rclasen / qmk_firmware

Local hacks/keymaps for Quantum Mechanical Keyboard Firmware

Local hacks/keymaps for Quantum Mechanical Keyboard Firmware

based on an old version of QMK.

Comes with my own OneShot/TapHold implementations using a custom myevent backend. I'm not sure if that's still needed, but when I started using QMK in 2017 I couldn't get the following working:

• consistent behavior for Modifiers and layers
• allow "queueing" multiple oneshot operations
• consistent oneshot un/lock behavior
• avoid interfering with regular typing (TapHold)
• easy per-keymap customization (eg. suppress shift keys in my symbol layer and on numpad keys of nav layer)

Nowadays TapHold seems to be ok - even for home-row mods... but the upstream oneshot (no usable cancel, differences between mod+layer) is still unusable.

I'm trying to keep my keymaps "similar". For simplifying this, all of them use the shared definitions. The shared definitions also include some explanations/requirements I used to build the layout.

Most notably, I'm trying to move all modifiers/layers to the thumbs. Thumb keys are arranged to allow holding 2 of them at once.

The layout tries to eliminate keys where I'd move my wrists too much: Even on the "bigger" keyboards (ergodox, ...) I use only few of the extra keys. I'm using the ergodox keymap as "master".

My keymaps (have ASCII art in keymap.c):

• atreus 2017/11 - Handwired atreus. Great staggering, but thumb keys are way too far up. I could use a bigger angle between the halves and the pinky column a bit futher down, but it's a good compromise to be portable (=transporting and setting up split boards somehow feels anoying). Could use 1 or two extra keys. Got Lost.

• atreus2 2020/08 - Replacement for lost atreus with hot-swap from falbatech.

• atreus50 2019/08 - handwired atreus. extra pinky column and thumb key is further down. Need to build and try.

• chimera ergo 42 2018/08 - I love it. Thumb keys are where I need them, staggering is great. Has few keys I don't use. Clearly my favourite layout. I'm missing power switches to keep it from draining batterie when transporting it... and the receiver could use some enclosure. Actually, I'm now looking for a wired alternative to make this a daily driver. I love how flat it is: I do get along without a wrist rest. Unfortunately it stopped working - not sure how I killed it.

• corne 2018/12 - AKA corne/helidox. Has similar issues as the iris, but is more compact. For whatever reason I'm having less issues with the thumb cluster when switching from ergodox/chimera/diverge to corne as I have with the iris. I love the pro micro placement. My current daily driver.

• corne_aurora 2023/04

  • see corne. Got this to have a backup in a nicer case.

• dactyl manuform 2018/09 - need to try.

• diverge3 2016/09 - ported the lets split firmware to unikeyboards diverge3. Needs extra pullup resistors to get i2c working - official QMK diverge3 uses serial. Initially staggering felt strange... likely caused by the outermost column. Thumb cluster feels good. Index finger column could be a bit further down. Once I started to see the single key that sticks out to the top as separate row, I started to love the staggering. Unfortunately it's with Gateron browns - and I can't stand typing on them. Plate doesn't support top-removal... and I'm too lazy to desolder.

• ergodash 2020/02 - don't get along with the thumb cluster... the 2u keys are too far away... and the key next to M tucks too far below the palm. Has same staggering as ergodox.

• ergodox 2016/09, 2016/11, 2017/05 - that's what I started with. I've stopped using it as it caused thumb pain. It has way too many keys and is way too big, aswell. My tenting stands make it even less portable. Staggering is too low and the thumb cluster is a tad too wide. While you can get fitting keycaps, it's still quite limited. It's the master for my keymaps.

• ergotravel 2018/07 - why on earth is the innermost thumb key tilted? It's useless and sacrifies another good thumb key below B. Staggering is like ergodox: Too conservative. Pro micro prevents later access to switches/leds/... and creates extra height.

• fretboard 2020/04 - need to build + try. Designed by fretsome. Staggering + Thumb keys look amazing. Probably an amazing traveling/couch/lap-use board... mabye with bluetooth? Not sure if/how to protect the raw PCB, though.... so... need ideas for a 'case'(?)

• iris 2017/12 - built it with 2x1u thumb key ... but I don't like the upper position. Unfortunately the thumb key below c and v is a tiny bit too far under my palm for frequent use. It's nice to have the thumb keys shifted by .5u ... but I'd prefer to have them shifted the other direction. Staggering is like ergodox: Too conservative. Pro micro prevents later access to switches/leds/... and creates extra height.

• kimiko 2021/08 - Coming back to a keyboard with reasonably aggressive stagger and an 'aligned' thumb cluster felt like coming home. I really like the layout. Seems to be an improved version of a Sofle v2 ... with per-key RGB. Would make it my daily driver if it wasn't that 'big' and I had a 2nd board with a similar layout for home+work.

• kyria 2019/09 - staggering feels great. Thumb cluster is like iris + another key on each side. Need to try shifting my thumb layout.

• lets split 2017/11 - note that I start with the alphas on the outermost columns! While I'm heavily into columnar stagger I'm surprised how good I get along with a plain ortho layout. Though, my thumbs often loose their homing key -> needs significantly different caps for thumbs! On dox/diverge this is accomplished by the gap between bottom row and thumb cluster. Pro micro prevents later access to switches/leds/... and creates extra height.

• levinson 2017/12 - same as lets split, but with backlight.

• lily58 2020/02 - Has similar issues as iris. Just got it because of hot-swap support and better pro micro placement.

• maltron 2017/09 - handwired Maltron. Thumb cluster is hard to use when resting your palm -> made it impossible for me to use it for long enough to get used to the dwells. Angle between halves is ok, but I do miss adjusting the angle when changing posture.

• orthodox 2017/12 - Got it to test the Thumb cluster. Upper thumb row is useless and moves the other thumb keys too far down. Bottom thumb keys could move closer to M. Pro micro prevents later access to switches/leds/... and creates extra height.

• piantor 2023/04 - Was by far the fastest build I've ever had: No diodes and castellated holes on RPi made it a breeze. Stagger is nice but thumb cluster is too close to iris. Just realized, that the travel of choc switches actually isn't too way of from regular switches. Actually some mods (QMX, Zealencios, Jailhouse blue) reduce travel way more. Though, (my) chocs sound awful and the lack of profiled keycaps is killihg me.

• reviung41 2021/08 - No Idea why I got it. It's missing thumb keys and the stagger is insufficient.

• tbk mini 2021/07 - Tried it with SA caps and liked the curve... though, the thumb cluster is waaaay too wide.

incomplete family picture. Some keymap folders have links to individual pictures / build logs.

layout styles

switching between massively different layouts takes a (short) while to get used to. Following list is helping me to pick 'similar' sets for work + home.

keyboard	split	stagger style	thumb style
atreus	mono	aggressive	aligned (mostly)
atreus50	mono	aggressive	aligned (mostly)
chimera ergo 42	split	aggressive	aligned
corne	split	ergodox	iris
dactyl manuform	split	maltron	manuform
diverge3	split	aggressive	aligned (mostly)
ergodash	split	ergodox	iris
ergodox	split	ergodox	maltron
ergotravel	split	ergodox	broken
fretboard	mono	aggressive	aligned (mostly)
iris	split	ergodox	iris
kimiko	split	aggressive	aligned (mostly)
kyria	split	aggressive	iris
lets split	split	none	aligned
levinson	split	none	aligned
lily58	split	ergodox	iris
maltron	mono	ergodox	maltron
orthodox	split	none	maltron-like
piantor	split	aggressive	aligned (mostly)
reviung41	mono	ergodox	broken
tbk mini	split	maltron	maltron-like