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?
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.
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!
$70 for a macropad? You can buy an entire kb for that price.
You’re not wrong, but it’s a small developer and an otherwise niche product. These things tend to get a bit more expensive as a result.
Totally worth it though!
Yes and no? Being a niche product, I feel like there should be a diy option where you get all of the parts as a kit for a reduced price. Maybe 30-35USD would make more sense. At 70 I would not even consider this product tbh.
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 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?
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?
