They do, and indeed there are libraries that are already accomplishing what I am doing! This project is mostly there to satisfy my own curiosity, as well as build a robust .NET wrapper (not Python). Love the work that python-elgato-streamdeck does, for sure.
anthonyeden 24 days ago [-]
This is an interesting article. It’s worth mentioning open source software exists for the StreamDeck. Companion is very popular in the AV production industry. https://github.com/bitfocus/companion
dend 24 days ago [-]
Indeed, I am not the first, and I am sure not the last, to dig through Stream Deck internals. This article was mostly written to satisfy my own curiosity.
ofrzeta 23 days ago [-]
It's interesting. Recently I thought about building a DIY stream deck but LCD keycaps are so expensive that it almost makes sense to buy a steamdeck for scavenging the parts :)
dend 23 days ago [-]
I don't know about the latest Stream Deck models, but for previous models (at least the ones I have) you might be surprised that behind the scenes is just one display! See the teardown (album not mine): https://imgur.com/gallery/elgato-stream-deck-what-is-inside-...
The buttons are entirely virtual and the onboard controller ensures they are properly positioned, so you don't have to have each button carry it's own screen.
illwrks 23 days ago [-]
I remember the Nintendo 2DS did the same thing, it was one screen with a partition and touch overlay.The game was rendered to both sides of it, it was a clever cost saving exercise.
Heh, that's super interesting. Thanks for the info and the pointer.
ryao 24 days ago [-]
Am I the only one who wondered what desktop environment was providing the window decorations before realizing it was some variant of Microsoft Windows?
a1o 23 days ago [-]
It looks like it's rounded so I think it is Windows 11, but surprisingly it is using the photoviewer from the Vista era.
I didn't knew it was apparently still included in newer windows, I switched to nomacs as the image viewer in my Win11 because I disliked the new image viewer - it's usually slow, and it has weird controls for a desktop system.
dend 23 days ago [-]
I switched to the classic photo viewer because I am not a fan of the new one. You can switch with a bit of registry "hacking":
For HEIC photos, you might still want to use the new viewer.
a1o 23 days ago [-]
Yeah, it was HEIC that brought me to nomacs, I never heard of the format until I switched the phone for an iPhone.
DCH3416 23 days ago [-]
Yeah animated mouse wheel zoom will do it. And as a bonus "Photos" takes a lot longer to load. And what's this? "Edit an image using AI". Yeah, the pop ups.
Unfortunately you have to patch in photo viewer in order to use it out of box.
dend 24 days ago [-]
That would be stock Windows 10!
ryao 24 days ago [-]
I stopped using Windows in the Windows 7 era, so I am not used to seeing it.
xyproto 23 days ago [-]
Valve should rename "Steam Deck" to "Steam Machine" to avoid confusion with "Stream decks".
joshstrange 23 days ago [-]
I literally googled “Steam Deck Plus” because I read it wrong and immediately wanted to know about whatever new Steam Deck Valve was selling.
ParetoOptimal 23 days ago [-]
Personally I've never heard of Stream Deck and can't stop seeing "Steam Deck".
Also subjective, but Steam Machine sounds corny.
wtetzner 23 days ago [-]
I think they called it Steam Deck to avoid confusion with their previous Steam Machines.
jasonjmcghee 23 days ago [-]
I have to believe Valve has sold more units / has more brand recognition
victorbjorklund 23 days ago [-]
Very true. I own both yet even I'm confused all the time.
atmanactive 24 days ago [-]
>> ...but the software has gotten worse - it now goes as far as to requiring users for an account to download extensions.
That's when I got off that train. As alternatives, I am now evaluating Macro Deck and OpenDeck. I owe my gratitude to people like you who made it possible. Kudos and thanks!
dend 24 days ago [-]
Yeah, I am undertaking this primarily to break free of the artificial constraints - the hardware is top-notch, but the ever-increasing push to make every piece of software connect to an account when it's not needed is absurd.
Appreciate the shout-out!
qingcharles 23 days ago [-]
Absolutely fantastic write-up. Thank you for taking the time and energy to do that.
I also have the Elgato pedal -- is that just some regular HID device do you know?
dend 23 days ago [-]
Thank you for the shout-out, really appreciate it. Your assumption is correct - it's regular HID device!
juhanakristian 23 days ago [-]
Haven’t read the article yet but I love the “Little Mole” gif you used.
dend 23 days ago [-]
Krtek is an underrated classic!
moon82 24 days ago [-]
interesting, thanks for sharing!
educasean 24 days ago [-]
I was confused at first because I misread the title as referring to Valve's Steam Deck, which is a portable gaming PC
itsananderson 24 days ago [-]
Google also finds these names confusing. Whenever I try to search for something Stream Deck related, Google returns results for the Steam Deck. It's quite annoying.
taskforcegemini 23 days ago [-]
that one is on google though
sdenton4 24 days ago [-]
Same! I continued to be confused even on seeing the picture of the device and thinking, 'wtf, is there some steam deck console device I've never heard of?'
lhamil64 24 days ago [-]
I also misread that. And when the Steam Deck first came out I remember constantly misreading it as Stream Deck. Interesting how that changed.
dend 24 days ago [-]
Yeah, the naming for these devices is not very obvious to quite a few readers. This blog post is about the control box.
The buttons are entirely virtual and the onboard controller ensures they are properly positioned, so you don't have to have each button carry it's own screen.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+2DS+Screen+Replacement...
I didn't knew it was apparently still included in newer windows, I switched to nomacs as the image viewer in my Win11 because I disliked the new image viewer - it's usually slow, and it has weird controls for a desktop system.
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll" /f
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell" /f
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open" /f /v MuiVerb /t REG_SZ /d "@photoviewer.dll,-3043"
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\command" /f /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe \"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll\", ImageView_Fullscreen %1"
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\open\DropTarget" /f /v Clsid /t REG_SZ /d "{FFE2A43C-56B9-4bf5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}"
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print" /f
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\command" /f /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe \"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll\", ImageView_Fullscreen %1"
reg add "HKCR\Applications\photoviewer.dll\shell\print\DropTarget" /f /v Clsid /t REG_SZ /d "{FFE2A43C-56B9-4bf5-9A79-CC6D4285608A}"
For HEIC photos, you might still want to use the new viewer.
Unfortunately you have to patch in photo viewer in order to use it out of box.
Also subjective, but Steam Machine sounds corny.
That's when I got off that train. As alternatives, I am now evaluating Macro Deck and OpenDeck. I owe my gratitude to people like you who made it possible. Kudos and thanks!
Appreciate the shout-out!
I also have the Elgato pedal -- is that just some regular HID device do you know?