Sorry commented on a different comment down in this thread with the answer, but for other people to see it easier:

https://github.com/pashutk/chocofi

A rare case of a topic text opening with providing context on what it is talking about. Thank you! I love it.

I don't use one. I don't feel like I have conflicting keybindings, or a need for additional keys. When I do, I customize my bindings through settings.

Looks like only the first link is valid still. The other three 404 not found.

or is that a region-specific thing?

I have a large selection, but I rarely use them for anything other than media keys and teams call functions. Other stuff like windows management in sway are all done on higher layers on my (40%) keyboard.

My preference is for something with at least one knob as knobs are my preference for things like scrolling, volume control, and zoom.

If you can find latching switches, these are great for triggering layers so you can get more out of your pad. You can obviously do latching layer changes without such switches in QMK, but you really need to trigger leds to help you remember which layer you on otherwise.

Pad I use the most is a CapsUnlocked CU7 that I got just before they imploded as I love the weight of the knob.

I’m using ch57x-keyboard-tool to configure it

Great! I've bought similar without the dials (I wish I didn't have to pay extra for the stupid LEDs) and was hoping there was something open sourcey to configure it with rather than their dodgy codebase for the same reasons you list!

It works great and the config is simple. It doesn't handle triggering things from those keypresses, but you've probably already got something running that does that.

I'm using Mate and it allows me to easily define custom shortcuts to open apps and so on. I suppose autoIt / the linux variants / custom script can add additional functionality to the keypad as well!

Also forgot to point out, you can buy keys with a transparent cover over the top on ali so you can shove a piece of paper underneath the transparent bit to use as labels.

$70 for a macropad? You can buy an entire kb for that price.

This looks awesome - thanks! What's the all-in price?

I'd definitely be interested. What else would I need to build it?

There should be a parts list on that GitHub. You'd need two microcontrollers, two batteries, all of the switches and keycaps you want a bunch of resisters and hot swap sockets if you want hotswappable switches.

The keyboard is a modification of the corne so if you can't find a tutorial on this one specifically I'd you want to watch a video, a corne one would suffice.

Well, I can't see a parts list in that repo, but I did find others. If the offer's still open, I'll definitely take a couple PCBs. Where did you buy the rest of the parts from?

Ahh, having a quick look around looks like I may have followed a corne build guide but just made sure I had choc stuff instead. (Don't think there was an actual choc variant of the corne at the time).

I bought all of my parts here: https://mechboards.co.uk/

The machine pin socket was to hotswap the controller whilst also giving storage for the battery underneath. I think I followed a YouTube guide for that one. It's not something you need to do though. If you are thinking of that and can't find the video yourself I'll try and look around for you.

But yeah if you give me an address I'll try and see how much the postage will cost for you, and I'll try and find where I've put them too. So don't buy any of the extra parts until you know for certain I've sent pcbs your way. Just in case I don't find them. Slim chance, but you never know.

I'm in the US. I can send you my address if you have somewhere I can send it. I don't want to post it publicly for obvious reasons.

You can give me a private message on here right?

DuckyPad: $100
Pro: $115

That's with cables, switches, and keycaps included.

Fun little customizable devices and purchases support the developer.

You're not wrong, but it's a small developer and an otherwise niche product. These things tend to get a bit more expensive as a result.

Totally worth it though!