Keyboard Builders' Digest / Editorial
Behind the scenes #201
Behind the scenes with the October switch top list, MoeeTech Glitter65 HE and KiiBOOM Jade75 reviews, open-source projects, keyboard art, meetups, vendors, discounts.
Published November 14, 2025
Hey, what's up everyone!
Welcome back for another recap and behind-the-scenes write-up – with some cool projects from the DIY keyboard scene, but also promising closed-source commercial projects or even prototypes.
If you are new to kbd.news, you can read how this started out and what this is all about nowadays. If you like what you see, subscribe to the newsletter (free) and donate some bucks to keep this otherwise free and ad-free project alive.
Here's a little weekend reading for you. Can you believe this digest is turning 5? The first issue went out on November 20, 2020.
Chef's choice
These posts are getting way too long, I have to admit. If you only have time for a handful of projects, beside the updated switch toplist and the Glitter65 HE review of couse, make sure you check out the GMK keycap design contest announcement (and their first keycap advent calendar if you're already there), the retro-inspired Niuniu HX-40 (GB), and Clackify's awesome keyboard stand – some projects I was the most excited about in the past couple of days.
Some posts worth sharing
- Here are October’s top mechanical switches, the community’s favorites based on vendor sales data.
- A 65% magnetic board with awesome custom switches and extremely pleasant typing feel: Glitter65 HE by MoeeTech.
- A 75% wireless keyboard for RGB fans: the KiiBOOM Jade75 in a resin case.
- A 5x12 ortholinear keyboard in a Model M-inspired case: KrtkusRetro by Jan Bláha.
- Yuburoll's KeeNoard is a 38-key split keyboard with rotary encoder and multiple center key, with only one RP2040 Zero board.
- A custom Hall-effect macropad: the wireless Liberty Pad by Alexandre Moatty.
- A 36-key open-source split: the Sweep Squared by Zexx37 with great switch support.
- Aroum's c!n tester is a tool designed for testing Pro Micro-like microcontrollers: verifying pin functionality before soldering.
Closed-source, commercial, WIP, etc.
- Toucan (Touch Cantor/Piantor) by beekeeb. Wireless, lightweight, portable with touchpad and screen.
- PNCATEHO Welcome by turtle-bazon. Credit card sized chording keyboard. Open-source but still WIP and no documentation yet. (Related: Vial for PNCATEHO by a_l_k_0.)
- Just like the MOKETA teaser – a WIP monoblock by the same author.
- shaw! is a "40% southpaw XT HHKB" prototype by Agreeable_Campaign86.
- Handwired: The WizardSmile by _Flamed_ – with Grin layout, inspired by the Smile36 –, and an old design by T0ysWAr: The butterfly.
- etzee. Nothing more than a concept at the moment, but I add it here to save the link. Keys, dials, displays, and haptic modules connected through magnetic pogo connectors carrying both power and data.
- A noname handheld device with Pi Zero and monoblock split layout.
- The latest iteration of the Chordie – everydayergo's split chording keyboard project.
Typing, Keymap, Tips
- Keyboard Layout Optimiser. Cyanophage finally made what I've procrastinated finishing for 7 years now… :D
- QMK Viewer by Thooams. Visualizing your layouts.
- Reptiloid keycaps preview by turtle_bazon (source. Sculpted, all combinations of MX-Choc spacing and stem. Inspired by the KLP Lamé.
- Dongles. The Snake Dongle by um_jao, its Gameboy case by Hailee2610, and another ZMK dongle screen, this time by Benjamin Shockley (bwshockley).
- The long read: A systematic approach for choosing a split ergo keymap for maximum transfer of muscle memory. By Robert Jack Will.
- Randbooth took prototyping on a new level: Backstop is a handwired board, switch holes cut into a cutting mat.
History/Discovery
- Niuniu HX-40 (GB). Yummy! I'm in love with this cutie. A contemporary project heavily inspired by the iconic Epson HX-20 of the 80s (a series of portable devices that made DSA caps popular I guess). These are the last days of the group buy, check out the awesome colorways and layout variants.
