README.md

ZUOYA GMK26

Content

Introduction
Out of the box
VIA
QMK? Photos

Introduction

More photos in the bottom.

Two top right keys can be replaced with a 2u Backspace. The platecannot accommodate a stabliziser there, and none was included.

Out of the box

Stablizers are rattle-free. I hear no pings from the switches, neither when in place or when held to ear. The keycaps are dye-sub, with very clean legends everywhere.

Personally, I think the default sound profile is nice. Not the deepest, but not overly sharp. It's not quite.

VIA

The macropad works with VIA, and that's nice.

1. Download the JSON file ZUOYA_GMK26_20240517.json from this repo. It took over a month, but ZUOYA finally send it to me.
   • 🟠 TODO: fix ZUOYA_GMK26.json, my simplified, English-only version of the json from the Korean NAVER blog. I removed the encoder toggle as you can't physically remove the encoder, but remove the wrong option -- facepalm.
2. Open usevia.app in a Chromium-based browser.
3. UnderSettings, activate Show Design tab.
4. Load the JSON file:
   • Go to the design tab.
   • Check that V2 definitions are disabled.
   • Drag-n-drop or Load the downloaded JSON file.

   • Optional: Toggle Split Backspace og Big Spacebar to your liking. This can always be changed under Configure > Layouts.

5. Go to the Configure tab, authorize and remap your makropad!

   • Keychron has a VIA introduction.

VIA errors on Linux

If you get errors in VIA reading

• NotAllowedError: Failed to open the device, and
• Received invalid protocol version from device, then:

1. Open a tab to chrome://device-log/ and look for Failed to open '/dev/hidraw1': FILE_ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED, perhaps with another number than 1.
2. In terminal, run sudo chown $USER:$USER /dev/hidraw1 (with the right number).
3. Reload the VIA page and re-authorize the board.

QMK?

Source from Zuoya

The official ZUOYA Store on AliExpress sells this macropad stating that it supports "QMK/VIA". I've contacted the store to see if I can get a hold of some QMK source code, because being able to flash a home-compiled QMK firmware would give me satisfaction. a sense of power. Honesty first.

Update 1: An inquiry about both VIA JSON and QMK source was replied to with a promise that they send it to my email. It never arrived, on either of the mails I provided. I've send a number of reminders, and have now opened a refund request, citing missing items.

Update 2: I was just asked to return it. I didn't, as it's for a friend. I gave up on the communication.

TODO: Write a review on AliExpress scolding them.

Update 3:

TODO: Add screenshot of conversation from Alibaba where Zuoya rep concludes with "sorry".

Real QMK?

u/ArgentStonecutter suggested to test whether the pad is running real QMK underneath (or some alternative firmwware that can be interface with VIA). Their suggested test is to check whether tap-hold keys are supported. Gladly, they are: through Special > Any, I assigned a key LT(1, KC_BSPC). I send Backspace when tapped, and activated Layer 1 when held. This doesn't prove that the pad runs QMK underneath of course, but it fails to prove that it doesn't.

If it does run QMK, Zuoya should release the source code to not violate the license as they seemingly are already.

Photos