Kirei is a work-in-progress keyboard library written in Zig | Hacker News Reader

Kirei is a work-in-progress keyboard library written in Zig

github.com

65 pointszdw20 comments

This looks like a zmk-ish solution implemented in zig for cheaper/easier devboards like the ch551/2 (and seemingly rp2040, which zmk does support), but with better ux. Better explainer in OP's post on reddit[0]:

[0]: https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/s/Dkoy7YZmWs

Why do we need this? What problem does it solve?

>> Kirei is a keyboard library that you feed inputs to (which keys are pressed) and get outputs from (HID reports) ... It's not just a keyboard firmware

This looks like a repeat of the nodejs leftpad situation but this time it's for keyboard firmware.

It takes the pin changes (matrix or already decoded keys isn't clear to me) and generates the appropriate HID reports based on whether they're tapped, long pressed, shifted, etc. Not the hardest code in the world to write, but a long way from leftpad and fairly easy to miss edge cases on the first try.

Besides, what's the issue with someone writing a personal abstraction library? Java programmers commit greater crimes than this daily.

It's keyboard firmware for some riscv microcontrollers.

If you want to build a custom keyboard with certain low cost mcus

I've customized keyboard fw for ergodoxen and other keyboards. I've helped write tiling window managers. I have no clue what this is...

I'm struggling to understand the purpose of this library.

> Kirei is a keyboard library that you feed inputs to (which keys are pressed) and get outputs from (HID reports) ... It's not just a keyboard firmware

In what scenarios might one want to use it?

Software which makes a keyboard work how you would expect it to.

I agree that the wording is confusing. It's obviously targeting the custom keyboard hobbyists.

Screenshots/Examples are needed. I'm still not entirely sure if this keyboards for typing or music...

It’s for whatever. You feed button presses and get back a result.

But for a sample. Looks like this is what would sit on your custom keyboard and translate your key presses to something the OS you are plugged in to can use. It’s firmware.

Things like the glove80 and Voyager are pretty popular custom keyboards.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com