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Introduction#

This page attempts to explain the basic information you need to know to work with the QMK project. It assumes that you are familiar with navigating a Unix shell, but does not assume you are familiar with C or with compiling using make.

Basic QMK Structure#

QMK is a fork of Jun Wako's tmk_keyboard project. The original TMK code, with modifications, can be found in the tmk_core folder. The QMK additions to the project may be found in the quantum folder. Keyboard projects may be found in the keyboards folder.

Userspace Structure#

Within the folder users is a directory for each user. This is a place for users to put code that they might use between keyboards. See the docs for Userspace feature for more information.

Keyboard Project Structure#

Within the folder keyboards, its subfolder handwired and its vendor and manufacture subdirectories e.g. clueboard is a directory for each keyboard project, for example qmk_firmware/keyboards/clueboard/2x1800. Within it, you'll find the following structure:

  • keymaps/: Different keymaps that can be built
  • rules.mk: The file that sets the default "make" options. Do not edit this file directly, instead use a keymap specific rules.mk.
  • config.h: The file that sets the default compile time options. Do not edit this file directly, instead use a keymap specific config.h.
  • info.json: The file used for setting layout for QMK Configurator. See Configurator Support for more information.
  • readme.md: A brief overview of the keyboard.
  • <keyboard>.h: This file is where the keyboard layout is defined against the keyboard's switch matrix.
  • <keyboard>.c: This file is where you can find custom code for the keyboard.

For more information on project structure, see QMK Keyboard Guidelines.

Keymap Structure#

In every keymap folder, the following files may be found. Only keymap.c is required, and if the rest of the files are not found the default options will be chosen.

  • config.h: the options to configure your keymap
  • keymap.c: all of your keymap code, required
  • rules.mk: the features of QMK that are enabled
  • readme.md: a description of your keymap, how others might use it, and explanations of features. Please upload images to a service like imgur.

The config.h File#

There are 3 possible config.h locations:

  • keyboard (/keyboards/<keyboard>/config.h)
  • userspace (/users/<user>/config.h)
  • keymap (/keyboards/<keyboard>/keymaps/<keymap>/config.h)

The build system automatically picks up the config files in the above order. If you wish to override any setting set by a previous config.h you will need to first include some boilerplate code for the settings you wish to change.

#pragma once

Then to override a setting from the previous config.h file you must #undef and then #define the setting again.

The boilerplate code and setting look like this together:

#pragma once

// overrides go here!
#undef MY_SETTING
#define MY_SETTING 4