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Preview. The current manual is at svalboard.com/manual.

What's new compared with Vial

Svalboard QMK is the current firmware, svalboard/qmk, release vLaunch2. You configure it with Keybard in Chrome or Edge.

Already in Svalboard’s Vial firmware, now edited in Keybard:

  • tap dances, combos, key overrides, alternate-repeat keys, macros and QMK settings
  • DPI, scrolling and Sniper keys
  • automouse toggle and timeout
  • TrackPoint recalibration

New in Svalboard QMK:

  • 256 entries each for tap dances, combos, key overrides, macros, alternate-repeat keys and leader sequences.
  • Leader sequences: a Leader key, then up to five keys, triggers an action.
  • Layer colors and LED brightness set from Keybard (see Layer lights and brightness).
  • Board identity: each board keeps its identity and can have a name.
  • Sniper toggle: slow movement without holding a key.
  • Boost: 2x, 3x or 5x faster movement, held or toggled.
  • Per-pointer automouse, with an activation threshold and decay.
  • Natural scrolling.
  • Idle power settings.
  • Protocol additions: host apps can read and control layer state.

Settings are stored in two checked copies, so a bad read doesn’t wipe your layout.

Changed: Chordal Hold replaces Achordion and is on by default. It is similar but not identical; check your mod-taps after moving.

Keybard also adds automatic backups, layer reordering, a saved default layer, a layouts library, printable layers and the Keybard Host overlay.

To move your board over, see Moving from Vial.