geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: abhixec on Thu, 23 November 2017, 11:56:46
-
Hi all,
New member here pardon me if someone had a similar question posed here.
I am thinking of getting a fully programmable keyboard(upgrading my setup from POK3R - blue) and am not sure which one to get.
I am looking at the Ultimate Hacking keyboard, Ergodox-ez and the one in input.club. I would ideally like a 60% keyboard.
Do you guys any suggestions or comments on which would be a good buy?
1. Since I have never had fully programmable keyboard I would like to know certain workflows that people program or use the programmable keyboard in.
2. Can you create macros in fully programmable keyboards?
3. How many layers can I program(is recommended)?
4. I am a colemak user and want to know if it is possible to kind of bake the extended layer on to the keyboard(https://forum.colemak.com/topic/2014-extend-extra-extreme/)
Thanks in advance for taking time to read this post and responding to it.
-
I recommend the Winkeyless B.FACE (http://winkeyless.kr/product/b-face-x2-pcb/). Its a Korean PCB that includes 4 programmable layers . Has macro support, RGB, in switch LED, and is an all around awesome board. Supports several different layouts such as hhkb, winkeyless, and standard 60% in ANSI or ISO. The caveat is that it is quite expensive. Less so if you assemble it yourself but costly nonetheless.
On the cheaper side you have the GH60 (https://www.banggood.com/GH60-DIY-Mechanical-Keyboard-PCB-Support-Breathing-LED-60-Cherry-MX-Poker2-Poker3-p-1084998.html?cur_warehouse=CN) that is fully programmable however only has 2 layers. Very cheap and is another good choice.
(side note: There is also the NERD by GON (http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/), However I strongly recommend against it as He has a history of being VERY unreliable.)
-
I’ve used two programmable boards - a whitefox and an XD60. Both were relatively straightforward to program, though I’d probably give the edge to the whitefox in terms of simplicity. Both support several layers. I have a hard time imagining using more than 2-3. I’m assuming you can toggle layers w the whitefox, but I know you can w the XD6, which would give you the ability to have a colemak layer.
I would say, first step, decide what key layout you want and then use that to determine what PCB to go with.
-
My idea of fully programmable is that you can run a custom firmware; then you're limited only by the hardware (esp. memory), when it comes to layers, macros etc. Major firmware options are
- hasu's TMK
- QMK (more user-friendly TMK fork)
- metalliqaz' Easy AVR USB Keyboard Firmware and Keymapper
- HaaTa's Kiibohd Controller
You can start by looking at the list of supported keyboards for each.
-
...
- hasu's TMK
- QMK (more user-friendly TMK fork)
- metalliqaz' Easy AVR USB Keyboard Firmware and Keymapper
- HaaTa's Kiibohd Controller
...
to which I'd add:
* Keyboardio Model 01, running Kaleidoscope
-
I could have listed a dozen other firmwares that run basically on a single keyboard; for example, Chris Andreae's for Kinesis/ErgoDox.
-
I could have listed a dozen other firmwares that run basically on a single keyboard; for example, Chris Andreae's for Kinesis/ErgoDox.
Yes, and the stated goal by Keyboardio for Kaleidoscope is: Open source, and not just for the Keybordio.
For example "Shortcutting Kaleidoscope" here https://asylum.madhouse-project.org/blog/2017/02/15/Shortcutting-Kaleidoscope/ (https://asylum.madhouse-project.org/blog/2017/02/15/Shortcutting-Kaleidoscope/) talks about a non-Keybordio port from February.
I'll quickly admit, there's not much in the way of non-Keyboardio Kaleidoscope keyboards out there. Maybe it will catch on, maybe not, but it looks like a possible contender.
If the need is "off the shelf" and "today" I totally agree with you.
So far I'm mostly doing QMK, with a little TMK on the horizon. (No Model 01, yet anyway.)
All the best!
-
Hi guys thanks for the input, I actually ended up ordering : https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/new-arrival/products/5-aluminum-full-assemble-keyboard-abs-backlight-keycaps
Can some one tell me how many layers I can program in that? And if I can program macros on that keyboard?
-
Hi guys thanks for the input, I actually ended up ordering : https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/new-arrival/products/5-aluminum-full-assemble-keyboard-abs-backlight-keycaps
Can some one tell me how many layers I can program in that? And if I can program macros on that keyboard?
The board you ordered is a GH60 that i previously mentioned. Hope you enjoy your keyboard!
-
Hi guys thanks for the input, I actually ended up ordering : https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/new-arrival/products/5-aluminum-full-assemble-keyboard-abs-backlight-keycaps
Can some one tell me how many layers I can program in that? And if I can program macros on that keyboard?
The board you ordered is a GH60 that i previously mentioned. Hope you enjoy your keyboard!
How do I find out how many Layers I can program on it?
according to : https://tkg.io/ When I select keyboard GH60 it shows I can add 8 layers but from your post you say it is 2.
-
Hi guys thanks for the input, I actually ended up ordering : https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/new-arrival/products/5-aluminum-full-assemble-keyboard-abs-backlight-keycaps
Can some one tell me how many layers I can program in that? And if I can program macros on that keyboard?
The board you ordered is a GH60 that i previously mentioned. Hope you enjoy your keyboard!
How do I find out how many Layers I can program on it?
according to : https://tkg.io/ When I select keyboard GH60 it shows I can add 8 layers but from your post you say it is 2.
My apologies if I was incorrect. this (https://gist.github.com/Leimi/bca49d02e48c018ce4c8) should give you more information on your board.
-
Since coder are always night owls, therefore, backlights must be needed!
And Coder always are richer in a way, so, budget is no limit lol.
Ducky One TKL RGB - go for it!