I’m very happy with my FW13. It’s the best laptop I’ve ever owned. I’m a little sad that the FW16 has QMK support and FW13 laptop doesn’t seem to have the same. Is there any way that might be possible in the future? Does anyone have good recommendations on software solutions for the same? I really prefer to do my HID tweaks in firmware however, I feel like it makes troubleshooting it a lot easier.
So far I’ve found Kanata (GH link) but I’m still reading up on cross-platform weirdness. I really just want to modify my caps lock to be ESC on tap and CTRL on hold.
Curious how people have been doing this very common tweak on their own systems. I’m currently running Win11/Ubuntu/Arch(Might be switching to Gentoo)
Yes, it’s possible that Framework could make it an option. But for QMK it would require a component swap. And Framework has made no mention that they’re considering it.
I would definitely buy a QMK/KMK/etc FW13 Keeb replacement if it was <= $75-100. Not sure how easy it would be to design that, I’m assuming the FW13 boards are just dumb matrixes and all that magic happens in the embedded EC on the (?mainboard?)
Crazy how much I’ve forgotten since looking at my laptop more closely. I’m too busy using it to tinker with it Guess that’s a good thing!
Idle curiosity: am I correct that this could be made part of a future motherboard offering? Not asking if Framework is intending it, just asking if this is how it could be packaged/offered.
Are you asking about Framework (or someone else for that mater) offering QMK for the Framework 13?
Also, not certain if you intended to ask me, as you quoted Paul. But since I had said that it should be possible with a component swap, I’ll give how that could be done.
TL;DR - Framework could make a QMK keyboard input cover that you’d just swap in. Or a 3rd-party could probably make a small add-on board that anyone could attach to the current keyboard, making it into a QMK keyboard.
QMK firmware, as it’s currently written, is not made to run on a laptop’s Embedded Controllers (EC). It was made for external keyboards, so it’s written to run on a separate microcontroller chip attached to the keyboard. This is how the Framework 16 QMK keyboards work, each keyboard module (full keyboard, numpad, or macropad) contains a RP2040 chip that runs QMK. The keyboards are actually fully independent USB-connected keyboards.
So for the Framework 13 to run QMK you’d need to add a chip in-between the keyboard & laptop, plus connect it to USB. Luckily, it looks like you can do this without much trouble. The keyboard matrix plugs into the touchpad board before it gets passed on to the motherboard. And a USB line is also plugged in there (for the fingerprint reader). Framework could make a new version of the board that includes a chip to run QMK and taps into the USB line, using a small USB hub chip to split the 1 USB into 2 connections. A 3rd party could even potentially create an addon board that you’d place there, just plugging into the cables needed. If I had a Framework 13 I’d be kind of tempted to do layout of a board. But it’s hard to know what the height limitations are in that location without Framework 13 on hand, or I perhaps someone willing to do measurements.
So yeah, it shouldn’t require a new motherboard. Just a new version of the keyboard, or even just a 3rd-party made addon board.
Guess that’s a good thing!