foostan

crkbd

Makefile2019–2025

foostan / crkbd

crkbd

Corne keyboard, a split keyboard with 3x6 column staggered keys and 3 thumb keys.

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10Distinct people

11Mentions

1Explicit recommenders

7.7KGitHub stars

REPOSITORY AT A GLANCE

What to know before exploring

What it is

Corne keyboard, a split keyboard with 3x6 column staggered keys and 3 thumb keys.

GitHub

Where it is used

No documented product use has been verified yet.

What people are saying

There are not many mechanical ergo keyboards that are pre-assembled. Most boards that you assemble yourself use QMK keyboard firmware, which you can map however you like. This…

cameronc56 used a recommendation phrase. One indexed comment matches. This is a phrase match, not a verdict.

No classified warning is attached to this page. Read the discussions before treating silence as approval.

Also in these discussions

kata0510/lily58 · linked in 3 of the same discussions

Mentioned in the same Hacker News threads. That is not proof they are substitutes.

This week on Hacker News

Nov 7–Nov 14 UTC · Direct repository links and separately labeled related project stories. Indexed through 11/14/2026, 3:56:07 PM UTC.

No direct repository links were found in the indexed HN discussions over the past seven days. Older discussions are available below.

Mentions over time

HN mentions by year11 dated mentions

Observed mentions: 2019-12-30 20:30:26 UTC to 2025-12-11 14:21:47 UTC.

Counts come from the repository’s dated source evidence. Index cutoff: 2026-11-02 08:16:59 UTC.

View mention counts and date ranges

UTC ranges include their start and exclude their end. Select a period to filter the source evidence.
Period	Start (UTC)	End (exclusive, UTC)	Mentions	Submissions	Comments
2019	2019-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	1	0	1
2020	2020-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	3	0	3
2021	2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	3	0	3
2022	2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2	0	2
2023	2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	1	0	1
2024	2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	0	0	0
2025	2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC	1	1	0

What Hacker News says

11 sources

v3lmx·Dec 11, 2025Submission

Show HN: Cornifi split keyboard, a more staggered corne

Hi HN! This keyboard is like a corne (v4) [0] with the physical layout of a fifi [1]. The PCB can be ordered from JLCPCB with PCB assembly of the components: no need to solder anything yourself! (unless you want encoders) See the ordering guide in the repository for more information [2]. Main Characteristics: - 36/40 keys - Encoder support - Embedded RP2040 controller - USB-C to connect the halves - PCB assembly: no soldering required (unless you use encoders) The PCB was made by a Fiverr contractor (I don't know how to do it myself, their profile here [3]) and the case by me. If there is anything missing in the README or the docs, feel free to let me know. [0] https://github.com/foostan/crkbd [1] https://github.com/raychengy/fifi_split_keeb [2] https://github.com/v3lmx/cornifi/blob/main/docs/pcb_ordering... [3] https://www.fiverr.com/cir

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cuitwork32

3 points · Open discussion

zokier·May 15, 2023

I see lot of love for Corne (and similar) keyboards, and 3.6k GH stars attest to that: https://github.com/foostan/crkbd

In Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

ProZsolt·Sep 10, 2022

I currently using a Corne[1]. I was never able to fully touch type on a staggered keyboard as I frequently pressed a neighboring key on the bottom and the number row. Now I only have to move my fingers up and down to find the right keys. Also my fingers have less distance to travel. [1]: https://github.com/foostan/crkbd

In ErgodoxE EZ – an ergonomic keyboard with open source firmware

ProZsolt·May 21, 2022

I went with a 36 key Corne keyboard[0] with a modified Miryoku[1] layout. In this way every symbol is near the home row [0]: https://github.com/foostan/crkbd [1]: https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

In Building my first mechanical keyboard

qudat·Sep 23, 2021

Without reading the article I thought that's what they meant. For me the biggest QoL improvement has been switching to a split ortho keeb (https://github.com/foostan/crkbd). They are super cheap to build (corne is 42 switches which are the most expensive component of a keeb) and once you get the hang of it they are superior to any other typing experience. Learning how to use a 40% had a steep learning curve, but after a few weeks I was very productive and now I don't even think about the layers. Since corne is so easy to build it's a great introduction into building your own keyboards. I just recently purchased the components from keyhive and I think I only spent $110 -- if that? That might sound expensive for a keyboard you have to build yourself but the prices for custom built keyboards can get insane (in the thousands)

In Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

flamwenco·Jul 14, 2021

Had a friend who got one of these as a joke and he ended up loving it, which in turn sent me down the 40% keyboard rabbit hole. However, rather than a pure ortholinear board like planck, I _highly_ recommend a columnar stagger board like the Reviung41[0] or the Corne[1]. Columnar stagger retains the benefits of ortho, but also accounts for the natural difference in finger lengths and I find it by far the most comfortable layout type. Full splits like the Corne are really good for ergonomics, but the Reviung41 is my favorite board because it has some of the advantages of a split, while retaining the advantages of a single piece board like the Planck. I did initially buy a ZSA Moonlander, but I highly regret the purchase. The thumb cluster is incredibly poorly designed for anyone who doesn't have freakishly giant hands, and becomes even mor

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e unusable if you prefer a steeper tenting angle, since that moves it even further away from the rest of your hand. And putting the tenting at a shallower angle to make the cluster usable, kinda defeats the whole purpose of tenting the board in the first place. If you want a split like the Moonlander, I think you're better off looking at something like the Lily58[2] or the Corne, or any of the myriad number of split keyboards with sane thumb clusters. After using a 40% board for a while, I no longer understand why people insist on bigger boards other than habit or fear of change. The smaller layout means that despite having to rely on layers to reach some keys like symbols or numbers, they're also far closer to your homerow than on a traditional board. Switching to a 40% and a trackball was one of the best decisions I've made comfort-wise, and even resolved some hand pain issues I was having because my desk is tiny. [0] https://github.com/gtips/reviung/tree/master/reviung41 [1] https://github.com/foostan/crkbd [2] https://github.com/kata0510/Lily58

In ZSA Planck EZ: A Powerful, Backlit, Open-Source, 40% Mechanical Keyboard

grae_QED·May 19, 2021

It's essentially a folded Corne keyboard [1]. I like how you can adjust the vertical position of each row, that's definitely new. Over all this is a very cool direction to take ortho linears. [1] https://github.com/foostan/crkbd

In Squeezebox Keyboard

7839284023·Sep 28, 2020

But there are? A lot go a bit into the DIY territory but you can buy most of them pre assembled as well. With the QMK firmware you can customize everything you want about them. e.g.: https://splitkb.com/products/kyria-pcb-kit https://github.com/foostan/crkbd https://old.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/

In Split Keyboard for Professionals

rgoulter·Sep 17, 2020

Splitting a keyboard has ergonomic benefits. I don't see that "full keyboard for each hand" would be an advantage. One of the more popular split keyboards is the Corne Keyboard. https://github.com/foostan/crkbd There are split keyboards with more keys than the Corne, such as the Lily58. https://github.com/kata0510/Lily58

In 433% Keyboard

leovander·Jun 7, 2020

More split keyboards: - Corne: You usually have to solder it yourself, and source the switches/caps. A few sites will build it for you. [0][1[[2] - LilyPro: Same as above. [3][4] - Georgo/GeorgoPlex: [7] Trackball: Someone mentioned a vertical mouse, those are really great, but I have been pushing trackballs on a few colleagues. A good in between is the newer logitech, that has a tilt mechanism, but its a thumbball. [5] You can find more options in at r/trackballs [6]. I can recommend the "Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse" and "CST L-Trac Blue Trackball", although the latter, the original company shutdown and are being manufactured by xkeys. There's also an open source trackball, ploopy [8]. P.s. buying keyboards and soldering them are great for a quick fix, but this hobby gets expensive quick. I am waiting on a few group buys;

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another 65% keyboard, another split keyboard and a few more key cap sets. P.s.s. group buys can be a hit or miss (mostly hit), treat them like kickstarters, and maybe you'll get your parts in a year or so. At least in r/mechanicalkeyboards, a few users have recently been complaining a tad more about not seeing the final product v.s. renders. [0] https://github.com/foostan/crkbd [1] https://keyhive.xyz/shop/hotswap-corne-helidox [2] https://www.littlekeyboards.com/products/corne-mx-hotswap-ki... [3] https://keyhive.xyz/shop/lily58 [4] https://github.com/kata0510/Lily58 [6] https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/ [7] https://www.gboards.ca/ [8] https://www.ploopy.co/

In The Dactyl-ManuForm Keyboard

cameronc56·Dec 30, 2019Recommendation phrase

There are not many mechanical ergo keyboards that are pre-assembled. Most boards that you assemble yourself use QMK keyboard firmware, which you can map however you like. This one is probably my favorite: https://github.com/foostan/crkbd

In The Joys of Unix Keyboards