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
- you can buy it without switches and key caps, so it can be a good test bed
- five-pin hot-swap sockets, so you can test both 5 and 3-pin switches
- small form factor, so it does not take up too much space if this is your nth keyboard
- I could easily find key caps to it (similar colour combination than in the picture illustrations), and there is only a single key cap with a different label than its function
- they gave a map to help find the <fn> controlled keys
indifferent things:- USB c cable: who cares?
- plastic case: metal cases are prohibitively expensive
- I use it with the pink switches sold here some time ago.
Not so good things:- driver is only for windows (by now I do not have a single windows OS running either home or at work.
- I need a map to it to find some frequently use keys (<end> & <home>, <pg up/down>, <insert>)
- stabilizers are quite crappy. some lube helps most of them (in some degree). for the <enter>, I had to swap to a green clicky switch to register. without the lube, or the <enter> even with the lube and the 45g switch I used in other places only gave out a muffle thump but not the mechanical click one would expect. And not even each key strikes registered, and the return to the (almost) top position was sluggish. By now, all is good and I'm typing this on the keyboard.
A possible solution to the sluggish <Enter>, <Backspace>, and <Space> that worked for me: one of the toughest clicky boxed switches: blue and green + plus some silicon oil on the stabilizers.Why I would not recommend to a friend: I'm sure there are better ones there: ones with better stabilizers and open source software.