We welcome all keyboard projects into QMK, but ask that you try to stick to a couple guidelines that help us keep things organised and consistent.
-## Naming your keyboard/project
+## Naming Your Keyboard/Project
-All names should be lowercase alphanumeric, and separated by an underscore (`_`), but not begin with one. Your directory and your `.h` and `.c` files should have exactly the same name. All folders should follow the same format.
+All names should be lowercase alphanumeric, and separated by an underscore (`_`), but not begin with one. Your directory and your `.h` and `.c` files should have exactly the same name. All folders should follow the same format. `test`, `keyboard`, and `all` are reserved by make and are not a valid name for a keyboard.
## `readme.md`
All projects need to have a `readme.md` file that explains what the keyboard is, who made it, where it is available, and links to more information. Please follow the [published template](documentation_templates.md#keyboard-readmemd-template).
-## Image/Hardware files
+## Image/Hardware Files
In an effort to keep the repo size down, we're no longer accepting images of any format in the repo, with few exceptions. Hosting them elsewhere (imgur) and linking them in the `readme.md` is the preferred method.
Any sort of hardware file (plate, case, pcb) can't be stored in qmk_firmware, but we have the [qmk.fm repo](https://github.com/qmk/qmk.fm) where such files (as well as in-depth info) can be stored and viewed on [qmk.fm](http://qmk.fm). Downloadable files are stored in `/<keyboard>/` (name follows the same format as above) which are served at `http://qmk.fm/<keyboard>/`, and pages are generated from `/_pages/<keyboard>/` which are served at the same location (.md files are generated into .html files through Jekyll). Check out the `lets_split` directory for an example.
+## Keyboard Defaults
+
+Given the amount of functionality that QMK exposes it's very easy to confuse new users. When putting together the default firmware for your keyboard we recommend limiting your enabled features and options to the minimal set needed to support your hardware. Recommendations for specific features follow.
+
+### Bootmagic and Command
+
+[Bootmagic](feature_bootmagic.md) and [Command](feature_command.md) are two related features that allow a user to control their keyboard in non-obvious ways. We recommend you think long and hard about if you're going to enable either feature, and how you will expose this functionality. Keep in mind that users who want this functionality can enable it in their personal keymaps without affecting all the novice users who may be using your keyboard as their first programmable board.
+
+By far the most common problem new users encounter is accidentally triggering Bootmagic while they're plugging in their keyboard. They're holding the keyboard by the bottom, unknowingly pressing in alt and spacebar, and then they find that these keys have been swapped on them. We recommend leaving this feature disabled by default, but if you do turn it on consider setting `BOOTMAGIC_KEY_SALT` to a key that is hard to press while plugging your keyboard in.
+
+If your keyboard does not have 2 shift keys you should provide a working default for `IS_COMMAND`, even when you have set `COMMAND_ENABLE = no`. This will give your users a default to conform to if they do enable Command.
+
+## Custom Keyboard Programming
+
+As documented on [Customizing Functionality](custom_quantum_functions.md) you can define custom functions for your keyboard. Please keep in mind that your users may want to customize that behavior as well, and make it possible for them to do that. If you are providing a custom function, for example `process_record_kb()`, make sure that your function calls the `_user()` version of the call too. You should also take into account the return value of the `_user()` version, and only run your custom code if the user returns `true`.
+
## Keyboard Metadata
As QMK grows so does the ecosystem surrounding QMK. To make it easier for projects in that ecosystem to tie into QMK as we make changes we are developing a metadata system to expose information about keyboards in QMK.
-You can create `info.json` files at every level under `qmk_firmware/keyboards/<name>` to specify this metadata. These files are combined, with more specific files overriding keys in less specific files. This means you do not need to duplicate your metadata information. For example, `qmk_firmware/keyboards/clueboard/info.json` specifies `manufacturer` and `maintainer`, while `qmk_firmware/keyboards/clueboard/66/info.json` specifies more specific information about Clueboard 66%.
+You can create `info.json` files at every level under `qmk_firmware/keyboards/<name>` to specify this metadata. These files are combined, with more specific files overriding keys in less specific files. This means you do not need to duplicate your metadata information. For example, `qmk_firmware/keyboards/clueboard/info.json` specifies `manufacturer` and `maintainer`, while `qmk_firmware/keyboards/clueboard/66/info.json` specifies more specific information about Clueboard 66%.
### `info.json` Format
* `keyboard_name`
* A free-form text string describing the keyboard.
* Example: `Clueboard 66%`
-* `manufacturer`
- * A free-form text string naming the manufacturer.
- * Example: `Clueboard`
-* `identifier`
- * The Vendor, Product, and Revision ID's joined by a :
- * Example: `c1ed:2370:0001`
* `url`
* A URL to the keyboard's product page, [QMK.fm/keyboards](https://qmk.fm/keyboards) page, or other page describing information about the keyboard.
-* `processor`
- * The MCU or CPU this keyboard uses.
- * Example: `atmega32u4` or `stm32f303`
* `bootloader`
* What bootloader this keyboard uses. Available options:
* `atmel-dfu`
* `lufa-dfu`
* `qmk-dfu`
* `stm32-dfu-util`
- * (FIXME: This list is incomplete.)
+ * `caterina`
+ * `halfkay`
+ * `bootloadHID`
* `maintainer`
* GitHub username of the maintainer, or `qmk` for community maintained boards
* `width`
* `RY`
* The absolute position of the point to rotate the key around in the vertical axis. Default: `y`
* `KS`
- * Key Shape: define a polygon by providing a list of points, in Key Units.
+ * Key Shape: define a polygon by providing a list of points, in Key Units.
* **Important**: These are relative to the top-left of the key, not absolute.
* Example ISO Enter: `[ [0,0], [1.5,0], [1.5,2], [0.25,2], [0.25,1], [0,1], [0,0] ]`
-### How Is The Metadata Exposed?
+### How is the Metadata Exposed?
This metadata is primarily used in two ways:
Configurator authors can see the [QMK Compiler](https://docs.compile.qmk.fm/api_docs.html) docs for more information on using the JSON API.
-## Non-production/handwired projects
+## Non-Production/Handwired Projects
We're happy to accept any project that uses QMK, including prototypes and handwired ones, but we have a separate `/keyboards/handwired/` folder for them, so the main `/keyboards/` folder doesn't get overcrowded. If a prototype project becomes a production project at some point in the future, we'd be happy to move it to the main `/keyboards/` folder!
-## Warnings as errors
+## Warnings as Errors
When developing your keyboard, keep in mind that all warnings will be treated as errors - these small warnings can build-up and cause larger errors down the road (and keeping them is generally a bad practice).
If your keyboard makes use of the [uGFX](https://ugfx.io) features within QMK you must comply with the [uGFX License](https://ugfx.io/license.html), which requires a separate commercial license before selling a device containing uGFX.
-## Technical details
+## Technical Details
If you're looking for more information on making your keyboard work with QMK, [check out the hardware section](hardware.md)!
projects / qmk_firmware.git / blobdiff