

c) put blanked or some non-transparent sheet over your hands.

Third, change keypress repeat interval rate and delay in your system. It will force you to hit keys quicker. If you're using linux, good starter is to run 'xset r rate 200 60'. It means 'start repeating key if it's pressed for more that 200ms and repeat it 60 times per second'. Then gradually decrease first number and increase second.

Some people will tell, that typing speed doesn't matter much, but that's not true. When you get into the flow, you're stopping thinking verbally and starting to think in entire code blocks. It's crucial to not be hindered by keyboard in that case.

And remember, it should be uncomfortable at first. Otherwise, there will be no progress.

[bashwizard]

"First, you need good mechanical keyboard."

No, you don't.

"a) buy keyboard with blank keycaps;"

No need. Just don't look at the keys while typing.

"b) if you can't buy such keyboard (you really should), try to pull out keycaps and randomly change their order;"

No need. Just don't look at the keys while typing.

"c) put blanked or some non-transparent sheet over your hands."

No need. Just don't look at the keys while typing.

For real, there is no need to complicate things. Just start out slow and you'll gradually increase your typing speed as you go as long as you're touch typing.

[linsomniac]

I'd agree with going with blank keycaps or similar. I learned to touch type in Jr HS, so my typing wasn't terrible. But I definitely had some bad habits. One that I particularly wanted to unlearn was I always looked at keys when typing numbers and somewhat less the corresponding symbols. Plus a few other small ones.

My beloved thinkpad keyboard died one day, and I decided to finally try a fancy-schmancy mechanical keyboard. I spent a long time working on a laptop as my primary box, and didn't want to carry another keyboard, so I just stuck with ThinkPad.

I spent a couple weeks feeling like I couldn't type, to varying, diminishing degrees. But I really focused on doing the right thing rather than the fast thing.

Now I'm super happy I did spend that time on it. I love my mechanical keyboard, but it wasn't necessary to improve my typing. Though there are a number of benefits I do see because of it's ability to be programmed. I have a bunch of custom settings on it just for my workflows.