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Simsalaba merged 2 commits into from
Apr 29, 2026
Merged

Hrm improvements #3

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5e5b0d6
Optimize keyboard responsiveness
Simsalaba Apr 29, 2026
08c86a8
Adopt urob's timeless HRMs, harden gaming combo, add UX improvements
Simsalaba Apr 29, 2026
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268 changes: 268 additions & 0 deletions KEYMAP.md
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# Corne Keyboard Layout Guide

> **Board:** nice!nano v2 · **Shield:** Corne (42 keys) · **Displays:** nice!view
> **OS Layout:** Swedish (SE) — keycodes map to Swedish characters at OS level

---

## 🔌 Flashing Firmware

1. Download both `.uf2` files from the latest GitHub Actions build
2. Connect one half via USB
3. **Double-tap the reset button** → a USB drive called `NICENANO` appears
4. Drag the matching `.uf2` file onto the drive → it auto-reboots
5. Repeat for the other half

> Flash each half separately. Left half = `corne_left`, right half = `corne_right`.

---

## 🗺️ Layer Overview

| # | Name | Purpose | How to activate |
|---|------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 0 | **Main** | Letters, home row mods | Default layer |
| 1 | **Numbers**| Number pad + numlock | Hold left thumb middle key |
| 2 | **Symbols**| Special characters | Hold right thumb middle key |
| 3 | **Navi** | Arrow keys, page nav | Hold E (tap-hold) |
| 4 | **Adjust** | Bluetooth, media, brightness | **Tri-layer:** hold NUM + CHARS together |
| 5 | **Func** | F1–F12 keys | Hold B (tap-hold) |
| 6 | **Tiling** | Window tiling (RC+RA combos) | Hold R (tap-hold) |
| 7 | **Game** | Gaming mode (no left HRMs) | Combo: press U + P together |

---

## ⌨️ Layer 0: Main

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ ESC │ Q │ W │E/NAV │R/WIN │ T │ │ Y │ U │ I │ O │ P │ DEL │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│CT/Tab│ A │S/Alt │D/Shft│F/Ctrl│ G │ │ H │J/Ctrl│K/Shft│L/Alt │ Ö │ Å │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ SHFT │ Z │ X │ C │ V │B/FUNC│ │ N │ M │ . │ , │ │ Ä │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ GUI │ NUM │ SPC │ │ ENT │CHARS │ BKSP │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

### Home Row Mods (S, D, F / J, K, L)

The middle three keys on each home row side double as modifiers when **held**:

| Key | Tap | Hold |
|-----|-------|---------|
| S | s | Left Alt|
| D | d | Left Shift|
| F | f | Left Ctrl|
| J | j | Right Ctrl|
| K | k | Right Shift|
| L | l | Right Alt|

**How they work:** These use urob's "timeless" homerow mod approach with `balanced` flavor — the modifier activates when you hold the key AND press+release another key on the **opposite** hand. You don't need to wait for any timer. During normal typing, `require-prior-idle` ensures no delays or misfires.

**Timing tuning (based on [urob's timeless HRMs](https://github.com/vqc/zmk-config-hmr-example)):**
- `flavor`: balanced — mod triggers on cross-hand press+release, not on timer expiry
- `hold-trigger-on-release`: allows combining multiple mods on the same hand
- `tapping-term`: 280ms — intentionally large; makes behavior timer-insensitive
- `quick-tap`: 175ms — rapid same-key repeats always produce taps (e.g., `ll`)
- `require-prior-idle`: 150ms — if you typed any key less than 150ms ago, it always types the letter

---

## 🔢 Layer 1: Numbers

Activated by holding the **left thumb middle key** (NUM).

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ ESC │ │ │ │ │NumLck│ │ / │ 7 │ 8 │ 9 │ - │ BKSP │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│CT/Tab│ │ │ │ │ │ │ * │ 4 │ 5 │ 6 │ , │ │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ SHFT │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ = │ │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ │(held)│ TAB │ │ │CHARS │ 0 │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

> **Tri-layer:** While holding NUM, also hold CHARS (right thumb) → activates **Adjust** layer.

---

## 🔣 Layer 2: Symbols

Activated by holding the **right thumb middle key** (CHARS).

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ & │ * │ @ │ { │ } │ | │ │ + │ - │ │ │ = │ DEL │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ # │ │ $ │ ( │ ) │ ` │ │ ! │ _ │ │ / │ \ │ ' │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ % │ │ ^ │ [ │ ] │ ~ │ │ ? │ = │ , │ < │ > │ " │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ │ NUM │ │ │ │(held)│ │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

> **Tri-layer:** While holding CHARS, also hold NUM (left thumb) → activates **Adjust** layer.

---

## 🧭 Layer 3: Navigation

Activated by **holding E** on the main layer.

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │PG DN │ ↑ │PG UP │ │PrtScn│
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ CTRL │ │ │ │ │ │ │←WORD │ ← │ ↓ │ → │WORD→ │CAPS │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ SHFT │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ HOME │ │ END │ │ │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ GUI │ │ ALT │ │ │ │ │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

**Word-jump:** The keys flanking the arrow cluster (←WORD and WORD→) send `Ctrl+Left` and `Ctrl+Right`, letting you jump word-by-word through text.

