Open‑Source Python Keyboard with USB and Bluetooth Using CircuitPython
This article introduces an open‑source, solder‑built keyboard that runs CircuitPython on a microcontroller, explains the hardware assembly, firmware flashing, library installation, and Python‑based key‑mapping to create a customizable USB/Bluetooth keyboard for productivity and gaming.
The project, hosted on GitHub, provides a hand‑soldered keyboard that runs Python code via AdaFruit's CircuitPython (a lightweight MicroPython variant) on a board with 256 KB flash and 16 KB RAM.
Step 1 details the physical modification: removing keycaps, wiring keys with solder, and attaching the CircuitPython‑capable control board to the keyboard.
Step 2 covers programming the Pitaya Go module, flashing the CircuitPython firmware, and preparing the device for USB/Bluetooth operation.
Step 3 instructs downloading the adafruit‑ble and adafruit‑hid libraries and placing them in the CIRCUITPY/lib directory.
Step 4 explains copying the custom code.py (and supporting keyboard.py, keycodes.py) to the board, after which the keyboard becomes fully programmable.
Using Python for key‑mapping enables easy customization, such as tap‑key functions, dual‑key shortcuts, and remapping keys like D to navigation, H/J/K/L to arrow keys, and U/N to PageUp/PageDown, enhancing the productivity of a 60% keyboard.
The community response on Hacker News and Twitter highlights the novelty of running Python on a keyboard, while the author acknowledges performance limits (≈4 ms matrix scan) but stresses rapid prototyping advantages over C implementations.
Signed-in readers can open the original source through BestHub's protected redirect.
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