August 5, 2026
Clack to the Future
New Keyboard: Alicja v2
DIY keyboard comeback has fans cheering, nitpicking, and joking about the cursed space bar
TLDR: Alicja v2 is a rebuilt custom keyboard that fixes the creator’s biggest problems from version one and adds more features. Commenters are loving the honesty, roasting the wrong-size space bar, and joking that this hobby never truly ends.
A home-built keyboard called Alicja is getting a sequel, and the reaction feels like a mix of proud applause, design snobbery, and pure internet clowning. The maker says version two fixes the biggest pain from the first attempt by swapping messy hand-soldered wiring for a proper custom board, adding easier switch swapping, a media knob, extra keys, and a simple 3D-printed shell. For non-keyboard people: this is basically someone rebuilding their dream typing machine after a year of living with the first draft and learning what annoyed them.
But the real show is the peanut gallery. The loudest praise is for the new design tool, KLE NG style workflow, which commenters are treating like a miracle that turns a nightmare hobby into something almost normal. Others are obsessed with the maker admitting the mistakes out loud, especially the now-infamous wrong-size left space bar, which instantly became the star of the comments. People are calling it "cursed," "chaotic good," and the kind of tiny flaw that makes a custom build feel more lovable.
There’s also low-stakes drama over taste: some commenters love the weird middle gap and the idea of adding an old laptop-style pointing stick later, while others are begging the creator not to turn the keyboard into a "Franken-board." The funniest running joke is that keyboard hobbyists will say "I’m done for a while" right before starting three more projects. On that point, the community seems totally united: nobody believes Alicja v2 will be the final form.
Key Points
- •The article documents the build of Alicja v2 after more than a year of using the original Alicja prototype keyboard.
- •KLE NG and KiCad were used to turn the keyboard design into PCB and plate files, leading to a PCB order manufactured in China.
- •Alicja v2 replaces the earlier handwired approach with a PCB-based design and uses an RP2040 Stamp MCU board.
- •The new keyboard includes Kailh MX hotswap sockets, one media-control encoder, additional keys, a 5-way switch, and an expansion connector with spare GPIO and power.
- •The author identifies design mistakes, including an incorrect left space-key size and a problematic 5-way-switch footprint, and plans a better case, USB hub support, and adjustable feet.