August 2024 brings another maintenance release of QMK. Almost all PRs this cycle were to do with cleanup or re-organization of existing features and code.
One key item is that there are no longer any `via`-enabled keymaps in the QMK repository -- these have all transitioned to an [External Userspace](../newbs_external_userspace) repository under the VIA team's control. Going forward, all PRs to `qmk_firmware` must not contain `via` keymaps; these should instead be redirected to the [VIA QMK Userspace](https://github.com/the-via/qmk_userspace_via) repository.
One note with updated keyboard names -- historical keyboard names are still considered valid when using [External Userspace](../newbs_external_userspace) for builds. If you're already using External Userspace, you do not need to move your keymap inside your repository.
### SparkFun Pro Micro RP2040 converter renamed ([#24192](https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/pull/24192))
The converter for the SparkFun Pro Micro RP2040 has been renamed.
| Old | New |
|-------------------|-------------------|
| `promicro_rp2040` | `sparkfun_rp2040` |
This change was made to avoid confusion between the clones named ProMicro RP2040 and the SparkFun Pro Micro RP2040. The clones should be using the `rp2040_ce` option.
Changes were made to key overrides in order to hook them into the keymap introspection system.
If you're using key overrides, your `keymap.c` will need a change to the signature of your list of key overrides, as well as removing the `NULL` terminator.
For example, you'll need to change existing code from (note the highlighted lines):
### ADNS9800 and PMW33xx firmware upload now opt-in ([#24001](https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/pull/24001))
Due to ambiguity with licensing compatibility, QMK has made the firmware ROM uploads for the ADNS9800 and PMW33xx lines of pointing device sensors temporarily opt-in with the view to removing them. Historically they were included by default, but as of this PR this is now no longer the case.
Please get in touch with the QMK team if your sensor no longer functions without the firmware upload -- so far we've tested each device type and they still seem to function without a new firmware, but this has not been a 100% exhaustive validation.
To re-enable firmware upload for your own builds, add the following to your keymap's `config.h`:
| Sensor | Define |
|----------|--------------------------------|
| ADNS9800 | `#define ADNS9800_UPLOAD_SROM` |
| PMW33xx | `#define PMW33XX_UPLOAD_SROM` |
:::info Note
If no issues arise during this current breaking changes cycle, these sensor firmware ROMs will be removed from QMK entirely.
:::
## Deprecation Notices
In line with the [notice period](../support_deprecation_policy#how-much-advance-notice-will-be-given), deprecation notices for larger items are listed here.
Last breaking changes cycle, the QMK team informed that [`via` keymaps are moving](./20240526#migration-of-via-keymaps-to-via-team-control) to the control of the VIA team. As of this merge, any `via`-enabled keymaps should now be PR'ed to the [VIA QMK Userspace](https://github.com/the-via/qmk_userspace_via) repository.
Any existing or newly-opened PRs against `qmk_firmware` will now be asked to remove any `via`-enabled keymaps from their submissions.
### ADNS9800 and PMW33xx sensor firmware ROM removal
As mentioned above, there's license compatibility issues between QMK and the firmware blobs historically uploaded for the ADNS9800 and PMW33xx sensors. This notice is to inform users that these firmware blobs will almost certainly be removed from QMK in the next breaking changes merge.
As previously noted this does not seem to have any detrimental effect to any of those devices, as they seem to include firmware on-chip without requiring one to be uploaded. Please get in touch with the QMK team on Discord if your sensor is no longer functional.
## Full changelist
Core:
* EEPROM: Don't erase if we don't have to. Adding eeprom_driver_format abstraction. ([#18332](https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/pull/18332))
* Generate keymap dd keycodes to header ([#20273](https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/pull/20273))
