263
24

CtrlAssist v0.4.0 introduces demultiplexing functionality along with enhancements to the system tray and rumble targeting. The updated README now features FAQ and Cookbook sections with practical examples, such as the "Double Agent Tag Team" scenario, where a single assist controller uses a demux to help multiple primary players across separate mux instances, and the "Couch Co-Op Swap" scenario, in which two players take turns assisting each other using toggle mode, with force feedback following the currently active controller by default.

While controller demultiplexing was a requested feature from a prior release, I didn't have a concrete use case until I found myself helping a pair of youngsters play couch co-op multiplayer games with each other. Instead of needing separate assist controllers for each player, otherwise charging/pairing four controllers in total, being able to unicast between mux instances with a single assist controller made juggling both inputs much simpler. Then after being roped into the "It Takes Two" session myself, I found being able to swap primary and assist players outright much simpler when both helping and playing, allowing the Helpee to also aid the Helper when it really does take two.

New Features

Demux Operation Mode

CtrlAssist now supports demultiplexing (demux), allowing a single physical controller to be split into multiple virtual gamepads. This complements the existing multiplexing (mux) functionality and enables more advanced input routing scenarios.

Demux Modes:

  • Unicast (default): Routes primary controller input to the currently active virtual gamepad. Cycle between virtual gamepads using the reserved Mode button.
    • Assist multiple players across separate mux instances
  • Multicast: Broadcasts primary controller input to all virtual gamepads simultaneously.
    • Replicate controller input for advanced input multiplexing pipelines

Active Rumble Targeting

A new "Active" rumble target has been added as the default option for mux operations. This routes force feedback to whichever controllers are currently active according to the selected mode:

  • Toggle Mode: Rumble follows the currently active controller
  • Priority/Average Modes: Rumble sent to both controllers, same as before

Expanded Documentation

The README has been significantly expanded with:

  • FAQ Section: Addresses common questions about who CtrlAssist is for, why it was developed, game compatibility, supported controllers, and running multiple instances
  • Cookbook Section: Provides practical examples demonstrating complex multi-instance setups:
    • Couch Co-Op Swap: Two players alternating assistance
    • Double Agent Tag Team: One assist controller helping multiple primary players

Breaking Changes

  • The rumble target enum options now defaults to "Active" instead of "Both"
  • Configuration file format has been extended to accommodate separate mux and demux settings

Installation

CtrlAssist v0.4.0 can be installed via:

  • Cargo: cargo install ctrlassist --force
  • Flatpak: Download the bundle from the releases page and install with flatpak install
3

CtrlAssist v0.4.0 introduces demultiplexing functionality along with enhancements to the system tray and rumble targeting. The updated README now features FAQ and Cookbook sections with practical examples, such as the "Double Agent Tag Team" scenario, where a single assist controller uses a demux to help multiple primary players across separate mux instances, and the "Couch Co-Op Swap" scenario, in which two players take turns assisting each other using toggle mode, with force feedback following the currently active controller by default.

While controller demultiplexing was a requested feature from a prior release, I didn't have a concrete use case until I found myself helping a pair of youngsters play couch co-op multiplayer games with each other. Instead of needing separate assist controllers for each player, otherwise charging/pairing four controllers in total, being able to unicast between mux instances with a single assist controller made juggling both inputs much simpler. Then after being roped into the "It Takes Two" session myself, I found being able to swap primary and assist players outright much simpler when both helping and playing, allowing the Helpee to also aid the Helper when it really does take two.

New Features

Demux Operation Mode

CtrlAssist now supports demultiplexing (demux), allowing a single physical controller to be split into multiple virtual gamepads. This complements the existing multiplexing (mux) functionality and enables more advanced input routing scenarios.

