I kinda want to hook one up to raspberry pi for some home control, but I’m not sure if the software to configure it works on Linux (or how it even presents itself HID-device wise)
I’m sure it’ll eventually be reverse engineered and have some custom drivers on github soon, but a quick google came up empty for this new device.
Edit: Oh I just realized this hasn’t been released yet, I saw the “buy now” button and assumed it was.
They only list support for Windows and MacOS on their site. The answer is almost certainly no, it doesn’t work with Linux. People may reverse engineer it like they did with the Stream Deck or GoXLR devices, but don’t hold your breath. Your best alternative would be something like this: https://drop.com/buy/megalodon-doio-hot-swappable-rgb-30-keyboard?defaultSelectionIds=970727
EDIT: Or, you could build your own without the need of a raspberry pi using something like this: https://www.instructables.com/STREAM-DECK-KILLER-and-OpenSource/
I’m no stranger to DIY nor reverse engineering, so I may still buy it as a winter weekend project.
DIY is difficult because I want real buttons, as well as customizable mini displays (like the Optimus keyboard of Olde)
As long as it shows up as a normal HID keyboard, and the upload protocol is reverse engineered, I’ll be happy.
Maybe I’ll get one and use the return policy to find out.
I kinda suspect it won’t show up as a normal HID keyboard, I had some issues with that with a Razer mouse/keyboard, I think they did some proprietary BS to make sure the shortcuts worked for actions that couldn’t be done via keypresses. But I hope it does! It would be cool to see.
The main thing I have learned after switching to Linux full-time is that weird, proprietary hardware like this is almost never a good idea, for many reasons. It’s very easy to make labels for keys if you really want to, and if you need more functionality, having more buttons instead of layers is always going to be faster to learn and use. Especially if you are trying to use this as a home automation interface, it’s probably a better idea to have either a touch screen or a separate screen and keypad.
Sure, this thing looks nice, but in a couple years (at most) it will be e-waste.
DIY is difficult
Well, arguably it’s difficult at first then become much easier BUT I understand one might not want to dedicate time to it. There are solutions though to buy hardware that is open hardware and with open-source firmware. I personally do NOT recommend reverse engineering except for the pursuit of knowledge. I do NOT recommend RE for “liberating” products because even though it is amazing, it is adversarial. The companies are making money still while NOT supporting Linux or even preventing it from being supported by the community without them spending a cent. That’s fine, that’s their strategy. I don’t approve of it but from a business standpoint I can understand it.
What I do recommend though is spending few minutes looking for proper alternatives. I clarified that a bit in another thread about inputs, cf https://lemmy.world/comment/12550034 so please consider having a look.
TL;DR: DIY/RE can be too much work but there are open hardware with open-source firmware projects sold on e.g https://crowdsupply.com which are “just” plug&play.
