We just contributed a bug fix to the Linux kernel — and it started with a scrolling problem on the UHK. Here's the story.
In 2024, scrolling on the UHK via modules and mouse keys already worked well, but then @rightaditya appeared on GitHub and submitted a pull request to implement high-resolution scrolling on the UHK 60.
High-resolution scrolling is a generic HID feature developed by Microsoft, then ported to the Linux kernel. I didn't know about this feature. @benedekkupper, our USB/Bluetooth expert, ported this feature to the UHK 80, bringing high-resolution scrolling to all UHK models.
After using high-res scrolling, it became immediately obvious how jarring ordinary scrolling felt by comparison. I use the trackpoint module all day, and scrolling became buttery smooth and a joy to use. As a desktop user, it makes a huge difference when scrolling through web pages in the browser or source files in an editor.
But then I noticed that scrolling was extremely slow after I suspended and resumed my PC. At first, it looked like a typical firmware bug until Benedek not only realized it was a Linux kernel bug but also submitted a kernel bug fix. Benedek noticed that although we had just hit this bug, others have been living with it for 7 years!
We didn't expect the fix to be merged anytime soon, assuming a sizeable backlog, but to our surprise, it was merged, and is now part of kernel 6.19!
Interestingly, more recent Windows versions produce a near-identical error after suspend or reboot, which is more difficult to remedy, but disabling Fast Startup has been a proven workaround for some.
We're still a small company, and the thought that we've contributed to Linux, which is running on billions of devices, blows my mind. We're super proud of Benedek.
A kernel patch from a keyboard company. We'll take it! And yes — we're aware of the irony that a mouse bug was fixed by a keyboard company.
As always, let us know what you'd like to hear about in next month's update.
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