Behind the scenes #201

Keyboard Builders’ Digest / Editorial

Behind the scenes #201

Behind the scenes with the October swap prime listing, MoeeTech Glitter65 HE and KiiBOOM Jade75 opinions, open-source initiatives, keyboard artwork, meetups, distributors, reductions.

dovenyi
Revealed November 14, 2025

Hey, what’s up everybody!

Welcome again for one more recap and behind-the-scenes write-up – with some cool initiatives from the DIY keyboard scene, but additionally promising closed-source industrial initiatives and even prototypes.

In case you are new to kbd.information, you’ll be able to learn how this began out and what that is all about these days. In the event you like what you see, subscribe to the publication (free) and donate some bucks to maintain this in any other case free and ad-free mission alive.

This is a little bit weekend studying for you. Are you able to consider this digest is popping 5? The primary problem went out on November 20, 2020.

Chef’s alternative

These posts are getting means too lengthy, I’ve to confess. In the event you solely have time for a handful of initiatives, beside the up to date swap toplist and the Glitter65 HE assessment of couse, be sure to take a look at the GMK keycap design contest announcement (and their first keycap creation calendar for those who’re already there), the retro-inspired Niuniu HX-40 (GB), and Clackify‘s superior keyboard stand – some initiatives I used to be essentially the most enthusiastic about prior to now couple of days.

Some posts value sharing

• A 65% magnetic board with superior customized switches and very nice typing really feel: Glitter65 HE by MoeeTech.

• A 75% wi-fi keyboard for RGB followers: the KiiBOOM Jade75 in a resin case.

• A 5×12 ortholinear keyboard in a Mannequin M-inspired case: KrtkusRetro by Jan Bláha.

• Yuburoll‘s KeeNoard is a 38-key break up keyboard with rotary encoder and a number of middle key, with just one RP2040 Zero board.

• A customized Corridor-effect macropad: the wi-fi Liberty Pad by Alexandre Moatty.

• A 36-key open-source break up: the Sweep Squared by Zexx37 with nice swap assist.

• Aroum‘s c!n tester is a software designed for testing Professional Micro-like microcontrollers: verifying pin performance earlier than soldering.

• Toucan (Contact Cantor/Piantor) by beekeeb. Wi-fi, light-weight, transportable with touchpad and display screen.

• Identical to the MOKETA teaser – a WIP monoblock by the identical creator.

• shaw! is a “40% southpaw XT HHKB” prototype by Agreeable_Campaign86.

• Handwired: The WizardSmile by _Flamed_ – with Grin structure, impressed by the Smile36 –, and an previous design by T0ysWAr: The butterfly.

• etzee. Nothing greater than an idea in the meanwhile, however I add it right here to avoid wasting the hyperlink. Keys, dials, shows, and haptic modules related by magnetic pogo connectors carrying each energy and information.

• The newest iteration of the Chordie – everydayergo‘s break up chording keyboard mission.

• Randbooth took prototyping on a brand new stage: Backstop is a handwired board, swap holes minimize right into a slicing mat.

Historical past/Discovery

• One other mission drawing inspiration from a basic: the DIY board exhibiting off DSS Honeywell.

• Some pictures of previous keyboards/terminals by mynameispowl from the Science Museum London.

• It has been some time since I featured one thing carved by BenzJr. Ego TKL posted by FazedSoldier.

• Picket Zyra Ferris by falba.tech. Appears actually cool imo.

• Keyboard stand by Clackify‘s Calvin (supply). Shops as much as 5 keyboards, with pegboard slots and storage for USB dongles. Free delivery within the US.

• GMK Introduction Calendar – with 24 distinctive keycaps (from ABS and PBT, in CYL and MTNU profile designs) ready behind each door.

GMK introduced a Keycap Design Contest (supply).

• Deadline for submission: December thirty first, 2025.
• The design should adjust to GMK’s keycap pointers.
• Submit your entry by e-mail to advertising and marketing at gmk.web with the topic line “Design Marketing campaign 2025 – [Your Name]”.

Good luck!

Donations

• New donors, yay! Thanks Jonathan F. and barraGOUDA.
• And as all the time, many due to my superior common supporters and everybody who helped this mission up to now.

For all of the donation choices take a look at the donation web page!

Meetup database

As all the time, this meetup database serves as each a calendar and an archive, so be at liberty to ship me upcoming occasions and even ones from the current previous to make this assortment as complete as potential.

Upcoming meetups

Be happy to make use of the KBDNEWS low cost code at 187 keyboard outlets worldwide! And don’t hesitate to report any points! 🙂

New outlets and updates to the database of keyboard distributors this previous two weeks:

• Keyspace (PL) added. Solely delivery to Poland in the meanwhile, plus EU nations on request. Greg supplied you a 5% low cost (coupon code: KBDNEWS).
• GMK hyperlink up to date after I checked out the GMK Introduction Calendar and was in search of data on the keycap design contest. (I have been all the time confused about their store url because it has modified a number of occasions in the course of the years.)
• Keychron is updating their Q and V Max keyboards with ZMK firmware (supply).
• Astro‘s Vlad is eliminating his deskmats for $9 every (supply).

• Some pictures of Rationalkeys, a vendor with a bodily retailer in Turkey.

• Continued optimization and tweaks right here and there, principally caching and dealing with of swap entries – as already talked about on the finish of the current swap overview.

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That is all for immediately. Thanks for checking by. As all the time: Continue to learn and constructing!

Till subsequent time,
Tamás

Revealed on Fri 14th Nov 2025. Featured in KBD #201.

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