QMK and Keyboards

Quantum Mechanical Keyboard (QMK) is a popular open source firmware for custom keyboards. Who knew a keyboard could do so much?

See my keymap on GitHub. Please feel free to open an issue or start a discussion about any problems, questions, or comments.

QMK feature libraries

• Custom shift keys – they’re surprisingly tricky to get right; here is my approach

• Lumino – a minimal, opinionated control scheme for RGB matrix lighting

• Mouse Turbo Click – macro that clicks the mouse rapidly

• Orbital Mouse – a polar approach to mouse key control

• PaletteFx – palette-based RGB matrix lighting effects

• Select Word – macro for convenient word or line selection

• Sentence Case – automatically capitalize the first letter of sentences

• SOCD Cleaner – enhance WASD for fast inputs for gaming

The following were originally developed here and have since graduated to become QMK core features. It is recommended to use the QMK core implementations, but (perhaps for sake of customization or curiosity) you may continue to use these userspace versions:

• Achordion – userspace predecessor of QMK’s Chordal Hold

• Autocorrection – userspace version of QMK’s Autocorrect

• Caps Word – userspace version of QMK’s Caps Word

• Layer Lock key – userspace version of QMK’s Layer Lock

• Repeat Key – userspace version of QMK’s Repeat Key

• Speculative Hold – userspace version of QMK’s Speculative Hold

• Tap Flow – userspace predecessor of QMK’s Flow Tap

QMK

• QMK Community Modules – reduce the friction to add third-party features

• Typing non-English letters – several approaches to type symbols like ä, ç, λ

• QMK song player – play QMK song code in your browser

• QMK macros series – typing shortcuts, adaptive behaviors, timing effects, and more

  • QMK Macros 1: intro and assortment of practical examples

  • QMK Macros 2: triggers, reacting to interesting events

  • QMK Macros 3: advanced effects

• Developing QMK features – userspace libraries and contributing to QMK

  • Keycode String – format keycodes as human-readable strings

General

• Alt keyboard layouts – switching from QWERTY to an alternative keyboard layout

• Designing a symbol layer – ergonomic and character frequency considerations

• PSA: Thumbs can get overuse injuries – anecdotes, common injuries, countermeasures

• Questioning the ergonomics of 40% keyboards – smaller ≠ better

• Keyboard FAQs – thoughts on topics that come up regularly

• Glossary – keyboard-related slang, technical jargon, and anatomical terms

• Links about keyboards – interesting links about keyboards and related topics