Demux Modes:

  • Unicast (default): Routes primary controller input to the currently active virtual gamepad. Cycle between virtual gamepads using the reserved Mode button.
    • Assist multiple players across separate mux instances
  • Multicast: Broadcasts primary controller input to all virtual gamepads simultaneously.
    • Replicate controller input for advanced input multiplexing pipelines

Active Rumble Targeting

A new "Active" rumble target has been added as the default option for mux operations. This routes force feedback to whichever controllers are currently active according to the selected mode:

  • Toggle Mode: Rumble follows the currently active controller
  • Priority/Average Modes: Rumble sent to both controllers, same as before

Expanded Documentation

The README has been significantly expanded with:

  • FAQ Section: Addresses common questions about who CtrlAssist is for, why it was developed, game compatibility, supported controllers, and running multiple instances
  • Cookbook Section: Provides practical examples demonstrating complex multi-instance setups:
    • Couch Co-Op Swap: Two players alternating assistance
    • Double Agent Tag Team: One assist controller helping multiple primary players

Breaking Changes

  • The rumble target enum options now defaults to "Active" instead of "Both"
  • Configuration file format has been extended to accommodate separate mux and demux settings

Installation

CtrlAssist v0.4.0 can be installed via:

  • Cargo: cargo install ctrlassist --force
  • Flatpak: Download the bundle from the releases page and install with flatpak install
18

Announcing the release of CtrlAssist v0.3.0, which introduces significant new features and usability improvements. CtrlAssist brings "controller assist" functionality to Linux gaming by allowing multiple physical controllers to operate as a single virtual input device. This enables collaborative play and customizable gamepad setups, making it easier for players of all ages and abilities to enjoy games together.

Major Features

System Tray Interface

This release introduces a graphical system tray application that provides desktop integration for managing controller multiplexing. Users can now:

  • Configure primary and assist controller assignments via dropdown menus
  • Start and stop the mux without using the command line
  • Adjust settings through a context menu interface
  • Receive desktop notifications for status changes
  • Persist configuration across sessions

The tray interface supports live reconfiguration of device-invariant settings (mux mode and rumble target) while the mux is running.

Multiple Hiding Strategies

Controller hiding now supports three distinct strategies:

  • None: No hiding, manual configuration required
  • Steam: Automatically manages Steam's controller blacklist via config.vdf modification
  • System: Restricts device permissions system-wide (requires root access)

The Steam hiding strategy enables proper functionality in sandboxed environments without requiring elevated privileges, addressing a key limitation for Flatpak users.

Live Runtime Updates

The mux runtime now supports dynamic reconfiguration without restart for:

  • Mux mode changes (Priority, Average, Toggle)
  • Rumble target adjustments (Primary, Assist, Both, None)

This functionality is available through both the system tray and programmatic (D-BUS) interfaces, allowing users to adapt behavior during gameplay sessions.

Flatpak Distribution

CtrlAssist is now packaged as a Flatpak application with:

  • Automated GitHub Actions workflow for release builds
  • Desktop entry and metainfo for application catalogs
  • Proper sandbox permissions for device access
  • Support for Steam configuration modifications within the sandbox

Flatpak bundles are automatically built and attached to GitHub releases.

Additional Improvements

  • Configuration persistence to $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/ctrlassist/config.toml
  • Controller selection by name with best-effort matching across sessions
  • Enhanced documentation with installation instructions for both Cargo and Flatpak
  • New pixel art banner and application icon (via Aseprite)
  • Improved force feedback device recovery after disconnection
  • Better error handling and user feedback throughout the application

Installation

CtrlAssist v0.3.0 can be installed via:

  • Cargo: cargo install ctrlassist --force
  • Flatpak: Download the bundle from the releases page and install with flatpak install

Full installation instructions are available in the README.

Breaking Changes

The --hide flag now requires an enum value (none, steam, system) instead of being a boolean flag. Users upgrading from v0.2.x should update their scripts accordingly:

  • Previous: ctrlassist mux --hide
  • Current: ctrlassist mux --hide system
2

Announcing the release of CtrlAssist v0.3.0, which introduces significant new features and usability improvements. CtrlAssist brings "controller assist" functionality to Linux gaming by allowing multiple physical controllers to operate as a single virtual input device. This enables collaborative play and customizable gamepad setups, making it easier for players of all ages and abilities to enjoy games together.

Major Features

System Tray Interface

This release introduces a graphical system tray application that provides desktop integration for managing controller multiplexing. Users can now:

  • Configure primary and assist controller assignments via dropdown menus
  • Start and stop the mux without using the command line
  • Adjust settings through a context menu interface
  • Receive desktop notifications for status changes
  • Persist configuration across sessions

The tray interface supports live reconfiguration of device-invariant settings (mux mode and rumble target) while the mux is running.

