DeckSight OLED Mod On Bazzite: Feature Request Discussion

Hey guys! I'm super excited to dive into a feature request that could seriously enhance the visual experience on our LCD Steam Decks, specifically with the DeckSight OLED mod. This is all about bringing vibrant colors and better brightness control to our gaming handhelds, and I think Bazzite is the perfect platform to make it happen. Let's break down why this is so cool and how we can make it a reality.

DeckSight and Bazzite: A Perfect Match

So, what's the big deal with DeckSight? Basically, it's an OLED mod for the LCD Steam Deck that promises to deliver amazing visuals. Think deeper blacks, richer colors, and an overall more immersive gaming experience. But here's the kicker: to really make DeckSight shine, we need the right software support. That's where Bazzite comes in. I've been experimenting with Bazzite, and I'm convinced it's the ideal OS for this mod. Unlike SteamOS, Bazzite, with its KDE/Wayland environment, natively supports ICC profiles and internal color management. This is huge because it means we can fine-tune the color settings for DeckSight right out of the box, ensuring the display looks its absolute best. This native support eliminates the need for complex workarounds and provides a more seamless user experience.

Currently, I've been tinkering with an install script, but with native Bazzite support, we can streamline the process even further. You can check out the current workarounds and installer in this repo to get a sense of what's involved. I've even got Bazzite running on my blueish-purple Deck, and the potential is clear as day.

One of the main reasons I'm pushing for Bazzite support is its superior color management capabilities. SteamOS, while great for gaming, lacks the advanced color management features that KDE/Wayland offers. This means that on SteamOS, getting accurate and vibrant colors on the DeckSight mod can be a challenge. However, with Bazzite, we can leverage ICC profiles to calibrate the display and ensure that colors are displayed accurately. This is particularly important for content creators and gamers who want the most accurate color representation possible. Moreover, Bazzite's flexibility allows for easier customization and tweaking of display settings, giving users more control over their visual experience.

The Brightness Control Challenge and Software Solutions

The main challenge we need to tackle is brightness control. With DeckSight, brightness adjustments have to be done in software, using gamma adjustments. On SteamOS, I've been using a service for X11 that interacts with xrandr to handle this. But here's the good news: in KDE on Wayland, software brightness control is actually built-in! The catch is, I haven't had the time to fully figure out how it works yet. Gamescope is another piece of the puzzle, but let's focus on brightness for now.

My hunch is that the way KDE handles brightness control on my Manjaro/KDE/Wayland desktop setup could be the key. When my development setup is connected, brightness control via software works flawlessly. The applet picks it up, and it behaves just like any other monitor. The magic seems to happen because PowerDevil doesn't detect DDC, and there's no DRM backlight device, so it defaults to software brightness control. This is perfect for DeckSight because it gives us the software-level control we need.

So, if my assumption is correct (and it's mostly just that at this point), the solution might be as simple as having KWin (or whatever component is responsible) ignore the GPU DRM backlight. This would force it to fall back to software control. Now, I'm not sure how much KDE configuration the Bazzite devs do, but I'm betting they have a better handle on this than I do right now. The Wayland solution is definitely something I'll be exploring, but I wanted to get this feature request rolling in the meantime. The importance of software brightness control cannot be overstated. Without it, users would be stuck with a display that is either too bright or too dim, making it difficult to use the DeckSight mod in different lighting conditions. By implementing a robust software brightness control solution, we can ensure that users can enjoy their games and other content comfortably, regardless of their environment.

Diving Deeper into Software Brightness Control: How It Works and Why It Matters

Let's really break down why software brightness control is so crucial for the DeckSight mod and how it functions under the hood. When we talk about brightness control in the context of displays, we're generally referring to the ability to adjust the intensity of the backlight. In traditional displays, this is often achieved through hardware-level controls, such as DDC (Display Data Channel) communication and DRM (Digital Rights Management) backlight devices. These mechanisms allow the operating system to directly interact with the display's hardware to adjust the backlight intensity.

However, the DeckSight OLED mod presents a unique challenge. Since it's an add-on display, it may not always be fully integrated into the system's hardware control pathways. This means that the standard hardware-level brightness controls might not work as expected. This is where software brightness control comes to the rescue. Software brightness control, as the name suggests, adjusts the display's brightness by manipulating the gamma values in the display pipeline. Gamma is a measure of the overall brightness and contrast of an image, and by adjusting the gamma curve, we can effectively make the display appear brighter or dimmer.

