• archived copy
• (JSTOR) Are Cyclists Reckless Lawbreakers?

(I have now spent more time scrolling through fonts than I have on the new system that the final choice will be used on … )

slowly putting together a new system – I didn’t plan on it being a lightweight system, it’s just kinda ended up that way (and probably won’t be by the time I finish) – actually finding it kinda fun building up piece-by-piece

• Alpine Linux
• labwc (straight from tty, no DM yet)
• foot terminal
• Fira Sans and Fira Mono fonts
• fog_forest_alt_1 from Everforest Walls
• gruvbox-material-dark-blocks Openbox theme
• gruvbox-dark foot theme

• Mekanisk Klippe case in Ultramarine
• cinereus he PCB with assembly by JLC
• FR4 plate in JLC Blue (missing Ultramarine’s hint of green)
• Gateron Melodic switches
• MTNU Susu keycaps
• running Vial firmware
• a BIG thanks to Noah Kiser’s PCB design videos and JLC’s PCB fab and assembly services

open source, files on Codeberg

this was a big learning experience, first time doing a proper PCB instead of using yet another Pro Micro equivalent – this would not have been possible without Noah Kiser’s tutorials on Youtube, all the work that went into QMK and Vial, and the ease of JLC’s assembly service (no way I was ever going to solder an RP2040)

shocked and giddy with how easy the whole process was – plugged in the fresh PCB and it went straight into bootloader mode – uploaded the *.uf2 and it worked first time!

• symmetric split-ergo style layout (6 × 3 + 3)
• katana stagger
  • personally find this works really nicely and keeps the feel of an ortho or columnar board
• fits into Minivan case (12.75u × 4u)
• attempt to use as many existing mounting holes as possible (6/7)
  • main issue was maintaining symmetric layout with two mounting points in bottom row
  • personally find the resulting odd gap to be uncomfortable
  • if I do an update, I would remove the awkward spacing and slide the whole bottom row to the left a smidge (resulting in an uncomfortably-asymmetric symmetric layout)
• learning to use JLC’s PCB assembly instead of a Pro Micro equivalent
• providing a proper Vial firmware
  • (default layout is based off Reviung41 layout)

Piped link / Invidious link

“Days after launch, you’re sitting at a red light. The novelty is gone and you’re not any happier. Maybe it’s your imagination, but the gaps in the door look off. You think you saw a car full of teens laughing at you earlier. You are now $100,000 in debt for a meme, and you feel … nothing.”

• a quick update from my post a few days back
• this was the first iteration (very barebones to check on fitting)
• everything up and running (QMK made the firmware incredibly easy)
• so far, thoroughly enjoying the experience
• and yes, it’s all open source
  • main repository
  • alep repository with gerbers, firmware, and KiCad PCB file
• and I’m already working on the next iteration
  • reset switch
  • re-adjusting some routing
  • adding in a base (Plaid or Seigaiha style)
    • I really like the plateless build

Have been working my way through FlatFootFox’s Let’s Design a Keyboard with Ergogen tutorial – this is just the first iteration

• number of keys of a Corne, aesthetics of Splaytaroid, less aggressive splay than A. dux
• next big challenge is dealing with the firmware
• deciding whether I want to keep it split or go monoblock (Reviung41 or Splaytaroid)
• following iterations with work with implementing the fancy features – switch plate, bottom plate, case of some sort, RGB, OLED