Aoeu

Aoeu is a Dvorak touch-typing tutor for Mac. It teaches the Dvorak keyboard layout from scratch through a structured course, then keeps building speed and accuracy with adaptive drills, custom text practice, and keyboard-shortcut training — all backed by on-device stats that show exactly which keys, letter pairs, and shortcuts still need work.

Features

Guided course. Lessons introduce Dvorak's keys in a deliberate order, unlocking new keys only once you've shown you've learned the current set.

Adaptive drills. Once the course is complete (or any time you want extra practice), Aoeu builds mixed-word drills that weight toward your weakest keys automatically.

Speed tests. Timed typing tests report net/gross words-per-minute and accuracy, and feed the same per-key and letter-pair stats the course does.

Texts library. Practice on bundled public-domain quote packs, any plain-text file you open, or text you paste in directly.

Shortcut drills. A separate curriculum trains common ⌘-chords (Cut/Copy/Paste, Undo/Redo, Find, and more) under whichever keyboard layout you actually type on.

Detailed stats. Per-key confidence, slowest letter pairs, typing mechanics (finger rollover), and shortcut accuracy — all in on screen, all computed on-device.

Menu bar and Shortcuts app. A menu-bar item shows today's practice minutes and streak at a glance; a Start Daily Drill Shortcut and Siri phrase let you jump straight into practice.

Works with any keyboard. Aoeu can emulate Dvorak in software (your keys stay printed QWERTY, Aoeu remaps what they produce) or read your keyboard's native input source directly if you've already switched macOS to a Dvorak layout.

Frequently asked questions

Where is my data stored?
Everything Aoeu tracks — lesson progress, per-key stats, speed-test history, preferences — stays on your Mac by default, and Aoeu makes no network connections of its own. If you turn on the optional Settings ▸ Sync with iCloud (off by default), that same progress is additionally stored in your own private iCloud database — still not visible to us, still no account with Aoeu. See the privacy policy for the full statement.

Can I export or back up my progress?
Yes. File ▸ Export Progress… saves your history to a file you choose (a JSON archive). Keep that file if you want a backup, or to move your progress to another Mac (see the next question).

How do I move my progress to another Mac, or restore after reinstalling?
Export from the old install (File ▸ Export Progress…) and keep that file. Aoeu's own restore flow — "Restore from Archive…" — appears automatically if Aoeu ever detects that its data store looks damaged or unreadable; from there you pick the exported file and your history is restored. Damaged files are always preserved on disk either way, never deleted automatically, no matter which option you choose in that flow.

How do I reset my progress and start over?
There's a "Start Fresh" option in the same recovery flow mentioned above — it sets your course and stats back to zero without needing to reinstall the app. If you're looking for a way to reset without going through that flow, contact support (below) and we'll walk you through it.

Which keyboard layout should I choose — emulated or native?
If you haven't switched your Mac to a Dvorak input source in System Settings, choose "Emulated" — your keys stay printed QWERTY and Aoeu remaps what they produce internally, so you don't need to change any system settings to start learning. If you've already switched macOS to a Dvorak input source (or use a physically Dvorak-labeled keyboard), choose "Native" so Aoeu reads your real input source instead of double-remapping. Aoeu's Settings screen explains both options and lets you switch anytime; there's also an "Auto" mode that follows whatever your Mac's current input source is.

Does Aoeu require an internet connection?
No, and it never has to. Aoeu works entirely offline for everything except one optional feature: Settings ▸ Sync with iCloud (off by default), which uses your Mac's existing iCloud account to sync progress across your other Macs. Leave it off and nothing in the app touches the network.

What does "Keep in menu bar when Aoeu is closed" do?
It's a Settings toggle beneath "Show in menu bar." When on, Aoeu registers itself as a login item — it launches automatically the next time you log in, hidden in the menu bar with no window and no Dock icon, until you open it from the menu bar, the Dock, or Finder. It's listed anytime in System Settings ▸ General ▸ Login Items, where you can also remove it directly. Quitting Aoeu (⌘Q, or Quit Aoeu from the menu bar) always removes it from the menu bar until the next login or launch, whether or not the toggle is on.

Contact
Questions, bug reports, or feedback: aoeu@pwarn.info