Multiple Hiding Strategies

Controller hiding now supports three distinct strategies:

  • None: No hiding, manual configuration required
  • Steam: Automatically manages Steam's controller blacklist via config.vdf modification
  • System: Restricts device permissions system-wide (requires root access)

The Steam hiding strategy enables proper functionality in sandboxed environments without requiring elevated privileges, addressing a key limitation for Flatpak users.

Live Runtime Updates

The mux runtime now supports dynamic reconfiguration without restart for:

  • Mux mode changes (Priority, Average, Toggle)
  • Rumble target adjustments (Primary, Assist, Both, None)

This functionality is available through both the system tray and programmatic (D-BUS) interfaces, allowing users to adapt behavior during gameplay sessions.

Flatpak Distribution

CtrlAssist is now packaged as a Flatpak application with:

  • Automated GitHub Actions workflow for release builds
  • Desktop entry and metainfo for application catalogs
  • Proper sandbox permissions for device access
  • Support for Steam configuration modifications within the sandbox

Flatpak bundles are automatically built and attached to GitHub releases.

Additional Improvements

  • Configuration persistence to $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/ctrlassist/config.toml
  • Controller selection by name with best-effort matching across sessions
  • Enhanced documentation with installation instructions for both Cargo and Flatpak
  • New pixel art banner and application icon (via Aseprite)
  • Improved force feedback device recovery after disconnection
  • Better error handling and user feedback throughout the application

Installation

CtrlAssist v0.3.0 can be installed via:

  • Cargo: cargo install ctrlassist --force
  • Flatpak: Download the bundle from the releases page and install with flatpak install

Full installation instructions are available in the README.

Breaking Changes

The --hide flag now requires an enum value (none, steam, system) instead of being a boolean flag. Users upgrading from v0.2.x should update their scripts accordingly:

  • Previous: ctrlassist mux --hide
  • Current: ctrlassist mux --hide system
3
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by ruffsl@programming.dev to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world

Excited to announce release v0.2.0 for CtrlAssist, adding rumble pass-through support and significant improvements to controller multiplexing! CtrlAssist brings "controller assist" functionality to Linux gaming by allowing multiple physical controllers to operate as a single virtual input device. This enables collaborative play and customizable gamepad setups, making it easier for players of all ages and abilities to enjoy games together.

🎯 What's New

Rumble Pass-Through

Force feedback can now be forwarded to paired physical controllers! Configure which controller(s) receive rumble effects—route them to Primary, Assist, both, or neither. Share every haptic encounter from turbulence, engine failure, and hard landings with your co-pilot. Even better: if a controller disconnects mid-game (swapping batteries, USB cords, etc.), CtrlAssist automatically recovers and restores all force feedback effects when it reconnects.

Smoother Input Transitions

All assist modes now feature improved synchronization for more natural gameplay:

  • Joysticks snap cleanly: When assistance begins or ends, both X and Y axes update together—no more jarring diagonal-to-cardinal transitions
  • Toggle mode syncs instantly: Switching between Primary and Assist now mirrors the active controller's complete current state, eliminating phantom inputs from buttons or sticks that were held during the switch

Better Device Discovery

Controllers device trees are now discovered more reliably, preventing edge cases where multiple similar devices could cause conflicts. This also improves device hiding and rumble pass-through selection.

🛠️ Under the Hood

  • Refactored input handling for consistency across all three modes
  • Fixed button mapping quirks across physical and virtual device boundaries
  • Improved error handling and logging for edge cases and issue reporting
  • More graceful shutdown on Ctrl+C with robust cleanup

📦 Install and Upgrade

cargo install ctrlassist --force

Full changelog available at the GitHub release page.


Note: If you have experience with Arch or modding SteamOS, I could use also some help in fixing/documenting SteamDeck support, as I've not the hardware on hand and most of my Linux development has been on NixOS and Ubuntu thus far:

25
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by ruffsl@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev

Excited to announce release v0.2.0 for CtrlAssist, adding rumble pass-through support and significant improvements to controller multiplexing! CtrlAssist brings "controller assist" functionality to Linux gaming by allowing multiple physical controllers to operate as a single virtual input device. This enables collaborative play and customizable gamepad setups, making it easier for players of all ages and abilities to enjoy games together.

