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
Harder core virtualization was needed. But the sticking point is that you still need Windows and I wasn't interested in buying a whole copy of Windows just to run this one program. I could have tried running some Windows emulation on Linux on Mac, but then you're back in the same problem from above. I also briefly thought about bootcamp etc. but I'd still have the USB emulation+passthrough problem unless I installed windows directly.
VirtualBox to the rescue! VirtualBox has pretty robust emulation/connection tools and a plethora of different images. At first I thought I'd have to "borrow" a working Windows image to run the program, but Microsoft makes free images available for testing purposes.
- The tools https://github.com/GonzaloAlvarez/ifd68 - Some handy instructions, most of which apply for the Mac version of VirtualBox: https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/oldgrub - Free and totally legal IE images (I used IE8) from Microsoft: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/
Extremely abbreviated and probably incomplete instructions for legally reprogramming your Keywalker on a Mac:
- Clone https://github.com/GonzaloAlvarez/ifd68 to your Mac. - Download VirtualBox. - Download free IE8 VM image from Microsoft website. - Install IE8 VM. - Install Virtual Box tools to VM. - Reboot (many times). - Share cloned ifd68 directory through VirtualBox. - Plug in IFD68 keyboard to USB port. - Add IFD68 keyboard to VM via Devices -> USB menu item. - Navigate to shared ifd68 directory in the VM, it's on the network - Run fd68/software/original/programmer/IFD68.exe and Bob's your uncle!
That was easy, right! ;-)
Anyways, I reprogrammed my my CapsLock key to now be the left ctrl key and I am a happy camper! Using the Keywalker in bluetooth mode right now to type these instructions. Many thanks to GonzaloAlvarez, Oracle, and Microsoft for providing the tools I used for this.