Pinky4 VS Lotus-Keyboard

found it: https://github.com/tamanishi/Pinky4 looks like my next build 😄

I've already used a multimeter to verify that the TRRS cable is connecting the correct pins across both boards on the TRRS connector, and even verified that they're connecting the correct pins on each pro micro controller (e.g. GND to GND, VCC to VCC, Data to Data) according to the PCB layout (https://github.com/tamanishi/Pinky4/tree/master/pcb)

In my experience it does become harder to type on staggered keyboards unless you're continuing to do it regularly. You may need to relearn to do that. Same deal with continuing QWERTY usage.

VIA is proprietary and not really an official QMK thing (QMK is free software). There is also Vial[0] which is free software if you want a GUI, and the QMK configurator[1] web app (but this lacks some features like enabling mouse keys or NKRO).

Lastly I want to add that Workman[2] may be preferable to Colemak Mod-DH. Rather than an attempt to fix major issues in Colemak like Mod-DH, it's a whole new layout that avoided the issues from the start. I have also heard from some that it had ortholinear and columnar stagger boards in mind with its design.

I type on a Pinky4[3] keyboard that I assembled from a kit. More keys than your keyboard, but a similar idea. I was coming from a 60% and wanted a similar amount of keys. I've been quite happy with it.

[0] https://get.vial.today/

[1] https://config.qmk.fm/#/

[2] https://workmanlayout.org/

[3] https://github.com/tamanishi/Pinky4

and this one may not fit your requirements since it doesn't have the full bottom row, but a personal favorite, pinky4

I'm currently evaluating which keyboard to build. There are currently 2 main contenders: zodiark and pinky4 The sofle I also took into consideration but I would like to have a few more keys than 58. There are some pros and cons for both boards

you might want to take a look at PCB designs such as the Pinky4: https://github.com/tamanishi/Pinky4 (or Pinky3)

The normal version needs SK6812 mini leds, yours look like the mini-e variants. Mini-e has legs and is easier to solder but the pinout is different: https://github.com/TweetyDaBird/Lotus58/issues/10

One option by my design. https://github.com/TweetyDaBird/Lotus58

it's a https://github.com/TweetyDaBird/Lotus58 that I soldered and assembled with DSA keycaps from YMDK and some JWK knockoffs tactile switches

Decided I'd finally had enough of the Nordic ISO layout and figured "why not just jump in the deep end?" and bought parts to make myself a Lotus58 Glow. (https://github.com/TweetyDaBird/Lotus58)

https://github.com/TweetyDaBird/Lotus58 -- start here. apart from the links i've posted in my details comment, i don't have any other. feel free to dm me if you want any help though. :)

Not OP, but I have the repository open because I'm also building one of these. You can find everything at https://github.com/TweetyDaBird/Lotus58.

Is a capacitor required for each rotary encoder that we put? The Lotus58 build guide suggests so, but I haven't seen it mentioned in other places, included the Sofle RGB build guide itself.

It's open source and needs to be built by oneself. You can find everything necessary on tweetys github

u/tweetydabird sells some kits for his lotus58 over at his tindie shop