Power at your fingertips
Tags: writing, ramblings, streamdeck, productivity
Published: 2022-10-30 02:38:20


![unlimited power](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/utpei1nr11lwqjsr2pgn.gif)

So, the topic that is on my mind today is the Elgato Stream Deck and how powerful it really is. I originally bought my stream deck when I was streaming on twitch. Due to a few personal matters that were going in in my life at the time, I quit streaming all together and I have never quite made it back yet.

Due to this, my stream deck sat on my desk, not getting used for over a year. Until the other day when I had the idea to plug it back it. My thought was I paid for it and I might as well try and find a way to use it in my everyday computing life. I'm not sure why I didn't think of this when I was using it the first time but, I guess it slipped my mind.

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So today I wanted to share with you how I have my stream deck currently setup for everyday use.


![Image 1](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/25xz4v44uhw0k5j8of5b.png)
Here is my current layout. At first glance, it doesn't look like much but, I am proud of what I have setup on it. Keep in mind that, with these kinds of things, your imagination is your only limitation. If you can dream it up, the stream deck can probably do it.

On the first screen, I have a lot of my most used things. In order we have

1. VS Code (folder)
2. Roku Controls (folder)
3. Discord (folder)
4. Websites (folder)
5. Windows Shortcuts (folder)
6. VM Ware (launcher)
7. VirtualBox (launcher)
8. Games (folder)
9. Wallpaper Engine (launcher)
10. Photoshop (launcher)
11. Next Page (button)

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## VS Code
![vscode](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/he9t9kwchnlh34x85kij.png)
So, right now, I don't really haver a lot setup here. The button launches VS Code. I am thinking I am going to setup a few useful shortcuts and that may be about it? I may even just convert this over to my coding/github button and try to work both of those in.

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## ROKU

![ROKU](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sol5djgsbgm0nibt8ady.png)
Inside this folder, I have all of the controls needed to run my streamdeck as a Roku remote. I am REALLY bad about misplacing my remote but, with this, I never have to worry about it again. You have your standard cotrols: volume up/down. power on/off. home, back and a 2 of my most used channels (one for my pc and the other for my switch).

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## Disocrd

![discord](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/gidgsximu0xfmknw4eoe.png)
For discord, I only have a few things setup. I have a button to launch it, mute, deafen, and switch to current call. I am currently researching more into what all functionality I can add to this folder.

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## Websites

![websites](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jtusrpx9xxzavnuf0v8a.png)
The skies are literally the limit here. These are my most commonly visited websites. Not really much to say honestly.

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## Windows Shortcuts

![windows](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9qnfyjrjsbouw09yeaup.png)
So, since I just started this little project up yesterday, I don't really have much functionality here yet. I have the windows key, task manager, and control panel. I am definitely looking to expand this section. Windows has so many shortcuts that I can't remember all of them. A few buttons I want to add are power off, restart, and anything else that could come in handy.

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## The Launchers

I have my virtual machine software, wallpaper engine, and photoshop on the main page. There are a ton more that I haven't added on there yet. As I think of more, I will add them. I may even have to make a folder for "Misc" applications that I use.

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## Games

![games](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/oat2mg3g9b4h2wrt8r8b.png)
This folder is by far my most in-depth one. I'm not going to put screen shots of every single folder because this post already feels like it is getting lengthy because of all of the images. But, I will go into detail about each one.

**Steam (folder):** inside of that folder, I have a shortcut to launch steam and a few games (RPG Maker MV, Elden Ring, Bug Fables, M.A.S.S Builder and a few more).

**GOG Games (folder):** This one is less exciting because I only have one game inside of this folder (Cyberpunk 2077).

**Epic Games:** Has an icon to launch epic games plus two icons for Borderlands 3 and Saints Row the Third. I don't really use Epic that much so I don't really have a lot of games installed for me to add icons.

**EA (folder):** I have 3 of my favorite games in this folder: Mass Effect 1, 2, & 3. I really don't like the EA Play launcher but, I get it for have an XBox game pass account. These were the only 3 games I really wanted from it.

**Black Mage (animated gif):** Launches Final Fantasy 14

**Hearthstone:** Launches the game.

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And that's it! That is every icon that I currently have setup on there. Like I said, as I come up with more use cases for icons, I will add them. Right now, I am digging the setup. I am really working on trying to make my desk feel like a cozy workspace.

While I do enjoy the stream deck, there are a few gripes I have about it as well. For one, not being able to add pages inside of folders. Sure you can just add another folder but, I feel like that gets a little convoluted after a while. It would be really nice if you could add pages instead.

The other is lack of extensions. Sure, there are quite a few that you can install through the stream deck but, I feel like there are some key functionality features with other applications missing. Granted, you could probably achieve this through using the stream decks built in system shortcuts and just make a folder that was for the application you wanted but, it would be nice to see more plugins for the stream deck for off/coding/general productivity.

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So that about wraps this up. Maybe I'll do another post about this later when I add more functionality to my stream deck? I actually have a few custom made multi-functions that might be cool to talk about. 

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day!


![signature](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/pckzc9ktl0i64iet3mvh.png)