MIT student launches open-source modular keyboard Keybytes

A modular keyboard built from individual keys

Nathan Alspaugh, an MIT student, has developed Keybytes, an open-source modular keyboard that allows users to assemble custom layouts using magnetically connected keys called Keybits. Unlike traditional keyboards with fixed layouts, Keybytes enables users to arrange keys around a central controller or alongside other modules, removing restrictions on form and function.

How Keybytes works

The system consists of two core components: the Keyword controller and the Keybit modules. Each Keybit is a 19.05 x 19.05mm square (equivalent to a standard 1U keyboard unit) and contains its own RISC-V microcontroller. This allows each key to operate independently and connect magnetically to the Keyword controller or adjacent Keybits.

The Keyword controller features an Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller and is built on two stacked circuit boards. The upper board houses a Bluetooth antenna and flash memory, while the lower board provides USB-C connectivity, charging functions, and power management via a buck-boost converter. Each Keybit accommodates a Cherry MX mechanical switch, a popular choice in custom keyboard builds.

Cost and current limitations

Keybytes remains in an early stage of development. Alspaugh has demonstrated only a limited range of module combinations so far, and the system’s high cost could be a barrier for most users. Assembling a full-size keyboard—requiring around 110 Keybits and 2 Keyword controllers—would cost approximately $900, excluding additional expenses like printed circuit board production, soldering, and custom 3D-printed enclosures.

The current design also lacks dedicated illumination for individual keys, limiting lighting customization options. However, Alspaugh has suggested potential future enhancements, including RGB lighting, rotary controls, fingerprint recognition modules, or a compatible touchpad.

Open-source and DIY-friendly

Alspaugh has released the Keybytes project files, design assets, and construction details on GitHub under the MIT licence. This permissive open-source approach allows builders, hobbyists, and developers to modify, adapt, or contribute to the project without legal restrictions.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Keybytes is a creative proof-of-concept that challenges the traditional keyboard design paradigm. For founders and operators in the consumer electronics or open-source hardware space, it signals growing interest in modular, user-configurable devices—even if the current $900 price tag makes it a niche product. The use of RISC-V microcontrollers in each key also highlights how decentralized computing can enable new form factors, though power consumption and latency could become challenges as the system scales.

The project’s open-source nature could accelerate community-driven iterations, much like how frameworks like QMK have standardized custom keyboard firmware. If future versions address cost and functionality gaps—such as adding RGB lighting or reducing the controller footprint—Keybytes might appeal to enthusiasts or even specialized industries like assistive tech or ergonomic workstations. For now, it remains a fascinating experiment rather than a market-ready product.

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