🎯 What's New

Rumble Pass-Through

Force feedback can now be forwarded to paired physical controllers! Configure which controller(s) receive rumble effects—route them to Primary, Assist, both, or neither. Share every haptic encounter from turbulence, engine failure, and hard landings with your co-pilot. Even better: if a controller disconnects mid-game (swapping batteries, USB cords, etc.), CtrlAssist automatically recovers and restores all force feedback effects when it reconnects.

Smoother Input Transitions

All assist modes now feature improved synchronization for more natural gameplay:

  • Joysticks snap cleanly: When assistance begins or ends, both X and Y axes update together—no more jarring diagonal-to-cardinal transitions
  • Toggle mode syncs instantly: Switching between Primary and Assist now mirrors the active controller's complete current state, eliminating phantom inputs from buttons or sticks that were held during the switch

Better Device Discovery

Controllers device trees are now discovered more reliably, preventing edge cases where multiple similar devices could cause conflicts. This also improves device hiding and rumble pass-through selection.

🛠️ Under the Hood

  • Refactored input handling for consistency across all three modes
  • Fixed button mapping quirks across physical and virtual device boundaries
  • Improved error handling and logging for edge cases and issue reporting
  • More graceful shutdown on Ctrl+C with robust cleanup

📦 Install and Upgrade

cargo install ctrlassist --force

Full changelog available at the GitHub release page.


Note: If you have experience with Arch or modding SteamOS, I could use also some help in fixing/documenting SteamDeck support, as I've not the hardware on hand and most of my Linux development has been on NixOS and Ubuntu thus far:

15

CtrlAssist – an open source project to bring more accessible, collaborative gaming to Linux! Inspired by PC gaming sessions with my own family, where both young and old relish exploring rich stories with immersive worlds (like Witcher 3, RDR3, Hogwarts Legacy, etc) but find coordinated combat or movement control too challenging to play solo, CtrlAssist lets you combine multiple controllers into one virtual gamepad, much like assist features on dedicated game consoles.

Whether your helping grandparents through tough boss fights, or co-oping with nieces and nephews to level age gaps, CtrlAssist aims to make PC gaming on Linux fun and accessible for everyone. While I’m certain similar utilities exist, I also just wanted a holiday hobby project to practice Rust development while scratching a personal itch.

Please give it a try, share your feedback in the relevant discussion categories, or check out the open issues if you’d like to contribute, help is always welcome!

#RustLang #LinuxGaming #Accessibility #OpenSource #CtrlAssist

38

CtrlAssist – an open source project to bring more accessible, collaborative gaming to Linux! Inspired by PC gaming sessions with my own family, where both young and old relish exploring rich stories with immersive worlds (like Witcher 3, RDR3, Hogwarts Legacy, etc) but find coordinated combat or movement control too challenging to play solo, CtrlAssist lets you combine multiple controllers into one virtual gamepad, much like assist features on dedicated game consoles.

Whether your helping grandparents through tough boss fights, or co-oping with nieces and nephews to level age gaps, CtrlAssist aims to make PC gaming on Linux fun and accessible for everyone. While I’m certain similar utilities exist, I also just wanted a holiday hobby project to practice Rust development while scratching a personal itch.

Please give it a try, share your feedback in the relevant discussion categories, or check out the open issues if you’d like to contribute, help is always welcome!

#RustLang #LinuxGaming #Accessibility #OpenSource #CtrlAssist

16

CtrlAssist – an open source project to bring more accessible, collaborative gaming to Linux! Inspired by PC gaming sessions with my own family, where both young and old relish exploring rich stories with immersive worlds (like Witcher 3, RDR3, Hogwarts Legacy, etc) but find coordinated combat or movement control too challenging to play solo, CtrlAssist lets you combine multiple controllers into one virtual gamepad, much like assist features on dedicated game consoles.

