diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ca9f00a733..35b128606d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ quantum/version.h
 
 # DD config at wrong location
 /keyboards/**/keymaps/*/info.json
+/keyboards/**/keymaps/*/keyboard.json
 
 # Old-style QMK Makefiles
 /keyboards/**/Makefile
diff --git a/builddefs/build_keyboard.mk b/builddefs/build_keyboard.mk
index f17171fe20..0b9ab8849f 100644
--- a/builddefs/build_keyboard.mk
+++ b/builddefs/build_keyboard.mk
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ MAIN_KEYMAP_PATH_3 := $(KEYBOARD_PATH_3)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)
 MAIN_KEYMAP_PATH_4 := $(KEYBOARD_PATH_4)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)
 MAIN_KEYMAP_PATH_5 := $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)
 
-# Pull in rules from info.json
+# Pull in rules from DD keyboard config
 INFO_RULES_MK = $(shell $(QMK_BIN) generate-rules-mk --quiet --escape --keyboard $(KEYBOARD) --output $(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/info_rules.mk)
 include $(INFO_RULES_MK)
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/converters.mk
 MCU_ORIG := $(MCU)
 include $(wildcard $(PLATFORM_PATH)/*/mcu_selection.mk)
 
-# PLATFORM_KEY should be detected in info.json via key 'processor' (or rules.mk 'MCU')
+# PLATFORM_KEY should be detected in DD keyboard config via key 'processor' (or rules.mk 'MCU')
 ifeq ($(PLATFORM_KEY),)
     $(call CATASTROPHIC_ERROR,Platform not defined)
 endif
@@ -335,38 +335,54 @@ ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/post_config.h)","")
     POST_CONFIG_H += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/post_config.h
 endif
 
-# Pull in stuff from info.json
-INFO_JSON_FILES :=
+# Create dependencies on DD keyboard config - structure validated elsewhere
+DD_CONFIG_FILES :=
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_1)/info.json)","")
-    INFO_JSON_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_1)/info.json
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_1)/info.json
 endif
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_2)/info.json)","")
-    INFO_JSON_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_2)/info.json
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_2)/info.json
 endif
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_3)/info.json)","")
-    INFO_JSON_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_3)/info.json
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_3)/info.json
 endif
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_4)/info.json)","")
-    INFO_JSON_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_4)/info.json
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_4)/info.json
 endif
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/info.json)","")
-    INFO_JSON_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/info.json
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/info.json
+endif
+
+ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_1)/keyboard.json)","")
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_1)/keyboard.json
+endif
+ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_2)/keyboard.json)","")
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_2)/keyboard.json
+endif
+ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_3)/keyboard.json)","")
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_3)/keyboard.json
+endif
+ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_4)/keyboard.json)","")
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_4)/keyboard.json
+endif
+ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/keyboard.json)","")
+    DD_CONFIG_FILES += $(KEYBOARD_PATH_5)/keyboard.json
 endif
 
 CONFIG_H += $(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/info_config.h
 KEYBOARD_SRC += $(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.c
 
-$(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/info_config.h: $(INFO_JSON_FILES)
+$(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/info_config.h: $(DD_CONFIG_FILES)
 	@$(SILENT) || printf "$(MSG_GENERATING) $@" | $(AWK_CMD)
 	$(eval CMD=$(QMK_BIN) generate-config-h --quiet --keyboard $(KEYBOARD) --output $(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/info_config.h)
 	@$(BUILD_CMD)
 
-$(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.c: $(INFO_JSON_FILES)
+$(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.c: $(DD_CONFIG_FILES)
 	@$(SILENT) || printf "$(MSG_GENERATING) $@" | $(AWK_CMD)
 	$(eval CMD=$(QMK_BIN) generate-keyboard-c --quiet --keyboard $(KEYBOARD) --output $(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.c)
 	@$(BUILD_CMD)
 
-$(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.h: $(INFO_JSON_FILES)
+$(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.h: $(DD_CONFIG_FILES)
 	@$(SILENT) || printf "$(MSG_GENERATING) $@" | $(AWK_CMD)
 	$(eval CMD=$(QMK_BIN) generate-keyboard-h --quiet --keyboard $(KEYBOARD) --include $(FOUND_KEYBOARD_H) --output $(INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT)/src/default_keyboard.h)
 	@$(BUILD_CMD)
diff --git a/data/templates/keyboard/config.h b/data/templates/keyboard/config.h
deleted file mode 100644
index b15c8d31f1..0000000000
--- a/data/templates/keyboard/config.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright %YEAR% %REAL_NAME% (@%USER_NAME%)
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
-
-#pragma once
-
-/*
- * Feature disable options
- *  These options are also useful to firmware size reduction.
- */
-
-/* disable debug print */
-//#define NO_DEBUG
-
-/* disable print */
-//#define NO_PRINT
-
-/* disable action features */
-//#define NO_ACTION_LAYER
-//#define NO_ACTION_TAPPING
-//#define NO_ACTION_ONESHOT
diff --git a/data/templates/keyboard/info.json b/data/templates/keyboard/keyboard.json
similarity index 100%
rename from data/templates/keyboard/info.json
rename to data/templates/keyboard/keyboard.json
diff --git a/data/templates/keyboard/rules.mk b/data/templates/keyboard/rules.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 6e7633bfe0..0000000000
--- a/data/templates/keyboard/rules.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-# This file intentionally left blank
diff --git a/keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/info.json b/keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/keyboard.json
similarity index 100%
rename from keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/info.json
rename to keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/keyboard.json
diff --git a/keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/rules.mk b/keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/rules.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 4df55cd220..0000000000
--- a/keyboards/zvecr/zv48/f401/rules.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-# Disable unsupported hardware
-AUDIO_SUPPORTED = no
-BACKLIGHT_SUPPORTED = no
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/make_dependencies.py b/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/make_dependencies.py
index 9b695e907d..331132a20f 100755
--- a/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/make_dependencies.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/make_dependencies.py
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@ from qmk.path import normpath, FileType
 @cli.argument('-km', '--keymap', completer=keymap_completer, help='The keymap to build a firmware for. Ignored when a configurator export is supplied.')
 @cli.subcommand('Generates the list of dependencies associated with a keyboard build and its generated files.', hidden=True)
 def generate_make_dependencies(cli):
-    """Generates the list of dependent info.json, rules.mk, and config.h files for a keyboard.
+    """Generates the list of dependent config files for a keyboard.
     """
     interesting_files = [
         'info.json',
+        'keyboard.json',
         'rules.mk',
         'post_rules.mk',
         'config.h',
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/cli/new/keyboard.py b/lib/python/qmk/cli/new/keyboard.py
index cb50acf8bb..700afc96a6 100644
--- a/lib/python/qmk/cli/new/keyboard.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/cli/new/keyboard.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def new_keyboard(cli):
 
