What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
My success stems completely from "textonly" and "blacksunix"posts under the BM-16A drop discussions https://www.massdrop.com/buy/bm-16a-16-key-programmable-mini-pad-kit/talk/2331792 READ these. The only changes I made were to use the json layout files for the BM-16S from the Google Drive
Get: QMK Toolbox from Github, install it Get: the default JSON and instructions from manufacturer Google Drive. This is on their Aliexpress page for the BM-16A as mentioned by "jf647" here. So you can just search for it as well.
- I used https://kbfirmware.com/ to modify my layout. Upload the "BM16S.json" file from the manufacturer Google Drive pack into kbfirmware.com
- This loads the basic layout in kbfirmware.com. Customize it
- Backup your json if you wish under the Settings tab. Then go to the Compile tab and export the ".Hex" file and load it into QMK Toolbox. Make sure the right chip is correctly selected in the toolbox UI
- Connect the board to the computer. I shorted the reset pins, labeled "RE" next to the smaller of the board chips, with a pair of needle nose pliers. Definitely gonna solder and run an external switch there at some point...
- The keypad will be put into DFU mode with this reset, and will then be visible in the QMK Toolbox console. Here you can flash your custom Hex file to the board
- Unplug, replug
------------------------- Note that the Google Drive JSON can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tlTHQIFcluK2mjZ4UbbKCsdRLgSRSPw6 Here are some pics of how I shorted the terminals in the RE box: