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
- Mod kits often come with proper legends for 1u Ctrl, Alt, Super, Hyper, etc. whereas Ortho kits are split nowadays on whether they use proper legends or meaningless "assembly-style" legends or blanks
- Mod kits often come with both text and arrows direction keys whereas Ortho kits usually only come with one or the other. Additionally, Ortho kits often assume a single-row set of direction keys whereas I prefer a standard arrow cluster with the up-arrow one row above the down-arrow (this gives me an additional available layer key on my bottom row and preserves my d-pad muscle memory) -- I originally got this idea from a layout on Reddit and have since seen many other ortho pics with something similar.
- Mod kits often come with mod-colored Tilde as an option and mod-colored Double-quote as an option where sometimes Ortho kits don't.
I know that not all of these reasons apply to a set like Godspeed, plus for Godspeed I'm not as interested in proper mod legends as I would prefer the novelty mission control style text legends or micons. I am sorry that I was not aware of the IC. I was aware of the Massdrop discussion you linked and of your project page, but the main picture of the keycap profile only shows 012344 so I missed the fact that Ortho used a different profile. To be clear, I actually do prefer the profile you chose for your Ortho kit and I agree that is it more comfortable. if I had been aware of the IC then the only suggestion I would have made is for a few more R5 novelties and R5 arrows in the arrows kit, because the only option for Ortho users to use arrows is for them to piece together something using the standard TKL mod kits and novelties.