- Another project drawing inspiration from a classic: the DIY board showing off DSS Honeywell.
Inspired by the gorgeous terminal keyboards of the 80s as well – like this one:
- Some photos of old keyboards/terminals by mynameispowl from the Science Museum London.
- Northgate OmniKey 102 Gold Badge with Alps SKCM Blues restored by SgtFinley96.
Keyboard art
- Custom Corne case and Piano40 by Rain2.
- Deep 60 case (IC) with mirror effect on the flanks.
- FL-AT prototype by Apprehensive_Park951.
- It's been a while since I featured something carved by BenzJr. Ego TKL posted by FazedSoldier.
- Wooden Zyra Ferris by falba.tech. Looks really cool imo.
- Autumn Gamma-Omega build/photoshoot by LowEconomy.
- Commodore themed Totem by karu11.
Diderot effect (aka accessories)
- Keyboard stand by Clackify's Calvin (source). Stores up to 5 keyboards, with pegboard slots and storage for USB dongles. Free shipping in the US.
- GMK Advent Calendar – with 24 unique keycaps (from ABS and PBT, in CYL and MTNU profile designs) waiting behind every door.
- Wooden palm rest by ergokeeb.com (HK) (source).
- A box shelf for keyboards by ilikeacorns.
In the mailbox
- Womier SK71 Pro
- Kemove Dierya DK81E Gasket
- Dareu COOL60 – a nice and small magnetic 60% board.
- Clackify keyboard stand
These latter two arrived in the very last minute, so only some hastily taken shots:
Reviews coming soon.
GMK Keycap Design Contest
GMK announced a Keycap Design Contest (source).
This is intended to be more of a playful community event rather than a cut-throat competition, so as the organizers confirmed on my request, there's not even a landing page for this.
That said, the winning design will be crowned, produced and made available for sale worldwide in 2026.
Details:
- Deadline for submission: December 31st, 2025.
- The design must comply with GMK's keycap guidelines.
- Submit your entry by e-mail to marketing at gmk.net with the subject line “Design Campaign 2025 – [Your Name]”.
Good luck!
Donations
- New donors, yay! Thank you Jonathan F. and barraGOUDA.
- And as always, many thanks to my awesome regular supporters and everyone who helped this project thus far.
For all the donation options check out the donation page!
Meetup database
As always, this meetup database serves as both a calendar and an archive, so feel free to send me upcoming events or even ones from the recent past to make this collection as comprehensive as possible.
Upcoming meetups
- KeebLife x Monkish Mini Meetup, November 15, Anaheim, CA, US
- Canadian Mechanical Keyboard Meetup 2025, November 15, Toronto, Canada
Recently added
- Ohio Mechanical Keyboard Meetup 2025, December 13, Dublin, OH, US
Vendor news & Discounts
Feel free to use the KBDNEWS discount code at 187 keyboard shops worldwide! And do not hesitate to report any issues! :)
New shops and updates to the database of keyboard vendors this past two weeks:
- Keyspace (PL) added. Only shipping to Poland at the moment, plus EU countries on request. Greg offered you a 5% discount (coupon code: KBDNEWS).
- GMK link updated after I checked out the GMK Advent Calendar and was looking for info on the keycap design contest. (I've been always confused about their shop url as it has changed a few times during the years.)
- Keychron is updating their Q and V Max keyboards with ZMK firmware (source).
- Astro's Vlad is getting rid of his deskmats for $9 each (source).
- Some photos of Rationalkeys, a vendor with a physical store in Turkey.
Developments
- Continued optimization and tweaks here and there, mostly caching and handling of switch entries – as already mentioned at the end of the recent switch overview.
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That's all for today. Thanks for checking by. As always: Keep learning and building!
Until next time,
Tamás
Published on Fri 14th Nov 2025. Featured in KBD #201.
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