     # merge in infos
     community_info = Path(COMMUNITY / f'{default_layout}/info.json')
-    augment_community_info(community_info, keyboard(kb_name) / community_info.name)
+    augment_community_info(community_info, keyboard(kb_name) / 'keyboard.json')
 
     cli.log.info(f'{{fg_green}}Created a new keyboard called {{fg_cyan}}{kb_name}{{fg_green}}.{{fg_reset}}')
     cli.log.info(f"Build Command: {{fg_yellow}}qmk compile -kb {kb_name} -km default{{fg_reset}}.")
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/info.py b/lib/python/qmk/info.py
index 13588abdb8..2449284668 100644
--- a/lib/python/qmk/info.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/info.py
@@ -863,7 +863,17 @@ def unknown_processor_rules(info_data, rules):
 def merge_info_jsons(keyboard, info_data):
     """Return a merged copy of all the info.json files for a keyboard.
     """
-    for info_file in find_info_json(keyboard):
+    config_files = find_info_json(keyboard)
+
+    # keyboard.json can only exist at the deepest part of the tree
+    keyboard_json_count = 0
+    for index, info_file in enumerate(config_files):
+        if Path(info_file).name == 'keyboard.json':
+            keyboard_json_count += 1
+            if index != 0 or keyboard_json_count > 1:
+                _log_error(info_data, f'Invalid keyboard.json location detected: {info_file}.')
+
+    for info_file in config_files:
         # Load and validate the JSON data
         new_info_data = json_load(info_file)
 
@@ -921,7 +931,7 @@ def find_info_json(keyboard):
     base_path = Path('keyboards')
     keyboard_path = base_path / keyboard
     keyboard_parent = keyboard_path.parent
-    info_jsons = [keyboard_path / 'info.json']
+    info_jsons = [keyboard_path / 'info.json', keyboard_path / 'keyboard.json']
 
     # Add DEFAULT_FOLDER before parents, if present
     rules = rules_mk(keyboard)
@@ -933,6 +943,7 @@ def find_info_json(keyboard):
         if keyboard_parent == base_path:
             break
         info_jsons.append(keyboard_parent / 'info.json')
+        info_jsons.append(keyboard_parent / 'keyboard.json')
         keyboard_parent = keyboard_parent.parent
 
     # Return a list of the info.json files that actually exist
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/keyboard.py b/lib/python/qmk/keyboard.py
index b56505d649..0fcc2e868d 100644
--- a/lib/python/qmk/keyboard.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/keyboard.py
@@ -166,9 +166,9 @@ def keyboard_folder_or_all(keyboard):
 
 
 def _find_name(path):
-    """Determine the keyboard name by stripping off the base_path and rules.mk.
+    """Determine the keyboard name by stripping off the base_path and filename.
     """
-    return path.replace(base_path, "").replace(os.path.sep + "rules.mk", "")
+    return path.replace(base_path, "").rsplit(os.path.sep, 1)[0]
 
 
 def keyboard_completer(prefix, action, parser, parsed_args):
@@ -181,8 +181,10 @@ def list_keyboards(resolve_defaults=True):
     """Returns a list of all keyboards - optionally processing any DEFAULT_FOLDER.
     """
     # We avoid pathlib here because this is performance critical code.
-    kb_wildcard = os.path.join(base_path, "**", "rules.mk")
-    paths = [path for path in glob(kb_wildcard, recursive=True) if os.path.sep + 'keymaps' + os.path.sep not in path]
+    paths = []
+    for marker in ['rules.mk', 'keyboard.json']:
+        kb_wildcard = os.path.join(base_path, "**", marker)
+        paths += [path for path in glob(kb_wildcard, recursive=True) if os.path.sep + 'keymaps' + os.path.sep not in path]
 
     found = map(_find_name, paths)
     if resolve_defaults:
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/path.py b/lib/python/qmk/path.py
index 74364ee04b..85a8f48c4f 100644
--- a/lib/python/qmk/path.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/path.py
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ def is_keyboard(keyboard_name):
     if keyboard_name:
         keyboard_path = QMK_FIRMWARE / 'keyboards' / keyboard_name
         rules_mk = keyboard_path / 'rules.mk'
+        keyboard_json = keyboard_path / 'keyboard.json'
 
-        return rules_mk.exists()
+        return rules_mk.exists() or keyboard_json.exists()
 
 
 def under_qmk_firmware(path=Path(os.environ['ORIG_CWD'])):