More thoroughly document Bootmagic and Command (#2455)

[qmk_firmware.git] / docs / hardware_keyboard_guidelines.md

diff --git a/docs/hardware_keyboard_guidelines.md b/docs/hardware_keyboard_guidelines.md
index 0a4e2d11b8730fec7cac725e6f20f8a587969e78..656f4c08cb536480ce64c8a814a5f7d802ebf864 100644 (file)
--- a/docs/hardware_keyboard_guidelines.md
+++ b/docs/hardware_keyboard_guidelines.md
@@ -16,6 +16,22 @@ In an effort to keep the repo size down, we're no longer accepting images of any
 
 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.