>"I have invested in the fluidity and comfort of my own hands"

That's exactly why I don't touch type.

Forcing my hands in the optimal "home-row" positioning for touch typing gives me wrist pain. Moving my hands towards my most comfortable position disables the ability to touch type.

>It's a signaling mechanism more than anything, as you can see from the other responses here.

Firstly, what if that type of signaling is flawed and might even be discriminatory if applied to screening people for an actual job, especially that SW devs conder themselves highly liberal and open minded to diversity.

Secondly, I also can't fathom how keeping my eyes focused on one screen continuously for long periods is healthy for them versus exercising them having to occasionally refocus towards the keyboard and back.

Thirdly, even if I would touch type, my job needs me to take my eyes of the "IDE screen" occasionally to look at other things like datasheets, PCBs, notes, etc. Then the amount of distractions in the office far outpace any supposed efficiency gains from not having to take my eyes off the screen, so there's no benefit to it anyway as the job has many other bottlenecks.

Reading the comments on this thread, makes me feel like I'm watching that scene from American Psycho where they're all in their bubble flaunting and judging each others' business card designs when they're all the same design. Glad I don't work with such judgmental individuals who scrutinize such pointless details like the way you type, as if their way is the only right way. Must be a nightmare.

>"I'm enough of a nerd to actually be good at my job".

Well then, I guess I'm lucky to be good at my engineering job without the way I type being an issue.

>Thirdly, even if I would touch type, my job needs me to take my eyes of the "IDE screen" occasionally to look at other things like datasheets, PCBs, notes, etc.

What if I told you that touch typing means you could do that while you are typing.

Let me start by stating that touch typing is orthogonal to coding well.

The nice thing about touch type is to not think about typing. One quick glance to position your hands on the home row (there’s helper on F and J), and then whatever you want to write just flow out. While I use two thumbs to type this on mobile, I’m mostly using my peripheral vision. Typing on a real keyboard is better as I have better feedback and can use all my fingers.

It’s only one reason: No need to think about typing, it’s all muscle memory.

I never said I thought it was a good signal. Please don't go around shooting the messenger like that.