See my other response for how I am driving the LEDs :) (Works fine with an Arduino program so that is not the issue here)

It seems to me that I get this line wrong: NRF_PSEL(SPIM_MOSI, 0, 16). I would read this as “Set pin P0.16 as SPI MOSI”, however I cannot find a pin P0.16 exposed on the Xiao BLE https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/XIAO_BLE/

Can you give me a pointer where I am wrong?

(my RGB pin is P1.11 / D6, so I would’ve assumed that I should change this to NRF_PSEL(SPIM_MOSI, 1, 11), I know that the use of low frequency pins is discouraged by ZMK docs)

I am using this trick to convert the logic input to 5V, so that should work. Super hacky, but as far as I checked, every piece of this hack is entirely in spec for the components used.

I’ll check with a simple Arduino program first I guess

UPDATE: Arduino program works, so it is not a hardware issue (lucky me)

If you also want to try out tactile switches, go for the Choc Sunset.

Which keycaps tilters & keycaps do you use?

It was pushed back to September but there might be an additional delay. Check out Dygma‘s YouTube channel, they are pretty transparent about updates on their process.

As others pointed out, the Dygma Defy might be an option when it’s finally available: https://dygma.com/products/dygma-defy

Alternatively, you could look for used ones, but this has the Return (and the parts) issue as well.

I suspect there will be other people like me who probably sell their Moonlander when the Defy is available.

I assume the Brown V2 are nothing like the V1 then. (Because those just lack a well-defined tactile bump). Might be worth trying them then.

yay, two pinky gang!

Personally I prefer still having 3 keys on the inner index column as I find it easier to hit inner column keys if they are part of one of the rows (and I only use the homerow pinky + don’t like chords, so having 3 inner column keys per half is preferable to me).

Naming wise, you could always go for silly portmanteaus like “scoolp” (scoop + sculpted) or “scoob / scooboard” (scoop + keeb / keyboard) ;)

F6TZAH

Keycaps for a gaming split keyboard for League of Legends / TFT sessions with my brother.

That’s the best thumb cluster on a DIY board I’ve seen so far

From my personal experience, I agree. But I can recommend having a larger board for trying out different layouts

I have a Moonlander, and while I like it I consider switching to the upcoming Dygma Defy since I like the thumb cluster more, it has a bit more column stagger (which my short pinky Finger appreciates) as well as built-in tenting and wireless options.

That said, the Moonlander is a solid choice and ZSA did a good job with their online configurator (Oryx) and the decision to choose QMK as the firmware (popular open source keyboard firmware)

I can switch between split and traditional row staggered (if the row staggered board is not a mechanical keyboard. Apparently my muscle memory for row staggered mechanical keyboards is messed up)

But I don’t like to use a „normal“ keyboard. Everything feels far apart and only reachable by weird hand motions. I got used to having everything in reach thanks to layers

I find the Moonlander thumb cluster not that easy to reach. I have medium/large hands but relatively inflexible thumbs and use only 2 of the thumb keys. (And one of the bottom row keys as a third thumb key. If you do it that way it is probably not much different than the Iris). Personally, I would like the thumb cluster to be closer to the other keys and/or splayed.

The Hummingbird is a Unibody keyboard with a layout like you described

At first it was pretty hard, but I found that it became easier once I built up muscle memory for my Colemak-DH column stagger split keyboard. Suddenly switching between the split and my MacBook keyboard started working again.

I‘m typing with 50WPM on a Moonlander with Colemak-DH Layout and still can type on a QWERTY MacBook keyboard with my usual 70-80WPM

During the initial leaning phase, switching is hard. From my experience it’ll be easier once you are able to type subconsciously on the Moonlander as well.

Speaking from personal experience here, your mileage may vary.

Dipping the fingers in dyed water and laying them on a piece of paper, measuring, printing and checking on the printed sheet.

It appears to me now that this method does not acknowledge how well your fingers are able to find their home row key while typing, or that the optimal stagger might be different for different tenting angles. Would strongly recommend to 3D print / laser cut the PCB design first and trying it out with actual switches beforehand.

I will do this for the next iteration before designing the case, and also look at some popular keyboards with a more aggressive stagger for hints. Will definitely reduce the middle finger column stagger as it is way too aggressive right now.

For some columns I slightly deviated from measurements deliberately, e.g. the inner column should be slightly lower than the index column, but it’s a minor difference.