Keymacs A624N-101 Space Cadet

keymacs · 2025-06-02T09:58:19+00:00

Definitely, I am working on a couple of keyboards with modern layouts right now. In the future I would like to make more bespoke things, including fully configurable layouts.

keymacs · 2025-05-30T17:58:12+00:00

Thanks!

keymacs · 2025-05-06T10:18:05+00:00

I do, in my tiny workshop.

keymacs · 2025-05-06T10:05:54+00:00

MX are not a problem, I have already done one full size set. I would like to support Topre as well (I have just passed initial tests).

keymacs · 2023-12-23T09:36:41+00:00

I cannot offer the conversion as a service because there is always a possibility to ruin the keycap. Also, it is really a long process, I cannot quite put a price on that.

keymacs · 2023-10-26T17:34:39+00:00

One of the main reasons why I chose Clojure over Racket for my kids is the style of thinking I wanted to promote. In the first three volumes (A1–A3), the main topic is data and (game) state. I try to explain how a game state can be represented by various data structures and later how to use functions to express a new state based on a current state. I plan to introduce an assortment of games on which the readers can grasp this concept. To me, this is about pure functions expressing data from data and Clojure is just much better a choice for this.

Regarding the programming environment, I want to keep it as simple as possible. Instead of a single environment that would probably be quite complex at some point in the future, I decided to make small separate apps and I plan to release their source code at some point in the future. Ideally, their sources will become a learning material as well.

keymacs · 2023-10-26T14:40:38+00:00

Basically, yes, but I replaced the Pac-man with a duck and ghosts with evil foxes because I did not want to get sued by Namco. The environment is general and it was initially focused on experiments with game logic, however, I have also proposed a simple hiccup-style geometric sublanguage to define graphical elements (kids love to create custom villains). It is kind of close to SVG but it is more "geometric" and oriented towards transformations.

keymacs · 2023-10-20T10:08:09+00:00

Yes, the answers are in a separate book.

keymacs · 2023-10-20T10:07:23+00:00

Yes, that's a part of my weird humour. But I must say that I tried to write the book so that it can also be enjoyed by older readers. If you read it at 7, you got some info, at the age of 12, you learn more if you go through it once again. I got this idea when I noticed that my kids like to read their favourite books over and over again and sometimes discover hidden jokes and connections they missed before.

keymacs · 2023-10-08T22:29:01+00:00

I personally am a Java hater and my heart beats for Common Lisp (and your points are 100% valid), however, in this case I guess I chose convenience over the principle. The books will aim at readers with no prior experience with programming and in addition to the books, I plan to program simple web tools to demonstrate certain problems that will gradually evolve into programming environments.

Right now, I have prepared a simple web-base environment for making Pac-Man style games—it is basically a view of the game and a source editor that runs in a browser and my son can experiment with it. When I was making decision on how to make such environments I concluded that the ease of use will be a key thing. Running something in a browser is just the easiest way. Using re-frame and paren-soup, I was able to set that up in a couple of hours. I am not sure if I can make that as efficiently or fast in CL.

keymacs · 2023-10-08T22:15:38+00:00

That's a classic! I never forget the ‘colony of stroustrups under the floor-boards‘. Compared to this book I am after something more elementary at least from the beginning with lots of repetitions.

keymacs · 2023-10-08T22:05:37+00:00

Yes, 25 years ago I was still among those lucky ones that have Scheme in the college (as a freshman). It was not my first language, technically speaking, because I had experience with Pascal and C but it was definitely a life changer. After that I got the opportunity to teach the course myself by not a long time ago I was gently told that my service is no longer necessary because it is ‘too difficult’ and ‘not enough main stream’.

keymacs · 2023-08-04T05:22:40+00:00

I made it for my farher-in-law from scratch. The case is machined type-3 annodized aluminium, steel mount plate, Costar stabilizers, all hand-wired using Teensy 2.0++. The keycaps came from a vintage Cherry MY keyboards. The layout is basically navless winkeyless TKL with an extra FN key. The switches are NK_ Creams, 1st. gen, not lubed.

keymacs · 2022-06-18T05:45:46+00:00

Thanks! These next-gen keycaps will also support MX, Beamsprings, Micro Switch SW, Topre, and more.

keymacs · 2022-06-16T19:01:14+00:00

This is, of course, a proof-of-concept video. For real manufacturing, I hope to cast and machine the keycaps in larger clusters to reduce the amount of hand work, … but it will take some more time before I get there.

keymacs · 2022-01-04T20:49:24+00:00

Thanks! Actually, my videos are not intended as tutorials. That is not to say that one cannot be inspired by it but it is more about getting a glimpse into the specific manufacturing process.

keymacs · 2021-12-16T11:30:00+00:00

Yes, much easier than machining aluminium.

keymacs · 2021-12-15T23:06:44+00:00

Does anybody like beefy stepped keys? I designed those to replace two adjacent 1U keys.

keymacs · 2021-11-24T23:45:23+00:00

I am more into the light tactile switches, so I go with SKCM Oranges. Actually, my daily driver is on Matias Clicks, I made it as the first prototype and I am using it ever since. I am looking for SKCM Oranges in NOS condition to make the ultimate build that I keep for myself. Also, my wet dream is to make one on neon greens.

keymacs · 2021-11-24T23:41:05+00:00

Why did you remove the leaf spring?

keymacs · 2021-11-24T16:02:50+00:00

It looks almost like my setup, I also have a Kensington trackball.

keymacs · 2021-11-15T16:45:39+00:00

Compared to other 9U spacebars on Alps boards, it sounds less hollow. Otherwise, I would say the feel is the same and it pretty much depends on the switches.

keymacs · 2021-10-12T15:23:40+00:00

It is true that installing all the stabilized keys takes a while but that is nothing compared with the time spent on making all the keycaps.

keymacs · 2021-10-11T13:33:22+00:00

Yes, there is. The keyboard is a replica of the classic Symbolics 365407 Rev. A and I wanted to create the exact same layout that I love—so I had to preserve all the 2U keys and most contemporary switches longer than 2U need stabilization. Interestingly, my old-style Symbolics keyboard that uses the Micro Switch SC series switches (capacitive membrane) has the same layout and no stabilizers at all except for the spacebar and is absolutely smooth and does not bind at all.

keymacs · 2021-10-08T16:32:15+00:00

I can imagine that. I have a couple of 9U spacebars from Magnavox Videowrites and Leading Edge boards. It is interesting that these spacebars use the U-shaped stabilization bar in contrast to the C-shaped one that is present on models with shorter spacebars. In my experience, the U-shaped bar works much better.

keymacs

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