qmk_distro_msys VS vial-qmk

- QMK MSYS: you'll need it for many things, for compiling your firmware file and for flashing, especially if flashing with QMK Toolbox isn't permitted in firmware settings (in this case QMK Toolbox just won't recognize your keyboard);

You don't need the GUI though, you can write the simple code yourself, then using QMKMSYS you can compile these flat text files into firmware. Using the appropriate flashing software for ypur microcontroller, you then flash this firmware onto your keyboard.

First, install QMK MSYS from here. Once installation is finished, DO NOT DO "QMK SETUP". I will explain this later.

Download QMKMSYS.exe from https://github.com/qmk/qmk_distro_msys/releases/tag/1.7.2

QMK MSYS: What we will be using to compile the firmware

You don't really need to be able to program though. (Assuming you use Windows) QMK MSYS will help put all the QMK code on your PC and make it ready to make the firmware file, you will just specify which keyboard make & model you have, edit the file line that controls the timing behaviour, and your PC will build the firmware. Then the Toolkit GUI app will help you sync that onto the keyboard.

Download and install latest version of QMK MSYS

a) Installed git for windows. (If you don't know how to use it - don't go this way. Just download qmk-vial as ZIP, extract in "C:\Users\URUsername\qmk_firmware\vial-qmk", install QMK MSYS. Run it from shortcut in installed folder, run "qmk setup -H C:\Users\URUsername\qmk_firmware\vial-qmk" and change directory "cd C:\Users\URUsername\qmk_firmware\vial-qmk" for next steps.) b) Had an error with gh, so installed cli. Cloned qmk-vial with github desktop in the end. c) Had an error with "make", so installed it and cloned submodules. d) Still had an error with "make" when compiling fw "No rule to make target".

i wish to enable several features on my corne thru vial but could not seem to make those from this link to compile - first error was about keycode then something about dynamic keymap when i had the first fixed/simplified. i'd appreciate if anyone could share their tested vial configuration files that i can use as guide.

This applies to OP as well, if you have any Keyboard @ https://github.com/vial-kb/vial-qmk/tree/vial/keyboards/keychron

You'll probably need to download the files from the GitHub repository for Vial or QMK. Depending on what you prefer and what you need. Then you'll have to learn what you need to change to set up the screens and then to edit the files. Your keyboard maker probably can provide you some files you can use. Then you'll have to compile your own HEX file. And only after that you can re-flash your keyboard and use all those amazing things you integrated into the firmware.

It looks like that's a vial keymap specifically for the rev2? I don't know whether it would make a difference, but you could try to compile from this keymap instead and see if it works?

According to this (https://github.com/vial-kb/vial-qmk/blob/vial/keyboards/bastardkb/charybdis/4x6/v2/splinky/config.h) the Vial firmware for Splinky based Charybdis is written natively using RP2040 pin names.

Think you can also port to VIAL? I am currently using the doio firmware without problems, but guessing your updates will be useful: https://github.com/vial-kb/vial-qmk/tree/vial/keyboards/doio/kb16

I've been using VIA to edit my keyboard layout, but unfortunately the software can't find my keyboard anymore (it just gets stuck on 'Searching for devices'). I think I need to reflash my keyboard. I don't have any .hex files for it with QMK toolbox, and the libra mini doesn't show up in the list of keyboards on the online QMK configurator. I do, however, have access to the files found in vial-qmk/keyboards/libra_mini/keymaps/vial (found here https://github.com/vial-kb/vial-qmk/tree/vial/keyboards/libra_mini). I've been using the vial.json file from there to change the layout up until now. How would I go about getting a .hex file, or better yet, a keymap.JSON file compatible with the online QMK configurator?