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
Why is there no build guide for it? It was only pure luck I found someone on geekhack who had built and documented the build of the keyboard only a month earlier - if it wasn't for this I would have irreversibly installed the switches and top plate before trying to install the stabilisers - which is correct on the ErgoDox I have (which actually had a build guide!)
Default firmware is useless in Linux - as the keymap used out of the box has tilde/backtick where escape should be (have you tried to get out of vi without access to an ESC key?) - I installed the keys as outlined in the example image on the main description page thinking this would be the keymap used (due to NO other documentation being available!) - clearly this was wrong.
Again following the above details documented on geekhack I'm encountering a problem with trying to flash a keymap to the keyboard which will actually be useful for me, but the linked software does not recognise the keyboard is in flashing mode (well, I think it is...) but I don't know - because no documentation! Is there an entry-level guide to flashing a keymap available somewhere?
All that said however, it IS an absolute joy to type on - hence why I want it to be right so I can use it.
Though I do agree that this information should at least be linked on the massdrop page.