To build an Infinity firmware under Ubuntu (tested on 15.10):
There are external tools for customizing the layout, but those do not use
the featurs of this qmk firmware. These sites include:
- [Massdrop configurator](https://keyboard-configurator.massdrop.com/ext/ergodox) for Ez
- [Input Club configurator](https://input.club/configurator-ergodox) for Infinity, provides left and right files
You can also find an existing firmware that you like, for example from:
- [Dozens of community-contributed keymaps](http://qmk.fm/keyboards/ergodox/)
This qmk firmware also provides the ability to customize keymaps, but requires
a toolchain to build the firmware. See below for instructions on building
firmware and customizing keymaps.
# Customizing Keymaps
There are many existing keymaps in the "keymaps" directory. If you just want
to use one of them, you don't need to modify keymaps and can just build and
flash the firmware as described below. These directories each have a
"readme.md" file which describe them.
If none of the existing keymaps suit you, you can create your own custom
keymap. This will require some experience with coding. Follow these steps
to customize a keymap:
- Read the [qmk firmware README](https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware) from top to bottom. Then come back here. :)
- Clone the qmk_firmware repository
- Set up your build environment (see below).
- Make a new directory under "keymaps" to hold your customizations.
- Copy an existing keymap that is close to what you want, such as
"keymaps/default/keymap.c".
- Use an editor to modify the new "keymap.c". See "Finding the keycodes you
need" below). Try to edit the comments as well, so the "text graphics"
represent your layout correctly.
- Compile your new firmware (see below)
- Flash your firmware (see below)
- Test the changes.
- Submit your keymap as a pull request to the qmk_firmware repository so
others can use it. You will want to add a "readme.md" that describes the
keymap.
# Build Dependencies
Before you can build, you will need the build dependencies. There is a script
to try to do this for Linux:
- Run the `util/install_dependencies.sh` script as root.
- Check out the submodules with `git submodule update --init --recursive`
- Go into the ErgoDox directory with `cd keyboards/ergodox`
For the Infinity, you need the chibios submodules to be checked out or you
will receive errors about the build process being unable to find the chibios
files. Check them out with:
- Go to the top level repo directory and run: `git submodule update --init --recursive`
# Flashing Firmware
## ErgoDox Ez
The Ez uses the [Teensy Loader](https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html).
Linux users need to modify udev rules as described on the Teensy Linux page.
Some distributions provide a binary, maybe called `teensy-loader-cli`).
To flash the firmware:
- Build the firmware with `make keymap=keymapname`, for example `make
keymap=default`
- This will result in a hex file called `ergodox_ez_keymapname.hex`, e.g.
`ergodox_ez_default.hex`
- Start the teensy loader.
- Load the .hex file into it.
- Press the Reset button by inserting a paperclip gently into the reset hole
in the top right corder.
- Click the button in the Teensy app to download the firmware.
## ErgoDox Infinity
The Infinity is two completely independent keyboards, and needs to be flashed
for the left and right halves seperately. To flash them:
- Remove the build directory with `rm -rf ../../.build`
- Build the firmware with `make keymap=keymapname subproject=infinity`
- Plug in the left hand keyboard only.
- Press the program button (back of keyboard, above thumb pad).
- Install the firmware with `sudo make dfu-util keymap=keymapname subproject=infinity`
- Install the right hand firmware, but I haven't figured this out yet.
# Getting started
- Plug in the left hand keyboard only.
There are two main ways you could customize the ErgoDox (EZ and Infinity)
- Press the program button (back of keyboard, above thumb pad).
## The Easy Way: Use an existing firmware file and just flash it (ErgoDox EZ only)
- Install the firmware with `sudo make dfu-util keymap=keymapname subproject=infinity`
1. Download and install the [Teensy Loader](https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html). Some Linux distributions already provide a binary (may be called `teensy-loader-cli`), so you may prefer to use this.
2. Find a firmware file you like. There are [dozens of community-contributed keymaps](http://qmk.fm/keyboards/ergodox/) you can browse and download. You can also use the [Massdrop configurator](https://keyboard-configurator.massdrop.com/ext/ergodox) to create a firmware Hex file you like.
3. Download the firmware file
4. Connect the keyboard, press its Reset button (gently insert a paperclip into the hole in the top-right corner) and flash it using the Teensy loader you installed on step 1 and the firmware you downloaded.
- Remove the left-hand build with `rm -rf ../../.build`
## More technical: compile an existing keymap, or create your own totally custom firmware by editing the source files.
- Build left hand firmware with `make keymap=keymapname subproject=infinity MASTER=right`
This requires a little bit of familiarity with coding.
If you are just compiling an existing keymap and don't want to create your own, you can skip step 4, 5 and 8.
- Plug in the right hand keyboard only.
1. Go to https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware and read the readme at the base of this repository, top to bottom. Then come back here :)
2. Clone the repository (download it)
3. Set up a build environment as per the readme.
4. Copy `keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/default/keymap.c` into `keymaps/your_name/keymap.c` (for example, `keymaps/german/keymap.c`)
5. Edit this file, changing keycodes to your liking (see "Finding the keycodes you need" below). Try to edit the comments as well, so the "text graphics" represent your layout correctly. See below for more tips on sharing your work.
6. Compile your firmware by running `make keymap=keymap_name`. For example, `make keymap=german`. This will result in a hex file, which will be called `ergodox_ez_keymap_name.hex`, e.g. `ergodox_ez_german.hex`. For **Infinity ErgoDox** you need to add `subproject=infinity` to the make command.
7. **ErgoDox EZ** - Flash this hex file using the [Teensy loader](https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html) as described in step 4 in the "Easy Way" above. If you prefer you can automatically flash the hex file after successful build by running `make teensy keymap=keymap_name`.
- Press the program button (back of keyboard, above thumb pad).
**Infinity ErgoDox** - Flash the firmware by running `make dfu-util keymap=keymap_name subproject=infinity`
8. Submit your work as a pull request to this repository, so others can also use it. :) See below on specifics.
- Install the firmware with `sudo make dfu-util keymap=keymapname subproject=infinity MASTER=right`
Good luck! :)
More information on the Infinity firmware is available in the [TMK/chibios for
Input Club Infinity Ergodox](https://github.com/fredizzimo/infinity_ergodox/blob/master/README.md)
## Contributing your keymap
@ -49,7 +126,6 @@ The QMK firmware is open-source, so it would be wonderful to have your contribut
3. `readme.md` - a readme file, which GitHub would display by default when people go to your directory. Explain what's different about your keymap, what you tweaked or how it works. No specific format to follow, just communicate what you did. :)
4. Any graphics you wish to add. This is absolutely not a must. If you feel like it, you can use [Keyboard Layout Editor](http://keyboard-layout-editor.com) to make something and grab a screenshot, but it's really not a must. If you do have graphics, your readme can just embed the graphic as a link, just like I did with the default layout.
## Finding the keycodes you need
Let's say you want a certain key in your layout to send a colon; to figure out what keycode to use to make it do that, you're going to need `quantum/keymap_common.h`.
Sean Reifschneider
8 years ago