In kernel virtual HID devices (was Future handling of complex RGB devices on Linux v3)

[Werner Sembach]

Hi

Am 24.07.24 um 19:36 schrieb Pavel Machek:
> Hi!
>
>>> IMO working with the HID LampArray is the way forward. So I would
>>> suggest to convert any non-HID RGB "LED display" that we are talking
>>> about as a HID LampArray device through `hid_allocate_device()` in the
>>> kernel. Basically what you are suggesting Hans. It's just that you don't
>>> need a formal transport layer, just a child device that happens to be
>>> HID.
>>>
>>> The next question IMO is: do we want the kernel to handle such
>>> machinery? Wouldn't it be simpler to just export the HID device and let
>>> userspace talk to it through hidraw, like what OpenRGB does?
>> That's already part of my plan: The kernels main goal is to give devices a
>> LampArray interface that don't have one already (e.g. because they are no
>> HID devices to begin with).
>>
>> The actual handling of LampArray will happen in userspace.
>>
>> Exception is that maybe it could be useful to implement a small subset of
>> LampArray in a generic leds-subsystem driver for backwards compatibility to
>> userspace applications that only implement that (e.g. UPower). It would
>> treat the whole keyboard as a single led.

LampArray also gives the HID keycode, if applicable, for keyboard leds.

It's the InputBinding field in the LampAttributesResponseReport, see HID Usage 
Tables v1.5 -> 26.3 Lamp Attributes Report.

Kind regards,

Werner

(ps sorry for resend @pavel, hit reply instead of reply all the first time)

(pps resend a second time because Thunderbird did HTML e-mail)

> Are you sure LampArray is good-enough interface? OpenRGB exposes
> keycode-to-LED interface, how will that work with LampArray?
>
> Best regards,
> 								Pavel