Merge pull request #196 from petejohanson/blog/sotf-2

Blog - State of the firmware #2

docs/blog/2020-09-21-zmk-sotf-2.md

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+---
+title: ZMK State Of The Firmware \#2
+author: Pete Johanson
+author_title: Project Creator
+author_url: https://gitlab.com/petejohanson
+author_image_url: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2001ceff7e9dc753cf96fcb2e6f41110
+tags: [SOTF, keyboards, firmware, oss, ble]
+---
+
+Welcome to the second ZMK "State Of The Firmware" (SOTF)!
+
+This update will cover all the major activity since [SOTF #1](/blog/2020/08/12/zmk-sotf-1), preparations for the upcoming
+Hacktoberfest activity, and a current open call for community feedback on a ZMK mascot.
+
+## Recent Activity
+
+So much going on in ZMK!
+
+- Added a new generic [Hold Tap behavior](https://zmkfirmware.dev/docs/behavior/hold-tap)
+  in [#146](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/146) which now powers mod-tap, layer-tap, etc. - [okke-formsma]
+- [BLE profile/connection management](https://zmkfirmware.dev/docs/behavior/bluetooth)
+  in [#133](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/133) - [petejohanson]
+- Integration tests were added to automate testing of behaviors in [#131](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/131) by [BrainWart] & [petejohanson]
+- [Toggle layer behavior](https://zmkfirmware.dev/docs/behavior/layers#toggle-layer), e.g. `&tog LOWER`, in
+  [#98](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/98) - [BrainWart]
+- Key fix for dropped press/release over HID [#93](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/93)/[#96](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/96) - [careyk007](https://github.com/careyk007) & [petejohanson]
+- Code formatting standardized using `clang-format` in [#183](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/183) - [petejohanson]
+- [Bootloader reset behavior](https://zmkfirmware.dev/docs/behavior/reset#bootloader-reset), e.g. `&bootloader`, in [#116](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/116) - [petejohanson]
+- Various bug fixes and documentation
+
+## New Shields
+
+- QAZ in [#130](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/130) - [tominabox1](https://github.com/tominabox1)
+- Iris in [#151](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/151) - [kurtis-lew](https://github.com/kurtis-lew)
+- RoMac 2.1 in [#122](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/122) - [bmcgavin](https://github.com/bmcgavin)
+- Sofle in [#118](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/118) - [CrossR](https://github.com/CrossR)
+- splitreus62 in [#92](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/92) - [Na-Cly](https://github.com/Na-Cly)
+
+## New Boards
+
+- DZ60RGB rev1 in [#166](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/166) - [Nicell]
+- nrfMicro in [#101](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/101) - [okke-formsma]
+- BlueMicro840 [#91](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/pull/91) - [Na-Cly](https://github.com/Na-Cly)
+
+## Hacktoberfest Preparation
+
+[Hacktoberfest](https://hacktoberfest.digitalocean.com/) is a yearly celebration of open source,
+which encourages participation in OSS, especially from new contributors.
+
+The ZMK contributors have been busy preparing for folks to join in on the fun by contributing to
+ZMK!
+
+- There is now a basic [Contributing Guide](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) to help newcomers get oriented, and get up to speed.
+- The [`Hacktoberfest`](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3AHacktoberfest)
+  issue label will help participants discover good issues to work on.
+  (The existing [`good first issue`](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22) label also helps with this)
+
+We're looking forward to the launch of Hacktoberfest!
+
+## Mascot Selection Feedback
+
+The ZMK project would like to settle on a mascot! We're soliciting community feedback as part of
+the process before a final mascot is selected.
+
+The current mascots up for consideration are:
+
+- Griffin
+- Peregrine Falcon
+- Zapata Wren
+- Zorro (south american fox)
+
+If you're interested in helping with the decision, head over to [Issue #195](https://github.com/zmkfirmware/zmk/issues/195) and add a reaction!
+
+## Coming Soon!
+
+There still lots of activity in ZMK, and plenty of exciting upcoming changes.
+
+- Improved modifier infrastructure, including "shifted keycodes" - [okke-formsma]
+- Battery percentage reporting over BLE - [Nicell]
+- Complete defines for HID keycodes/usage IDs - [innovaker](https://github.com/innovaker)
+- Additional core BLE connection/bond management work - [petejohanson]
+- Improved power management - [petejohanson], [Nicell]
+- One shot mod/layer behaviors - [okke-formsma]
+
+## Statistics
+
+Some statistics of interest for ZMK:
+
+- GitHub
+  - 115 Closed PRs
+  - 64 Stars
+  - 48 Forks
+- Discord Chat
+  - 186 total registered
+- Website (last 30 days)
+  - 7.4K page views
+  - 474 new users
+
+## Thanks!
+
+Thanks again to the numerous contributors and users who have made working on ZMK such a pleasure!
+
+[okke-formsma]: https://github.com/okke-formsma
+[nicell]: https://github.com/Nicell
+[petejohanson]: https://github.com/petejohanson
+[brainwart]: https://github.com/BrainWart