The Ajazz AKP02 (the 9.2" 1920×462 USB side panel sold as a case or desk stats screen) only ships with Windows software, so I wrote a Linux driver and a daemon to drive it.

- **[akp02](https://github.com/deonspengler/akp02)\*\* is the driver library: it talks to the panel over USB HID. MPL-2.0, so you can build your own app on it.

- **[akp02d](https://github.com/deonspengler/akp02d)\*\* is the app: a systemd user service that draws themes you design yourself. GPL-3.0-or-later.

**What it can show**

- Clock, CPU, memory, disk, network, temperatures, uptime, IP address

- An audio visualiser (bars, mirrored, segmented or radial, via cava)

- What's playing, with cover art, from any MPRIS player (Spotify, mpv, browsers...)

- The system volume, following your volume keys as you press them

**The theme editor**

`akp02d-edit` shows a live preview of the panel, and works without the panel plugged in. Drag widgets in, move and resize them, and pick colours, gradients, fonts and data sources. Labels, bars, gauges (arc, car-style dial or analog meter), graphs, the visualiser and images are all there. Hit **Apply to panel** and it's live.

**Running it**

It runs as a user service and can be controlled while running: `akp02d ctl theme <name>`, `akp02d ctl brightness 60`. Save a theme and the panel updates within a second; a theme with a mistake is refused rather than blanking the screen. At 30 fps it uses about 3 ms per frame here.

**Install**

- Arch: `yay -S akp02d` (the driver package includes the udev rule, so no root needed)

- Other distros: `pipx install 'akp02d[editor]'`, then the udev rule and service from the README

Then:

systemctl --user enable --now akp02d

It's my first release, so bug reports, feature ideas and themes are all welcome.

I am looking to use a Intel NUC system for a home server, including serving audio to an AV receiver for mpd.

I have one system already (NUC6CAYH) which has the necessary digital out port, but is sorely lacking in oomph. Processor is a measly Celeron J3455, which is not enough for my purposes.

I do have another NUC, a NUC11TNKi3 which has more RAM, more CPU power and enough storage. What it lacks, however, is audio out. There are only USB/Thunderbolt ports and 2 HDMI out ports on it.

I could use the HDMI with a audio splitter, but this is too much effort imho.

Is there a dock (TB or USB-C) which has low power draw and has proper audio out support (S/P-DIF or coax)?

Hi everyone! Decksmith 1.5.1 is out. The big hardware milestone for V1.5 is using a Stream Deck + and standard 15-key MK.2 together on Fedora Workstation 44.

New V1.5.1 video tour (Fedora release and older experimental distro previews): https://youtu.be/gUnHIJ_tCM8

It’s my free, Apache-2.0 Linux app for these Decks. Each has its own layout, pages and brightness. I’ve checked my physical pair through ordinary controls, unplug/reconnect in both directions, lock/unlock and suspend/resume. Disconnecting one leaves the other usable. The release notes distinguish the signed-candidate checks from carried-forward qualification; this isn’t certification of every model or Linux setup.

The biggest additions in V1.5

• Both Decks, one desktop. Run a Stream Deck + and standard 15-key MK.2 together. Each keeps its own saved layout, pages and brightness, while either can control shared audio and media targets.
• New Plus audio gauges. Choose dual arcs for volume and audio activity, a single activity arc with the volume percentage beside it, or Classic bars. Meters follow the assigned output, app, microphone or System sounds target.
• A cleaner native editor. Action and Appearance settings are easier to work through, with visible scroll cues when there’s more below.
• Microphone controls across both Decks. Mute cancels active push-to-talk holds, and releasing the last valid hold returns the mic to Muted.
• Simpler installation. The installer checks dependencies and installs the verified release bundle. You don’t need Rust or Elgato’s Windows software to run it; USB permissions remain a separate step.

V1.5.1 also gives fresh setups the Maker’s Mark theme: small white bottom labels, transparent backgrounds and 85% icons. The bottom-left Home key on both models opens the project’s GitHub page. Updating preserves your existing layouts.

Support today

The supported setup is Fedora Workstation 44, x86_64, GNOME/Wayland, with the Stream Deck + and standard 15-key MK.2. Debian 13, Ubuntu 26.04 and Pop!_OS 24.04 COSMIC still have separate experimental V1 previews. Those are not V1.5 multi-device packages.

General plugins are still future work. Homebridge remains experimental.

What I’m considering for V2

Plugin support, built-in CPU/memory/storage/network monitors and broader language support are on the V2 plan. I’m also looking at linked page navigation and app-based paired pages, single/double/hold key actions, Dial Stacks and an Action Wheel, Now Playing, and key wallpaper.

These are future ideas, not features in this release. Scope and timing may change, and I’m not promising that every item will make V2.

Source and installation: https://github.com/infamous-pattern/decksmith Release and limits: https://github.com/infamous-pattern/decksmith/releases/tag/v1.5.1 Roadmap: https://github.com/infamous-pattern/decksmith/blob/main/docs/ROADMAP.md

For transparency, I’m using ChatGPT and Codex to help with code, debugging, documentation and this announcement. I direct the features and design and test the physical Decks on my own desktop.

I’d appreciate reproducible reports from Plus/MK.2 owners, including distro, desktop, model and package version. Please include your distro, desktop, Deck model and app version with any issues. Thanks!

Decksmith is independent of Elgato and Corsair.