Before starting this, I'd like to turn a few pages - Back around a year.

LTT made a video about a high-schooler making his own laptop, and that didn't sit right with me. Why can't i make my own? for which i had a simple answer, i didn't knew shit about electronics back in the day.

but with a couple electronics classes and a couple projects, I think i can take on this (or something a little simpler.)

So, here i am -- making a open-source keypad (essentially a keyboard with less keys.)

because, for starters, my current keyboard -- Royal Kludge R75-WIRELESS's volume knob doesn't work with linux. like ??? this is the big 2026 man. anyhoo.

while making this keyboard, i have multiple features i have in mind, they are

. should work with a dongle (because bluetooth sucks ass) 
. should be a 4x4 keypad (mechanical switches) with a control knob
. no rgb (cuz that's out fashion for a decade, also saves on alot of battery)
. it should run for a month or two without recharging (sub-point, should be rechargable)

Stage 1 - Finding Around

-- 19:25
I like divide all my tasks into two simple steps, FI and FO

So, do some research on pre-existing works, i'll start with

Croaky4

I'll check the pcb design out and check for the complexities

-- 19:36

So, I read the schematics of both Croaky and F12, they kinda make sense to me, but connecting stuff to a atmega is something I already know.

PCB design looks alot complicated, I ain't sure what to do.

-- 19:40
I am looking at the keeb from top-down, it kinda makes sense to me now?

-- 20:13
So, I found the Micro controllers to use and the Protocol, I need to check for it's shipping time.

I might just ship them and then f around with it, and then make a PCB?

I need to find a way to connect the switches to the MCUs

I have two options now.

1. trust the mcu to do the job and make it thicc
2. don't trust the mcu and then start making it thin

-- 20:30
I started looking into datasheets of mx switches (i've got some extra ones with my reddragon keyboard)

I'll try to hook these up with my esp32 or arduino, then i'll start thinking about something else. if this works, i'll try to remove the layers of abstraction and work my way down

-- 20:40
Acc to people on reddit, a keeb switch is not that diff from a normal button for arduino?

I need to try that out, I can't find my resistors for the love of god. I'll go get it on monday? Sure. I'll test this out, if this turns out to be true, making this macropad, will be easier than I thought, But it'll not be effecient or thin. but it works. then we can work on it

Notes

Protocol to use - QMK (supports like 3000 keyboards?) | ZMK (what anyon_e uses)
Microcontroller to use - Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE (Supports QMK but not ZMK) | Adafruit KB2040 - RP2040 Kee Boar Driver (Supports ZMK)
Cherry MX Datasheet - https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/Cherry%20PDFs/MX%20Series.pdf (I heard some switches have 3 pins??? doesn't work with that)

Nice Music to chill with - Her whole channel is insane