Whether your helping grandparents through tough boss fights, or co-oping with nieces and nephews to level age gaps, CtrlAssist aims to make PC gaming on Linux fun and accessible for everyone. While I’m certain similar utilities exist, I also just wanted a holiday hobby project to practice Rust development while scratching a personal itch.

Please give it a try, share your feedback in the relevant discussion categories, or check out the open issues if you’d like to contribute, help is always welcome!

#RustLang #LinuxGaming #Accessibility #OpenSource #CtrlAssist

4
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by ruffsl@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev
29

Background:

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 18 points 2 years ago

Do we have a community for computer architectures or computer science on this instance or anywhere else?

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 21 points 2 years ago

Pro tip: If you check the conical URL (youtube.com) first, the Lemmy web UI will help catch reposts before they are accidentally submitted.

https://programming.dev/post/1466264

I switched from using the short (e.g youtube.be) or external URL mirrors for that same reason, and just let the bots comment with privacy mirrors for those who prefer. Using the conical URL, aside from cross post detection, also ensures the thumbnail image and preview text get cached consistently.

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 17 points 2 years ago

Could go the other way though. Ask them nicely if they'd be willing to free up their heap of inventory, and if they return you a cart overflow, you know you've stumbled upon the ultimate zero day coupon.

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 48 points 2 years ago

scrambling to lock their doors

From a consumer perspective, it seems like all the FANG conglomerates are trying to shut the stable door after the AI horse has bolted, but perhaps from an industry perspective, their just trying to pull up the ladder behind themselves to curb competition, or stall any emerging upstarts, just like most FANGs where themselves only decades ago.

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 51 points 2 years ago

I think the comment that the_lego is replying to also highlights the false equivalency of calling the anti-WEI crowd as criminals, as was not a good look for Google.

They have apologized for using the word criminals & bullies in a broader context and I appreciate that. However, the initial part of the comment is very telling of how they view those who oppose.

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 19 points 2 years ago

Related:

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 18 points 2 years ago

This proposed standard raises my concerns about the ability to continue using the public internet with user-preferred hardware/software and custom extensions, and does not instill my confidence in maintaining the level of freedom and accessibility users currently enjoy:

Some examples of scenarios where users depend on client trust include:

  • Users like visiting websites that are expensive to create and maintain, but they often want or need to do it without paying directly. These websites fund themselves with ads, but the advertisers can only afford to pay for humans to see the ads, rather than robots. This creates a need for human users to prove to websites that they're human, sometimes through tasks like challenges or logins.

What information is in the signed attestation?

The proposal calls for at least the following information in the signed attestation:

  • The attester's identity, for example, "Google Play".
  • A verdict saying whether the attester considers the device trustworthy.

How does this affect browser modifications and extensions?

Web Environment Integrity attests the legitimacy of the underlying hardware and software stack, it does not restrict the indicated application’s functionality: E.g. if the browser allows extensions, the user may use extensions; if a browser is modified, the modified browser can still request Web Environment Integrity attestation.

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 55 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Image Transcription: Meme


A photo of an opened semi-trailer unloading a cargo van, with the cargo van rear door open revealing an even smaller blue smart car inside, with each vehicle captioned as "macOS", "Linux VM" and "Docker" respectively in decreasing font size. Onlookers in the foreground of the photo gawk as a worker opens each vehicle door, revealing a scene like that of russian dolls.


I'm a human volunteer content transcriber and you could be too!

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 20 points 2 years ago

I suspect this comment was posted to spell out the meme for those unfamiliar, but I wanted to thank you for transcribing it into text for those that also may be blind or visually impaired. With the loss of r/TranscribersOfReddit , I salute your contribution! Please keep at it!

https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/23/23771396/reddit-subreddit-community-transcribers-accessibility

[-] ruffsl@programming.dev 15 points 2 years ago

Yep, I've seen reporting of Navy's using them for controlling periscopes on submarines (now that most are drive by wire), or Air forces using them for piloting drones, as well as for teleoperated robotic thoracic surgeries.

The widespread user familiarity and benefits in transferable hand coordination skills with common gaming based HID economics is hard to refute. Although, I'm guessing the market for safety certified joysticks will uptick.

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ruffsl

joined 2 years ago