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 only time there has been an actual case of someone 'stealing' a design on MD was regarding some 3D printed artisans where one could easily reference the existing design file elsewhere on the internet.
What people are saying is that its tacky to copy others. Not just copying the design, but copying the idea. Instead of seeing Key Kollectiv's design and thinking to themselves, "we could do that too", why couldn't they think, "we could do something different"? The latter is riskier but the payoff in the end would be much greater than iterating on a design/idea that has already happened.
Does every creative need to come up with their own original idea? No. But is this an especially tacky iteration on an existing and popular design? Yes.
The artisan keycap crowd are off the deep end. There's nothing wrong with the execution of this cap, and I'd be more than willing to bet they cared more about "everybody loves cats on the internet" than "wow some group make like 50 caps that looked just like this WE CAN TOTALLY MAKE MILLRIONS IF WE RIP THEM OFF"