GoKawiilHobbyist builds modular keyboard with per-key microcontrollers and Bluetooth
A maker shared an open-source project called Keybytes, a keyboard where each key is its own 1u PCB with a CH32V003 RISC-V chip, connecting via pogo pins on all four sides for power and I2C. A main board called Keyword uses an STM32WB55RGV6 for Bluetooth and USB connectivity, with magnetic cases holding the rearrangeable modules together. The design, built in KiCad and Onshape, also includes battery charging, a buck-boost converter and flash storage for key firmware.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project demonstrates how cheap RISC-V microcontrollers and pogo-pin connectors can enable fully reconfigurable hardware at the level of individual keys, an approach rarely seen in commercial keyboards. Because it's open-sourced with schematics and case files, it could inform other DIY hardware hobbyists or inspire future modular input device designs, though it remains a personal project rather than a product.
- Each key is an independent 1u PCB with its own CH32V003 RISC-V microcontroller
- The main 'Keyword' board uses an STM32WB55RGV6 for Bluetooth and USB, plus battery charging circuitry
- Design files for both PCBs (KiCad) and cases (Onshape/STEP) are shared publicly
Cherry MX Switch Set — If you're diving into DIY modular keyboard builds like this one, you'll need quality Cherry MX switches for each key module. A reliable switch set gives you the tactile feel and durability needed for a custom build like the Keybit modules described here.
See Cherry MX Switch Set on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: github.com, 2026-10-25
Published there as: “Show HN: A Truly Modular Keyboard”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.