I am wanting a macro pad for work, but we are not allowed to install software on them and even the websites we have access to is limited. I don’t want to have to use my personal computer or take the pad home whenever I want to make a more complex macro and am wondering if there are any where the keys can be configured using a configuration file stored onboard?
I think https://github.com/KMKfw/kmk_firmware might be what you are looking for: It exposes itself as flash drive in bootloader-mode and the files on there are just regular Python scripts. If you search for “KMK macro pad”, you’ll find a bunch of projects - most of them diy. If you want to start from scratch, Jan Lunge created an awesome tool for setup and keymap adjustments (video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtYJYFMWjNM, repo https://github.com/JanLunge/pog) - with the idea being that after setup you do not need the tool anymore to adjust the keymap.
This might work for you, the Pimoroni Keybow. The older version uses a text file to configure it, this new version seems more advanced but might still be a fit for what you’re after.
I don’t think there is any commercially available macropad that allows remapping without compiling. A custom macro with a controller that runs MicroPython though, like the Raspberry Pi Micro, can be modified by changing the source code, so no extra software needs to be installed. See this as an example https://blog.4dcu.be/diy/2021/04/05/Macropad.html
You may want to check out vortex keyboards. They don’t have macro pads only keyboards though. You do get 3 layers to reprogram any key, no software needed. I know all their older keyboards like the core, cypher, pok3r are all programmable, not sure about the newer ones.
I mean, I don’t know how comfortable I’d be bringing one to work, but the behavior you’re looking for (complex macros with swappable config files) remind me of pentesting devices like the Rubber Ducky.