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
The "oblong" holes for the key switches I assumed were for multi-switch compatibility, and I had no issues soldering it together--even though I am VERY amateur at soldering. I have ZERO skills for surface-mount and have only done some basic AC adapter repairs on laptops.
I do suggest if you got Matias switches to plate mount all of your switches, including your stabilizers, before soldering. The signature plastics keycaps are a tight fit and do not come off easy. They are such a tight fit I haven't risked removing one since I finished the keyboard.
I can't speak to the assembly guide documentation, because honestly I didn't use any of it. I felt most of the process was a self-explanatory. The most challenging part I ran into was how to assemble the stabilizers; I did have to disassemble them more than once before I got a reliably smooth result, but they do work, and are not significantly noisier than the rest of the keyboard (not even the space bar.) I can imagine if I had waited on the stabilizers for after soldering I may have had a worse result.
Programming using the web interface worked well enough for me. Using the command-line tools in OS X to flash the board is very simple once you have the right tools installed from Homebrew.
I would absolutely do this drop again. My total cost was comparible to the retail price of my other 60% keyboard--the TEX Beetle. And while the TEX included a 90-degree USB cable (that I now use on my Infinity), a superior overall "finished" product feel, and a preferred bottom row (dedicated arrow keys, smaller space bar so fn-keys are easily thumb-activated), my custom layout and feel of the Infinity win every day. In fact, now my O-ringed MX browns feel like mush.
So thank you for making an awesome keyboard available to the enthusiasts out there :)