Support for Alternative Layouts
This is a summary of how alternative layouts have been supported by kits such as Colevrak and Homing. It is not a discussion of alt layout performance and development, but if that interests you I highly recommend starting with Pascal Getreuer’s A guide to alt keyboard layouts (why, how, which one?). It’s a concise and comprehensive overview with links to some great sites that go deeper. He also has a separate Links about keyboards page. The Keyboard layouts doc he recommends explains layout goals and metrics in detail, summarizing the alt layouts discussed here as well as more than one hundred others. Sculpted-profile The majority of custom keycap sets are sculpted-profile (Cherry, SA, MT3, KAT, etc. - more on profiles generally here) so let’s start there. Because each row has a unique keycap shape, alt layouts require a unique keycap for each legend that moves off its QWERTY row. At first there were two The Dvorak layout was patented in 1936 by August Dvorak & William L....
Apr 23, 2024
PCB-Mount Stabilizers Because of their popularity, there is a wide variety of choices when it comes to purchasing PCB mount stabilizers. As of writing, in February of 2024, the most popular choices for stabilizers are TX AP, AEBoards Staebies, Durock V2, Gateron Ink V2, and Owlab Owlstab V2. Starting with TX AP stabilizers, the AP stands for almost perfect. These stabilizers are unique in that they are the main offering of 1.2mm stabilizers. They come in both clip-in and screw-in varieties and even have a special offering called Long Pole. These are designed to work well with switches that have shorter travel distances which we refer to as long pole switches. They are currently the only stabilizer producer to offer this choice. Speaking of unique features, TX AP stabilizers feature a built-in Holee Mod. The Holee Mod is a popular modification done to stabilizers to address ticking between the wire and the stem of the stabilizer. This is typically done through bandaids, Teflon tape, or precut strips included with stabilizers. TX AP uses a double shot stem that features a softer material where the wire touches the stem, thus reducing ticking greatly. This feature makes them a favorite of novice and experienced builders alike. TX also includes shims with clip-in stabilizers to help create a secure mount. This addresses a common complaint of older-generation clip-in stabilizers as they would sometimes pop off the PCB.