@apfel@lemmy.world
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apfel

@apfel@lemmy.world

github.com/kilipanpfp by Bubbleology

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apfel,
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I’ve been using Zilpzalp basically exclusively for over a year, at this point I don’t think I’ll ever find a more comfortable board :)

apfel,
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It’s definitely about comfort, but i’ve also never been faster on any other board. Gotta admit I’m not a fast typist, with around 80wpm.

Your beginner keyboard and regret buying that?

What was your beginner keyboard and which keyboard are you using now? It seems, that a lot of people tend to prefer smaller keyboards with layers. I myself am a bit intimidated by them, and would much prefer a somewhat more traditional number of keys, like the Lili58 or the Sofel has (as for now, I think I will get a Lili58)....

apfel,
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started out with an Architeuthis Dux, never regretted it :)

apfel,
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Addendum to 1: While QMK is nice, I personally prefer ZMK and use it even on my wired boards. So just wanna say, “forced to use” sounds a bit harsh. ZMK is a great and very capable firmware, and it does certain things better than QMK.

Why are keyboards getting smaller?

I’m not a true mechanical keyboard enthusiast. I mean I like a good keyboard for typing code, so I rolled with model-Ms in the 80s and 90s, then some expensive Cherry keyboard I only recently retired because it was utterly spent (and it was PS/2), and now I happily use a Wooting Two HE....

apfel,
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I wrote a short Introduction to Small Keyboards a while ago for the guys from keeb.supply when they first stocked kits for my Zilpzalp keyboard.

Maybe it’ll help understand some of the appeal of small boards and how to productively use them 😊

apfel,
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tbh it sounds like what you need is better firmware configuration if these things are out of reach. a common approach is to make the spacebar a tap-hold key that outputs space on tap and switches to another layer on hold. on that layer you could bind arrow keys on ijkl, for example, and still have shift, alt, ctrl in easy reach.

apfel,
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So cool! Love the roundings, especially around the trackball 👌👌👌 And also Chicago Steno is such bliss 😌

apfel,
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Ergogen is so good 👌 Writing the firmware is surprisingly easy thanks to zmk / qmk :) Fingers crossed for the future work!

apfel,
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so what you’re saying is… moving your arm outwards to use the mouse is more ergonomic than moving it inwards? 🤔

apfel,
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Since others already posted the larger variants… I’m partial to the Rommana.

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AlaaSaadAbdo/Rommana/main/images/1.jpg

apfel,
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i’d rather so a+z=q, gotta have them high-frequency letters on base! but qwerty isn’t really a good fit for such reduced layouts at all 😅

apfel,
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yeah i understand that :D just saying, combos are harder to activate than single key presses

apfel,
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oh interesting! why only r3? 👀

apfel,
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i see :) well CS is definitely my favourite choc profile, so i can see how it would also work uniformly!

apfel,
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I have them on almost all of my MX boards, and Chcago Steno on the choc ones :)
genuinely goated profile

apfel,
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you got the order reversed there, get the board first to be motivated to learn typing on it! :)

apfel,
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it really is very nice 😌

Introducing FAK - A keyboard firmware for the CH55x series (github.com)

Hey all! I’m excited to share and announce my open-source keyboard firmware project. FAK exclusively supports very cheap CH55x chips. You can get a CH552 for half a dollar or maybe even cheaper. No need for external flash, LDOs, or oscillators. The chip’s basically a whole MCU on its own....

apfel,
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This is so cool! Kinda wanna make a xiao drop-in replacement board for these chips now :D

apfel,
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Fantastic, I’ll take you up on that offer! :)

apfel,
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so, ummm…

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/9c3e3129-f4e4-45d3-976e-77f9e98cff7e.png

(obviously not final, just a quick mock-up)

Altenswoop, 34 keys + 2 encoders wireless split with pinky cluster (programming.dev)

I wanted to experiment with a better pinky column, as for me using the bottom row with the pinky felt awkward and sometimes painful. Thus I created an alt version of my arkenswoop (swoop based), and named it the altenswoop because my brain thinks it is very original and funny. It will take some getting used to, and I’ll need...

apfel,
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awesome look! how are you liking the convex thumb caps?

apfel,
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E is on the right thumb, Q and Z are on combos. This is basically the aptmak layout (which is absolutely fantastic), plus random keycaps on the unused keys 😅

apfel,
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same 😁 weteor’s designs are always 👌

apfel,
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hell yea 💚

apfel,
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thank you 😊

apfel,
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Just need to start and finish the zmk firmware…

apfel,
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Probably more ergonomic than a non-Alice rowstagger :)

apfel,
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It’s quite the chonker 😅

apfel,
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right thumb :)

apfel,
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pretty much, yea! The Gabriele used cherry MY switches iirc, and the stems are very similar :)

apfel,
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The one I got was so dusty, it was mostly scratchy… I just took off the caps and put the rest into storage for later 😅

apfel,
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Thank you! :) Hoping to get a case printed in retro beige for the full old school look…

apfel,
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I’ll definitely post it once done :)

apfel,
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it’s aptmak plus random caps on the keys i don’t use :)

apfel,
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Afaik, there’s only a few models that you can use the switches of… Here’s some more details: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/…/htmlview

apfel,
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Got all of it through a mini-groupbuy, so just one set of components for me… I bet you’d find other people to share with, though! 😊

apfel,
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Thank you Bubble! 💚

apfel,
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From my experience, used boards are mostly sold in the respective semi-local communities on Discord. The continent you live on is a good first indicator for what communities to join :)

apfel,
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Fantastic, happy you found something!

Help with handwired Skeletyl

Hi to all of you, Last year I decided to build a Skeletyl keyboard. For many reasons I decided to build it cheap instead of the kit. Despite my lack of experience in building anything it was not really a wise decision. Surprise… Anyway, I printed the the kit and wired the switches and bought the wrong microcontroller, put it...

apfel,
@apfel@lemmy.world avatar

haven’t handwired a board yet, but no matter whether it’s with pcb or handwired, you’ll either need enough pins to direct-connect every single switch (probably not the case) or you’ll have to use a diode-matrix. for learning about those, i’d suggest taking a look at this kbd.news article: kbd.news/The-Japanese-duplex-matrix-1391.html

for a general handwiring guide, check out Joe Scotto’s stuff, e.g. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjml-K-pV4E

apfel,
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MBK is a nice profile for sure! Not my personal favorite, but still totally fine for vertical combos, and it’s all preference anyway :)

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