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Keybytes, a project shared on GitHub and presented as “Show HN,” describes a modular keyboard built from individual 1u key boards that can be rearranged. The design uses pogo-pin connections, magnetic cases and a separate Bluetooth- and USB-capable main board; the source does not establish availability, testing results or a release schedule.
A GitHub project called Keybytes presents a keyboard built from individual, rearrangeable 1u key modules, connected with pogo pins and held together by magnetic cases. The design pairs those modules with a main board that the project says supports Bluetooth and USB-C; the repository includes board and case design information, but does not establish whether a finished keyboard is available to buy.
The design has two kinds of boards, each measuring 19.05 by 19.05 millimeters. A Keybit is a single key module with a Cherry MX switch and a CH32V003 microcontroller. Pogo pins on each of its four sides carry 3.3-volt power, ground and I2C, allowing it to connect to the main Keyword board or to other Keybits. Corner pads are provided for programming.
The Keyword is the main board and is itself split into two stacked PCBs. The upper board carries an STM32WB55RGV6 microcontroller, a ceramic Bluetooth antenna and 2MB of QSPI flash. The lower board carries USB-C, a BQ25895 battery charger and a TPS631000 buck-boost converter. The project says solder pads are provided for a single-cell lithium-polymer battery, and that key modules can be programmed from the main board over pogo pins.
The repository includes a video demo, schematics and layouts, along with STEP files for the custom cases. The cases are designed to hold the modules together magnetically. The project identifies KiCad as the PCB design software and Onshape for case design, and lists an MIT license. These materials describe a published design; they do not by themselves confirm manufacturing, independent testing or commercial availability.
A Keyboard Built from Separate Modules
Keybytes explores a different way to make a keyboard configurable: instead of changing a layout in software or replacing a conventional keyboard, users could physically rearrange individual key units. If the connections work reliably in practice, the approach could support unusual layouts or let builders assemble a board in smaller sections. The project’s four-sided power and I2C connections are central to that modular premise.
The design also puts processing on each key module, with a separate controller on the main board for the broader system. That makes the project relevant to hardware hobbyists interested in distributed electronics, custom input devices and repairable or adaptable designs. However, the repository does not report measurements for connection reliability, typing performance, battery life or wireless range. Those outcomes cannot be inferred from the listed components alone.
For readers looking for a keyboard to purchase, the key distinction is that Keybytes is presented as a project and design, not a confirmed retail product. Its published files may provide a starting point for builders, but the source does not say how much a complete build would cost or how difficult assembly would be.
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How Keybytes Connects Its Boards
The project’s “Show HN” framing indicates that Keybytes was presented as a maker project, while its GitHub repository serves as the cited technical source. The supplied material describes a video demo and design files, but does not provide a dated launch announcement, user discussion or independent review. The timing and reception of the post are therefore not established here.
At the hardware level, the arrangement separates the Keybit modules from the Keyword main board. Each Keybit is one standard 1u square, with electrical connections on every side; the main board supplies the system’s Bluetooth and USB functions. Magnetic cases address the physical task of keeping the modules together, while the pogo pins provide their electrical link. The repository also lists an RGB status LED and USB-C electrostatic-discharge protection among the design features.
The project credits KiCad, Onshape, Blender, STM32CubeMX and Hack Club Forge. It does not provide evidence in the supplied material about production partners, a final bill of materials or a manufacturing plan. The listed MIT license applies to the project’s stated open-source terms, though builders should check the repository for the specific files and any component or tool requirements.
“A truly modular keyboard with rearrangeable keys, magnetic cases and Bluetooth!”
— Keybytes project description on GitHub
Build Status and Performance Remain Unclear
The supplied repository description does not state when the project was published or whether the video demonstrates a complete, sustained keyboard build. It also does not confirm that plans and parts are ready for general builders, or that the project has undergone independent testing. No price, production status or sales channel is specified.
Practical questions remain about how the modular connections behave during everyday typing, how many keys can be linked, and what layouts or firmware are supported. The source gives no figures for Bluetooth range, battery life, latency or durability. It describes the hardware features, but those details should not be treated as test results or guarantees.
Repository Files Are the Next Step
The immediate next step for interested builders is to review the project’s GitHub repository, including its schematics, PCB layouts, case files and demo video. The source does not announce a release date, manufacturing run or planned update, so no further milestone can be confirmed.
Any assessment of the design’s everyday usefulness will depend on further evidence, such as documented builds, compatibility details and testing of the key-to-key connections. Until that information is available, Keybytes is best understood as a published modular keyboard design whose practical performance and availability remain open questions.
Key Questions
What is Keybytes?
Keybytes is a GitHub-published modular keyboard design using individual key boards, called Keybits, and a separate main board called the Keyword.
How are the keys connected?
The project describes pogo pins on all four sides of each Keybit, carrying power, ground and I2C. Magnetic cases are intended to hold the modules together physically.
Does the keyboard support wireless and wired connections?
The project lists Bluetooth and USB-C on the main board. The supplied source does not give performance measurements or detailed instructions for using either connection.
Can readers buy a finished Keybytes keyboard?
The source does not say that a finished keyboard is for sale or that manufacturing is planned. It presents the project design and links to repository materials, including board and case files.
What information about performance is available?
The repository description lists components and features, but the supplied material does not report battery life, wireless range, latency, durability or independent test results.
Source: github.com
