FOSSPicks
FOSSPicks

This month Graham checks out OpenRGB, QMPlay2, OctaSine, HiFiBerryOS, Speed Dreams, and much more!
Universal PC LED controller
OpenRGB
Even if flashy PC hardware with multicolor lights isn't your thing, it's now difficult to buy something that doesn't want to glow or flash in some way. RAM modules, mainboards, cooling systems, CPU fans, power supply units, and even USB ports often sport complex arrays of LEDs and displays that can be used to indicate everything from temperature to their owner's lack of taste. Of course, all of this can typically be turned off or tuned to the same color, but only if you have each manufacturer's custom executable for each brand and product branch. Oh, and you'll need a copy of Microsoft Windows. Linux users are often left in the dark, literally, when it comes to software support for these lights. We're often left struggling with Wine when we need to bend these devices to our will.
This has led to groups of enthusiastic users and developers reverse engineering the protocols behind many of these devices. They then skillfully use this information to create third-party tools that chase product IDs and serial numbers, as well as the huge variety of methods and mechanisms these products use to create their blend of red, green, and blue light. This is what OpenCorsairLink did, for example, and liquidctl, both of which we've covered in these pages. But even with these brilliant tools, you're still left with a disparate collection of utilities for different devices, all of which make their own interface choices and design decisions. This is why the all-encompassing OpenRGB project is so brilliant.
OpenRGB is a desktop application that can talk to hundreds of different light-emitting devices from dozens of different manufacturers. It does this in a consistent and predictable way across all the devices it supports. There's support for devices from AMD, ASRock, ASUS, Cooler Master, Corsair, eVision, Gainward, Gigabyte, Logitech (keyboards and mice), MSI, Razer, Thermaltake, and many others. Most will just work, while a few require some kernel tweaks or a kernel module for your distribution. If your device connects via USB, you'll need to add a new (documented) rule to enable non-root access. Others, such as the Philips Hue Bridge, require a few configuration options such as IP and MAC addresses added to the global configuration file.
After this has been done, you can launch OpenRGB. It first needs to scan your system for everything it supports. This can take some time, but there's also the option to filter this scan to only devices you know you have. As soon as the scan is complete, the devices will appear as a vertically tabbed list in the main window. Regardless of each device's capabilities, you can change the colors of the selected lights in the same way, using the same hue wheels and sliders. You can also create zones for sets of lights, apply color changes to an entire set, and save an entire setup to a profile. This is great if you want different setups for different uses, such as watching movies (complete with Philips Hue control), playing games, or just low light in the evening. It's remarkable that this all works from a single application.
Project Website
https://gitlab.com/CalcProgrammer1/OpenRGB

Media player
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Kubuntu Focus Announces XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
Another Kubuntu-based laptop has arrived to be your next ultra-portable powerhouse with a Linux heart.
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.