Reverse Engineering the Stream Deck+
(den.dev)164 points by dend a day ago | 36 comments
164 points by dend a day ago | 36 comments
anthonyeden a day ago | prev | next |
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
ofrzeta 20 hours ago | prev | next |
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 18 hours ago | root | parent |
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 15 hours ago | root | parent | next |
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.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+2DS+Screen+Replacement...
ofrzeta 18 hours ago | root | parent | prev |
Heh, that's super interesting. Thanks for the info and the pointer.
ryao a day ago | prev | next |
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 13 hours ago | root | parent | next |
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 6 hours ago | root | parent | next |
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":
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.
a1o 6 hours ago | root | parent |
Yeah, it was HEIC that brought me to nomacs, I never heard of the format until I switched the phone for an iPhone.
DCH3416 10 hours ago | root | parent | prev |
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.
ryao 21 hours ago | root | parent |
I stopped using Windows in the Windows 7 era, so I am not used to seeing it.
xyproto 12 hours ago | prev | next |
Valve should rename "Steam Deck" to "Steam Machine" to avoid confusion with "Stream decks".
joshstrange 11 hours ago | root | parent | next |
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 2 hours ago | root | parent | prev | next |
Personally I've never heard of Stream Deck and can't stop seeing "Steam Deck".
Also subjective, but Steam Machine sounds corny.
jasonjmcghee 5 hours ago | root | parent | prev | next |
I have to believe Valve has sold more units / has more brand recognition
victorbjorklund 11 hours ago | root | parent | prev | next |
Very true. I own both yet even I'm confused all the time.
wtetzner 8 hours ago | root | parent | prev |
I think they called it Steam Deck to avoid confusion with their previous Steam Machines.
qingcharles 8 hours ago | prev | next |
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 6 hours ago | root | parent |
Thank you for the shout-out, really appreciate it. Your assumption is correct - it's regular HID device!
atmanactive a day ago | prev | next |
>> ...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!
juhanakristian 13 hours ago | prev | next |
Haven’t read the article yet but I love the “Little Mole” gif you used.
dend 6 hours ago | root | parent |
Krtek is an underrated classic!
I was confused at first because I misread the title as referring to Valve's Steam Deck, which is a portable gaming PC
itsananderson a day ago | root | parent | next |
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 11 hours ago | root | parent |
that one is on google though
sdenton4 a day ago | root | parent | prev | next |
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 a day ago | root | parent | prev | next |
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 a day ago | root | parent | prev | next |
Yeah, the naming for these devices is not very obvious to quite a few readers. This blog post is about the control box.
eichin a day ago | next |
Hmm, https://github.com/abcminiuser/python-elgato-streamdeck/ already supports the Plus (that's the library behind https://github.com/timothycrosley/streamdeck-ui ) I wonder if there's a missed opportunity for collaboration here (I didn't see any names in common at a quick glance, though I didn't dig that far.)