---

## ⚙️ Layer 4: Adjust (Tri-layer)

Activated by holding **NUM + CHARS** simultaneously (both thumb middle keys).

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ │ BT 0 │ BT 1 │ BT 2 │ BT 3 │ BT 4 │ │BT CLR│ REW │ │ FFWD │BRI ↑│VOL ↑│
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ PREV │ PLAY │ NEXT │BRI ↓│VOL ↓│
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ MUTE │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ GUI │ │ ALT │ │ │ │ │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

**Bluetooth:** BT 0–4 selects a profile. BT CLR clears the current profile's pairing.

---

## 🎯 Layer 5: Function Keys

Activated by **holding B** on the main layer.

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ F7 │ F8 │ F9 │ F12 │PrtScn│
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ CTRL │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ F6 │ F5 │ F4 │ F11 │CAPS │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ SHFT │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ F3 │ F2 │ F1 │ │ │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ GUI │ │ ALT │ │ │ │ F10 │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

---

## 🪟 Layer 6: Tiling (Window Management)

Activated by **holding R** on the main layer. Uses `Ctrl+Alt+key` shortcuts for a tiling window manager.

```
┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ + │ UL │ UP │ UR │ F12 │PrtScn│
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ CTRL │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ML │ MID │ MR │ F11 │CAPS │
├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤ ├──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
│ SHFT │ │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ BL │ DN │ BR │ │ │
└──────┴──────┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┘ └───┬──┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──┬───┴──────┴──────┘
│ GUI │ │ ALT │ │ │ │ F10 │
└──────┴──────┴──────┘ └─────┴──────┴──────┘
```

Positions: UL=Upper Left, UP=Upper Middle, UR=Upper Right, ML=Middle Left, MID=Center, MR=Middle Right, BL=Bottom Left, DN=Bottom Middle, BR=Bottom Right. `+`/`-` grow/shrink windows.

---

## 🎮 Layer 7: Gaming

Toggle on/off with **U + P** combo (press both simultaneously).

Same as Main layer but **left hand home row mods are disabled** — S, D, F type letters directly with no hold delay. This is essential for WASD gaming. Right hand still has HRMs.

---

## ⚡ Combos (press keys simultaneously)

| Keys | Action | Where it works |
|----------------|--------------------|-----------------------|
| **Z + X** | Undo (Ctrl+Z) | All layers except Game|
| **X + C** | Copy (Ctrl+C) | All layers except Game|
| **C + V** (V+C)| Paste (Ctrl+V) | All layers except Game|
| **V + X** | Cut (Ctrl+X) | All layers except Game|
| **U + P** | Toggle Gaming mode | Main and Game (must pause typing 500ms first, press within 25ms) |
| **G + H** | Caps Word | Main and Game layers |
| **Space + Enter** | Sticky Shift | Main and Game layers |

> **Combo timeout:** 40ms — press both keys within this window.

---

## 🧠 Special Behaviors

### Caps Word (G + H)

Temporarily activates caps lock for **one word only**. Perfect for typing `CONSTANT_NAMES`:

1. Press **G + H** together → caps word activates
2. Type your word — all letters come out UPPERCASE
3. It automatically deactivates when you press space, enter, or any non-letter/non-underscore key

Example: `G+H` then type `my_constant` → outputs `MY_CONSTANT`

### Sticky Shift (Space + Enter)

One-shot shift — press the combo, then the **next single keypress** will be shifted:

1. Press **Space + Enter** together (left and right thumb keys)
2. Type one character → it comes out shifted (uppercase or symbol)
3. Shift automatically deactivates after that one keypress

Useful for capitalizing a single letter without holding shift.

### Tri-layer (NUM + CHARS → Adjust)

Instead of needing a dedicated key for the Adjust layer, just hold both layer keys:

1. Hold **left thumb middle** (NUM layer active)
2. While still holding, also hold **right thumb middle** → **Adjust** layer activates
3. Release either thumb → drops back to Numbers or Symbols

---

## ⚡ Performance Settings

Located in `config/corne.conf`:

| Setting | Value | Purpose |
|---------|-------|---------|
| Press debounce | 1ms | Near-instant key registration (eager debounce) |
| Release debounce | 5ms | Standard release filtering |
| BT min interval | 6 | Locks BT polling for consistent wireless latency |
| Sleep timeout | 30 min | Deep sleep after inactivity to save battery |

---

## 📁 File Structure

```
config/
├── corne.keymap # All layers, behaviors, combos
├── corne.conf # Board settings (debounce, BT, sleep)
└── west.yml # ZMK and module dependencies
build.yaml # CI build matrix (board/shield combos)
```
3 changes: 2 additions & 1 deletion config/corne.conf
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CONFIG_ZMK_SLEEP=y
CONFIG_ZMK_IDLE_SLEEP_TIMEOUT=1800000
CONFIG_ZMK_KSCAN_DEBOUNCE_PRESS_MS=5
CONFIG_ZMK_KSCAN_DEBOUNCE_PRESS_MS=1
CONFIG_ZMK_KSCAN_DEBOUNCE_RELEASE_MS=5
CONFIG_BT_PERIPHERAL_PREF_MIN_INT=6
CONFIG_BT_PERIPHERAL_PREF_MAX_INT=6
CONFIG_BT_CTLR_TX_PWR_PLUS_8=y
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