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
- Replaced K-type at work and is now my daily driver. K-type moved home with me.
- The board is really solid. Best typing experience so far. Way better than K-Type in terms of the feel.
- Solid - Just solid. thats the best to describe the feeling. Sounds great - muted thocks.
- The keycaps are "hmmm....???". Its PBT and all that, but as an SA user who used both MaxKey and SP, these don't really "feel" like SA. Its like the top surface area of the caps are smaller than the other SA sets I have. I also think I personally prefer the sculpted SA profile than this uniform R3 profile.
- Felt broken out of the box - keys & typing was great, but the firmware was not. Weird issues like it was on numpad mode by default and capslock turned on the TKL mode and once in TKL could not go back to numpad. All fixed with firmware update. I hope this comes with new firmware already flashed.
- Firmware updater is windows only !!! No Linux or Mac support. There was a tutorial online on how to use Virtual box to run a windows VM to update the firmware. Works fine, but a total PITA.
- The programming is a bit weird. But enough tutorials on the web. For those who are unfamiliar with vortex or familiar with only flashing (like me), this keyboard does programming via the keyboard keys itself and LED indicators on the keyboard itself. No UI to remap keys and flash firmware.
- I wanted to remap Fn to Caps Lock, but this is not possible **on the default layer** (you can on other layers). A sort of inconvenience. This was big for me personally because I was trying to use this like a 60% with a numpad by default.
Also for those of you who are like me and want to map Caps=Fn, here is how you do it. Credits to u/NoNeedforSpeed3 on reddit.- Put the keyboard into layer 1 (can't be default layer) by hitting function and comma. The LED under the space bar should now be red.
- Now hold function and the left hand side SHIFT key for five seconds, then release. Now, under the space bar should be two blue LEDs.
- Now, press the caps lock key once.
- Lights under space bar return to single red LED.
- Caps is now function. The green led under caps is only for num lock on or off. Caps no longer locks or holds, it's a single press function key now for getting to function keys.
Here are some pictures. On the left is the "SA" caps from ViBE and in the middle is MaxKey SA (orange on black), and on the right is SP SA (Carbon). To me it looks and feels like the ViBE caps are a little smaller than the other two. The last one shows the thickness. These keys do feel great, but I find them a bit hard to type on, and I do enjoy typing on the MaxKey and SP keys (its not SA hate, I love the profile)