Building CUBE: A One-Person Keyboard Studio
Why I started a keyboard studio with a full-time job, what I've learned, and where it's going.
I didn't plan to start a keyboard studio. I planned to build one keyboard for myself. That was two years ago. Since then I've built fourteen keyboards, designed two cases, learned ZMK and QMK firmware from scratch, and spent way too many late nights on keyboard forums.The starting point
My first keyboard was a Corne. I bought a kit, watched a YouTube tutorial, and spent an evening assembling it. It was imperfect — the stabilizers rattled, one switch had a cold solder joint, and I didn't know what lube was. But I typed on it the next morning and thought: this is better than anything I've ever used.Why a studio
After the fifth or sixth build, friends started asking me to build keyboards for them. Then friends of friends. I realized there was a gap: people wanted custom keyboards but didn't want to research parts, learn firmware, or risk messing up a build. They wanted someone to handle the complexity.The constraints
I have a full-time job. CUBE is a side project, and I treat it like one — no false urgency, no growth-at-all-costs thinking. This means:
- I build in small batches, not mass production
What I've learned
1. The keyboard community is incredibly generous. Open-source firmware, free plate files, detailed build guides — people share everything. I want to contribute back.
2. Good enough is the enemy of shipped. I spent three months perfecting a case design that nobody asked for. Now I prototype faster and get feedback earlier.
3. One-person doesn't mean alone. The Discord servers, Reddit communities, and GitHub contributors are my extended team. I learn from them every day.
What's next
The MIX is my first production kit — a split, low-profile, wireless keyboard designed for long typing sessions. The Corne build guide is coming next. After that, I'll open up custom commission builds for people who want something specific.
The blog and wiki will grow as I write. I'm not a professional writer, but I've learned a lot and I want to share it in a way that's practical and honest. No hype, no affiliate links, no 'top 10 best keyboards' clickbait.
If you're reading this and you've been thinking about building a keyboard — just start. The worst that happens is you learn something. The best that happens is you end up with a tool that makes every day a little bit better.