Before start building the final Dvorak-optimized ortholinear southpole keyboard, I'm going to build a smaller prototype that has the same function as the final keyboard to seeing the feasibility and being the springboard of the final product.
Built 50 times and finally have the first success building
First, you need the .uf2 file of this project. The .uf2 file is in Action tab. Go to the tab and click the first one in the list. In Artifacts section, there's a firmware object. Click the download icon on the right to download the .zip, unzip it and you'll have the .uf2.
After that, turn Seeed XIAO into bootloader mode by double tapping the RST button on the board after the board is connected to PC. Your Seeed XIAO will appear in File Explorer like an USB called XIAO-SENSE. If it doesn't come with that name, at least you'll able to recognize the device.
Drag the .uf2 file into the "USB". After the file transfer is done, Seeed XIAO will automatically eject itself and reboot into the code. If it functions correct, you're done burn the firmware into your Seeed XIAO.
- 4x3 matrix activated
- USB Wired connect
- Simple typing
- ZMK Studio support
- Multi layer (with two additional layers for user to define via ZMK Studio)
- NKRO support
- Bluetooth connection (With BL-5C battery)
- Seeed XIAO nRF52840
- 16 mechanical keyboard switches
- My 4×3 matrix DIP PCB
You can buy it from a shopping platform in Taiwan called Shopee in the future, and the PCB manufacturing file will upload in the future. - 74HC595 IC
- A BL-5C battery
- Disassemble-able battery connecting wire
- (Optional) LED bar graph display
- (Optional) 4 Resistors for ↑
XIAO D2 → Row 1
XIAO D3 → Row 2
XIAO D4 → Row 3
XIAO D5 → Row 4
74595 Vcc → XIAO 3V3
74595 GND → XIAO GND
74595 OE' → 74595/XIAO GND
74595 SRCLR' → 74595 Vcc / XIAO 3V3
XIAO D7 → 74595 RCLK
XIAO SCK = D8 → 74595 SRCLK
XIAO MOSI = D10 → 74595 SER
74595 QA → Column 1
74595 QB → Column 2
74595 QC → Column 3
Everything here are basically all referenced to the official document. You can check out references.md for more detailed information.
The order of references in the file should be in chronological order of use.
Latest first
On 117th build(2026 Jan. 5 → 6 Midnight) WIRED FUNCTION COMPLETED!
Turns out the real problem is I shouldn't make MISO (D9) a CS (AKA latch) pin while using SPI.
REMEMBER EVERYONE! or you'll waste a whole lot of time.
On 107th build(2026 Jan. 5) I finally make 74595-added version passed building.
Need to be configure more to make it able to function normally, but it passed and basically runnable.
Everything's finally going to reach a stage of an end…
On 85th build(2025 Dec. 26) I finally added ZMK Studio successfully
Okay, so every problem is from the chosen node in the .dtsi file. It's really "the chosen node"
On 66th build(2025 Nov. 11) I finally found that I misunderstand the meaning of column and row.
As a little note, I'm going to make a note here
| ＼ | Column 0 | Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 0 | RC(0,0) | RC(0,1) | RC(0,2) |
| Row 1 | RC(1,0) | RC(1,1) | RC(1,2) |
Finally built successfully built on 51th build, and realized it on 54th build.
The reason I'm not realized right when succeeded is that I was using my Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE + VS code web version in the last few attempt, and the tablet is laggy, so it's hard to see the progress with a very real-time experience.