Macro keyboards are mini programmable USB keyboards that can be pressed to trigger shortcuts, a sequence of keypresses etc. They can have several layers so switching to a different one will trigger different keypresses from the same key, so e.g. different IDEs can be represented.
I’ve just bought one with a view to setting up shortcuts for debugging. Each IDE has its own unique keys for navigating through the code, so I figure it’ll be nice to just press one key to start debugging and one key to step into instead of a combination of ctrl+whatever etc
Do you use one? If so, what do you use it for and what size do you use? Is it too big / too small?
I just had mine arrive yesterday!
I have one of these
I’m using ch57x-keyboard-tool to configure it, because I don’t fancy running some random closed-source Chinese code (the manual links to a file on Google Drive). It also means I can move over my config when I switch to Linux.
I have two keys for switching between headphones and speakers, and some set up for shortcuts I forget (like ctrl-shift-e for the network monitor in Firefox). One key types “hello” just because I can.
I’ve got the large knob controlling volume, and I can click it to toggle mute. The other two are currently set to scroll, but I don’t need that as my mouse has better ergonomics for scrolling.
I still have plenty of unused keys and it’s got three layers so I won’t be running out in the foreseeable future.
I’m using ch57x-keyboard-tool to configure it
Great! I’ve bought similar without the dials (I wish I didn’t have to pay extra for the stupid LEDs) and was hoping there was something open sourcey to configure it with rather than their dodgy codebase for the same reasons you list!
It works great and the config is simple. It doesn’t handle triggering things from those keypresses, but you’ve probably already got something running that does that.
I’m using Mate and it allows me to easily define custom shortcuts to open apps and so on. I suppose autoIt / the linux variants / custom script can add additional functionality to the keypad as well!
Also forgot to point out, you can buy keys with a transparent cover over the top on ali so you can shove a piece of paper underneath the transparent bit to use as labels.
I just have a 36 key split keyboard with layers and combo keys, don’t need a separate macro pad when my main keyboard just is one
Which keyboard is that?
Sorry commented on a different comment down in this thread with the answer, but for other people to see it easier:
Not sure if your interest is specifically the programmable split keyboard or rather programmable in general but my Launch Heavy has this programmable layers feature. Its not split though.
I’ve got a couple keyboards with VIA/QMK and layers, I’m specifically interested in the 36 key split keyboard they mention.
It’s called a chocofi https://github.com/pashutk/chocofi
It’s based on a corne. I’ve got a bunch of bare pcbs available still if you want some, will just have to pay postage, I’m not really going to be doing anything with them.
I’d definitely be interested. What else would I need to build it?
There should be a parts list on that GitHub. You’d need two microcontrollers, two batteries, all of the switches and keycaps you want a bunch of resisters and hot swap sockets if you want hotswappable switches.
The keyboard is a modification of the corne so if you can’t find a tutorial on this one specifically I’d you want to watch a video, a corne one would suffice.
Well, I can’t see a parts list in that repo, but I did find others. If the offer’s still open, I’ll definitely take a couple PCBs. Where did you buy the rest of the parts from?
36??? I have trouble doing a 70
Why so?
I apparently type y and b with the wrong hands.
Also, I seem to require keys on the fly that most mini keyboards don’t account for:
‘~Esc$&:;()[]{}<>=+*
The way layers on my keyboard and smaller ones I’ve tried is awkward. I don’t want a permanent layer just to type a few keys. I need something like thumb keys that change layers when you hold them down (non ortho staggered that I have doesn’t have thumb keys )
I code with mine on a daily basis with work. Best change i ever made for ergonomics and reducing RSI.
Thumb clusters so come in clutch like. Whenever I see a birthday Hertford I just think about the massive waste of space the space bar is on them.
For escape and whatnot I use combos so pressing the two leftmost keys on the top row at the same time press escape. The ones below that, tab, and below that ctrl etc. and i make modifiers like control and shift one shots if I don’t hold them down to help reduce RSI even further and so it’s easy to hit keys that they may be “covering up” as a combo.
‘~Esc$&:;()[]{}<>=+*
Other than it being your password, why?
Tick mark for executing command in bash Home directory End of line And Switch Case End of statement For clarity Arrays Blocks Math Math Assignment Math Pointers
Do you mean keys thst you hold down with your thumb while your fingers are on the home row or something else? For the former, I use split space keyboards and map the left one to enter on press, layer on hold, the right one to space on press, and a different layer on hold. That gives me more keys that you would get on a 70+ keyboard. I find this considerably easier than trying to use pinkies on shift and symbols on what is my top row, qwerty row.
Typically, I map tab and the traditional enter key to tab on press, another layer, and backspace with the same layer as tab. This layer I use for window management in sway for home row and anything else I am missing that I really want.
Is this QMK? My keyboard is ZMK I believe
ZMK also has a layer tap key that would suit for this, normal key press of your choosing and layer activation while holding: https://zmk.dev/docs/keymaps/behaviors
Alright I’ll have to give this a try. If it works (I’m already thinking about it) I’m going to make a custom keyboard.
What I’m worried about is I want to go full Bluetooth, but I need the layer tap key to affect both sides
A rare case of a topic text opening with providing context on what it is talking about. Thank you! I love it.
I don’t use one. I don’t feel like I have conflicting keybindings, or a need for additional keys. When I do, I customize my bindings through settings.
No macro keyboard but I have a programmable mouse with 12 buttons which I assume is similar. You can have different modes with different key bindings so I made 4 modes = 48 buttons.
I don’t have that many macros though, it’s mostly control keys that are used a lot, arrow keys etc. For coding I have some bindings with ctrl-C, ctrl-V, ctrl-Z, ctrl-/ which work in most editors. Something that’s a bit more interesting, I have a button that places the word “exit” in the clipboard, so you can then press the ctrl-V button to paste the word in a terminal, cause a lot of processes (like the ruby console) can’t be closed with ctrl-C.
Most REPLs can be closed with Ctrl+D which is the EOF character.
Huh true, I’ll have to check again see if it works with the usual programs (it probably does)
Surprised I haven’t seen it mentioned here, but I’ve had both the DuckyPad and recently backed the DuckyPad Pro and love them both!
https://github.com/dekuNukem/duckyPad
https://dekunukem.github.io/duckyPad-Pro/
I use it for a variety of shortcuts, Markdown notes, numpad for my Lily58, and it’s compatible with Autohotkey!
This looks awesome - thanks! What’s the all-in price?
DuckyPad: $100 Pro: $115
That’s with cables, switches, and keycaps included.
Fun little customizable devices and purchases support the developer.
I have 6 programmable keys on my keyboard. I have macros for a few snippets that I have to type a lot and my email because my company has a stupid long name that I’m sick of typing out.
I have a large selection, but I rarely use them for anything other than media keys and teams call functions. Other stuff like windows management in sway are all done on higher layers on my (40%) keyboard.
My preference is for something with at least one knob as knobs are my preference for things like scrolling, volume control, and zoom.
If you can find latching switches, these are great for triggering layers so you can get more out of your pad. You can obviously do latching layer changes without such switches in QMK, but you really need to trigger leds to help you remember which layer you on otherwise.
Pad I use the most is a CapsUnlocked CU7 that I got just before they imploded as I love the weight of the knob.
I have a keyboard with 10 macro keys, 5 on each side. I don’t have a whole lot of uses for them except when using Blender, I have buttons set to switch between vertex, edges, and face selection modes, one to zoom in on the selected objects, and another one or buttons to quickly scale things down to zero on a single axis.
Then I set another mode to do some repetetive things in Dwarf Fortress.
