Possible to have keyboard layers? Keyboard firmware?

MNT Pocket Reform
1

Hi all!

I’m considering buying the mnt pocket reform. My main keyboard has “layers” (Dygma Defy if you’re curious) and I can customise it quite a lot

  • Is this available too on the pocket reform?
  • If not I’d have to somehow swap keyboard firmware? Is that possible any documentation about which are compatible etc?

Thank you so much for your help

1 Like
2

From what I have been able to find, it should be possible. I believe QMK configurator will or can be made to be able to update the configuration for the pocket.

1 Like
3
2 Likes
4

@Savasten have you already received your pocket reform (i’m still waiting for mine) if yes have you tried to install qmk?

it’s unclear to me if attempting to do so might break things (ie some keys might not work during boot phase for example)

for more context I have a fully prebuilt dygma defy with layers, but have never actually installed qmk (i’m a software engineer but haven’t really tinkered with very low-level/OS stuff for ages)

5

I have not received mine yet Maybe the first week of July. :crossed_fingers:

6

i’m probably going to consider “software-level” solutions like GitHub - kmonad/kmonad: An advanced keyboard manager or GitHub - jtroo/kanata: Improve keyboard comfort and usability with advanced customization instead

sounds like messing up the firmware (however fun!) might be more complicated. As the keyboard is literally tied to the machine that’ll be good enough

2 Likes
7

I recommend kanata, amazing software.

2 Likes
8

Has anybody considered to port the firmware of the Pocket Reform to QMK. I have just built a QMK based keyboard, and the possibilities are amazing. For example you can easily set up home row modifiers, which makes life so much easier. However, the RP2040 controlling the keyboard does also some stuff other than just keyboard related topics. so I have no clue if this is feasable. @minute is there a particular reason the “factory firmware” is not QMK based?

1 Like
9

What are home row modifiers?

Quoting Lukas: “when i started the actual keyboard part seemed kind of tiny compared to that other stuff. and i have no personal experience or history with qmk. i figured that people who like qmk make that work” 2024-10-29.log

10

Home row modifiers assign modifier functionality to your home row (eg. the asdf… keys where you “rest” your fingers) when you keep them pushed. For example the A key functions as Shift key if held longer than 200ms. This takes some time to get used to but reduces finger movement quite a bit. See A guide to home row mods for details. Cool stuff.

For the second question: makes sense, I’ll invest some time into this if I can free up any…

11

I use those with my keyboard and they are a game changer. Although I will add that if you like vim bindings then you also need to either get better with navigation, or double-press before holding to move the cursor repeatedly.

Oh, and it also can mess with gaming, depending if you want to also use home keys for movement (I tried remapping in Doom then wondered why I kept standing still!)

12

I use home rows, but not exactly, instead of I have , and its equivalent on the right hand. That resembles a bit the standard shift/control/meta/alt positions and don’t class with vim navigation.

For playing, if you use layers, you can add a layer specifically to play where the keyboard behaves as standard as you wish, and only contains a key, or certain keys combination to come back to your base layer.

13

Yeah, layers are good, especially if your keyboard supports colour-coded layers to make it easier to tell what layer you’re on. I used to have one for QWERTY versus COLEMAK-DH, but that turned out to be a little confusing.

Would be good if the Pocket could support it, although would need to be easy to update/configure, as it takes quite some time and adjustment to get the right layout - and everyone’s preference is likely to be slightly different.