The beauty of software brightness control is that it's highly flexible and can be implemented regardless of the underlying hardware. It works by modifying the color output at the software level, which means it can be applied to any display, even those that don't have traditional hardware brightness controls. This makes it an ideal solution for the DeckSight mod, where hardware control might be limited.

However, it's worth noting that software brightness control isn't without its drawbacks. One potential issue is that it can sometimes lead to a reduction in color accuracy. Because we're manipulating the gamma curve, we're essentially altering the way colors are displayed. This can result in colors appearing washed out or distorted if the software brightness control isn't implemented carefully. This is why it's so important to have a robust color management system in place, like the one offered by KDE/Wayland, to ensure that colors remain accurate even when software brightness control is active.

Another challenge is that software brightness control can sometimes be less efficient than hardware control. Adjusting the gamma curve requires processing power, which can potentially impact performance, especially on lower-end systems. However, modern GPUs are generally powerful enough to handle software brightness control without significant performance degradation, so this is often a minor concern.

Despite these potential drawbacks, the benefits of software brightness control for the DeckSight mod far outweigh the risks. It provides a reliable and flexible way to adjust the display's brightness, ensuring that users can enjoy their games and other content in a variety of lighting conditions. By leveraging the software brightness control capabilities of KDE/Wayland, we can unlock the full potential of the DeckSight mod and deliver a truly exceptional visual experience on the Steam Deck.

Exploring the KDE/Wayland Advantage for DeckSight

Let's dive deeper into why KDE/Wayland is such a fantastic environment for the DeckSight mod. As I mentioned earlier, KDE/Wayland offers native support for ICC profiles and internal color management. But what does that actually mean, and why is it so important? ICC profiles, or International Color Consortium profiles, are essentially files that contain information about a display's color characteristics. They describe how the display reproduces colors, allowing the operating system to compensate for any inaccuracies or limitations. This is crucial for ensuring that colors are displayed accurately and consistently across different displays and devices.

With native ICC profile support, KDE/Wayland can automatically load and apply the appropriate profile for the DeckSight mod. This means that the colors you see on the screen will be as accurate and vibrant as possible, without any manual tweaking or calibration required. This is a huge advantage over SteamOS, which lacks robust color management capabilities and may not be able to fully utilize the DeckSight mod's potential.

Internal color management is another key feature of KDE/Wayland. It refers to the ability of the operating system to manage colors throughout the entire display pipeline, from the application to the screen. This ensures that colors remain consistent and accurate, even when different applications are using different color spaces or color profiles. This is particularly important for content creators who work with color-sensitive applications, such as photo editors and video editing software.

In addition to ICC profile support and internal color management, KDE/Wayland also offers a wide range of customization options for display settings. Users can easily adjust brightness, contrast, gamma, and other parameters to fine-tune the display to their liking. This level of control is essential for getting the most out of the DeckSight mod, as it allows users to tailor the display to their specific needs and preferences.

Furthermore, Wayland, the display server protocol used by KDE, is designed to be more secure and efficient than X11, the older display server protocol used by SteamOS. Wayland offers better performance, improved security, and a more modern architecture, making it a great choice for demanding applications like gaming and content creation. By leveraging the power of Wayland, Bazzite can deliver a smoother and more responsive user experience on the Steam Deck.

In short, KDE/Wayland provides a comprehensive and powerful environment for managing and optimizing display settings. Its native support for ICC profiles, internal color management, and a wide range of customization options make it an ideal platform for the DeckSight mod. By choosing Bazzite, users can unlock the full potential of the DeckSight mod and enjoy a truly exceptional visual experience on their Steam Deck.

Call to Action: Let's Make This Happen!

So, what do you guys think? Are you as excited about the possibilities of DeckSight on Bazzite as I am? I think this could be a game-changer for the Steam Deck community, and I'm eager to see it become a reality. I'm hoping the Bazzite devs can lend a hand in figuring out the software brightness control piece of the puzzle. If we can crack that, I think we'll be well on our way to a fantastic DeckSight experience on Bazzite.

Let's discuss this further! What are your thoughts? Are there any potential challenges we haven't considered? Any ideas on how to best approach the software brightness control issue? Let's collaborate and make this happen!