Stack Overflow The Key Macropad

Some say a programmer’s best solution is a simple two-step process: copy and paste. On April 1st, 2021, Stack Overflow proved it. On that fateful day, each time users went to copy a piece of code, they were met with a pop-up for a fake product. It was called The Key: an ultra-compact macropad advertised as the new (and only) way to copy and paste on the platform. As it turns out, roughly one fourth of Stack Overflow’s 15 million users tries to copy and paste within five minutes of visiting the site. An even greater number saw the joke and loved it, with many demanding that The Key be developed in earnest. So, naturally, we teamed up with Stack Overflow to make it happen. What started as an April Fool’s gag is now a full-fledged macropad—designed by our very own community member Cassidy, with a portion of proceeds benefiting digitalundivided.

When we say The Key is no joke, we mean it. Harnessing the power of community-driven design, we worked closely with Stack Overflow to take this macropad from punchline to high-performance product. Fully programmable, these three keys can do much more than copy and paste. In fact, you can configure them to perform virtually any key command you want. They’re also outfitted with Kailh Box Black switches to deliver an ultra-smooth linear feel. For the final design, we enlisted the help of Drop community member cassidoo—bringing her concept to life in a black, CNC-machined aluminum case topped with custom XDA profile keycaps sporting the Stack Overflow logo. Sleek, sturdy, and engineered to impress, The Key can hold its own in any enthusiast’s setup.

Since its inception, Stack Overflow has stood by a singular cause: empowering the world to develop technology through collective knowledge. In line with this mission, The Key will benefit an equally great cause. A portion of proceeds from every sale will go to digitalundivided: a social startup with 501(c)3 status that merges data and heart to develop innovative initiatives that catalyze economic growth in Black and Latinx communities. If that isn’t reason enough to add the The Key to your arsenal, our limited quantities might be. Don’t wait to unlock your desktop’s true potential.