Build a split keyboard from scratch by mpagot

Description

I'm getting older... this summer I experienced an annoying and persistent tingling in one hand and arm. That was the initial motivation to get more interested in ergonomic work gadgets, and from that to split keyboards. And that was the entrance in a rabbit hole.

Which keyboard I like to create:

• Split keyboard for ergonomic (I'm not primary interested in having it portable)
• I have big hands: I like it to fit as much as possible my hands measures
• Columnar stagger keys position
• Not too few keys (at the moment I'm at 24 + 24)
• One row thumb cluster
• No wireless, not to have batteries and for security reason
• CherryMX, or generally speaking no low profile/corne choc
• Hot swap Socket switches

Goals

• Create PCB design for a split keyboard
• Get it produced
• Mount it
• Evaluate FWs

Resources

• Main project repo: Zenga
• ZKM config for a hand wired 4 keys something: nne
• Blog posts opensuse.hackweek.2024

Progress

Day1

Get the existing Ergogen project working on my TW machine Get Kicad as flatpack Go back to the https://flatfootfox.com/ergogen-part3-pcbs/ Join the #ergogen Discord channel and ask for help about the nets

Day2

Redesign the keyboard matrix on Inkscape Implement it in the Ergogen YAML format Create a Kicad PCB file Start routing it Iterate over the matrix arrangement to try to implement it like 2 layer board and ideally with not vias Get some Kicad tutorials

Day3

Get my hand dirty building a 2x2 key matrix --> welcome to nne Look at ZKM and how to configure it --> https://github.com/michelepagot/zmk-config-nne Get the FW built by github, try to flash it: get matrix scan pulse but no keys to the PC Get in contact with ceoloide, an Ergogen maintainer, about net issue.

Port some classic game to Linux by MDoucha

Let's pick some old classic game, reverse engineer the data formats and game rules and write an open source engine for it from scratch. Some games from 1990s are simple enough that we could have a playable prototype by the end of the week.

Write which games you'd like to hack on in the comments. Don't forget to check e.g. on Open Source Game Clones, Github and SourceForge whether the game is ported already.

Hack Week 24 - Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares & Chaos Overlords

Work on Master of Orion II continues but we can hack more than one game. Chaos Overlords is a dystopian, lighthearted, cyberpunk turn-based strategy game originally released in 1996 for Windows 95 and Mac OS. The player takes on the role of a Chaos Overlord, attempting to control a city. Gameplay involves hiring mercenary gangs and deploying them on an 8-by-8 grid of city sectors to generate income, occupy sectors and take over the city.

How to ~~install & play~~ observe the decompilation progress:

• Clone the Git repository
• A playable reimplementation does not exist yet, but when it does, it will be linked in the repository mentioned above.

Further work needed:

• Analyze the remaining unknown data structures, most of which are related to the AI.
• Decompile the AI completely. The strong AI is part of the appeal of the game. It cannot be left out.
• Reimplement the game.

Hack Week 20, 21, 22 & 23 - Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares

Master of Orion II is one of the greatest turn-based 4X games of the 1990s. Explore the galaxy, colonize planets, research new technologies, fight space monsters and alien empires and in the end, become the ruler of the galaxy one way or another.

How to install & play:

• Clone the Git repository
• Run ./bootstrap; ./configure; make && make install
• Copy all *.LBX files from the original Master of Orion II to the installation data directory (/usr/local/share/openorion2 by default)
• Run openorion2

Further work needed:

• Analyze the rest of the original savegame format and a few remaining data files.
• Implement most of the game. The open source engine currently supports only loading saved games from the original version and viewing the galaxy map, fleet management and list of known planets.

Hack Week 19 - Signus: The Artifact Wars

Signus is a Czech turn-based strategy game similar to Panzer General or Battle Isle series. Originally published in 1998 and open-sourced by the original developers in 2003.

How to install & play:

• Clone the Git repository
• Run ./bootstrap; ./configure; make && make install in both signus and signus-data directories.
• Run signus

Further work needed:

• Create openSUSE package
• Implement full support for original game data (the open source version uses slightly different data file contents but original game data can be converted using a script).