Elgato Stream Deck
For a software developer
Introduction
For all my years as a developer, a nice keyboard was good enough for my daily work.
I’ve always enjoyed creating scripts to automate tasks on my PC, phone, and at home, so this device is a small step for me. I don’t know why it took me so long to find it!
Read on this page to see how I use it and whether it is something you did not know you wanted.
Table of Contents
- My introduction with a Stream Deck
- What is a Stream Deck?
- Button actions
- Export and Import data
- Stream Deck models comparison
My introduction with a Stream Deck
Recently, I looked at the keypads available on the market for triggering frequently used scripts. They connect via Bluetooth or USB and have between 3 and 32 buttons. Some devices have an additional touch display or dial knobs. I also found the wide range of Elgato Stream Deck devices. They are mainly used by streamers to quickly switch scenes and trigger actions during live streams, but they also work well for other computer users, like me. The big advantage of these devices is that each button has its own display, which can be completely customized. You do not have to remember what each button does. You can also browse different action pages, multiplying the actions you can trigger with the same number of buttons. I found many integrations and SDK features for building your own actions. This makes it a cool gadget to play with.
I liked the new scissor keys on the new MK.2 15-button version, but the 32-button version gave me more direct controls without switching between pages, so I ordered it!
Stream Deck MK.2, 15 buttons
Stream Deck XL, 32 buttons
What is a Stream Deck?
A Stream Deck is a small keypad that you put next to your keyboard and connect over USB. The special part is that every button has its own little LCD screen behind it, so instead of a blank key you see an icon, a label, a color or even a live value. One press runs whatever you linked to that button: a keyboard shortcut, a script, a macro of multiple steps, an API call or an action from one of the many plugins.
Elgato (nowadays part of Corsair) originally built it for live streamers, who need to switch scenes, mute their microphone and fire a sound effect without ever leaving their game. But the device itself doesn’t know anything about streaming, it triggers whatever you configure, and that makes it just as useful for everybody else who repeats the same actions all day: software developers, video editors, photographers, musicians, people in endless video calls, and home automation tinkerers.
The problem it solves is that shortcuts don’t scale. You can remember five or ten key combinations, but not fifty, and half of your tools use a different combination for the same thing. On top of that a lot of daily actions aren’t a shortcut at all but a small chore: open this dashboard, run that script, join the standup, set the lights for a call. Because each button shows what it does, you don’t have to remember anything, you just look and press. And with pages and profiles you can give every application its own set of buttons, so the same hardware turns into a different control panel depending on what you’re working in.
Mini
Neo
MK.2
+
XL
+ XL
Button actions
In this chapter I describe different examples of how you can use the Stream Deck to automate tasks in your daily work as a software developer.
This section will constantly be updated with new plugins and integrations.
I’ve already added placeholders for features I already have running and will describe them here over the upcoming months. Bookmark this page and come back after a while for extra possibilities.
If you can’t wait to know more about a specific integration, let me know and I’ll try to prioritize writing that description.
If you know cool and useful actions, I’m always looking for new ones. Please let me know via a GitHub issue or a comment on my socials.
NOTE: All actions on this page are specific for macOS. The same solutions are probably also possible on Windows, but with different plugins.
Installation
You can use the download button by clicking on the link or key definition. This file contains the action and icon. You can use the “Import Action…” feature to load it directly on your own Stream Deck.
If you like to use your own icon and set it up yourself I added as well the used field values.
An example of how a page could look like, click on it to go the the example page for action which you can use for different applications.
Export and Import data
There are multiple ways and levels to import and export settings and share the actions and profiles between different Stream Decks. You can download my examples here and load them directly into yours!
Drag and Drop
If you have the macOS Application folder open in Finder, next to the Elgato Stream Deck app you can drag apps directly onto a button position. This also works for (bash) scripts.
Export all data
.streamDeckProfilesBackup file
Export Profile
Export Action
Import Action
Stream Deck models comparison
Elgato (part of Corsair) sells a whole family of Stream Decks. They all run on the same Stream Deck software. They mainly differ in the number of buttons, dials, and displays.
This table provides an overview of the different models, scroll to the right to see them all.
| Stream Deck | Mini | Neo | MK.2 | MK.2 Scissor Keys | + | XL | + XL | Mobile | Modules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Buttons | 6 | 8 + 2 touch points | 15 | 15 | 8 | 32 | 36 | 15 or 32 (virtual) | 6 or 15 |
| Extra display | No | Yes, “info bar” | No | No | Yes, LCD Infobar touch strip | No | Yes, LCD Infobar touch strip | n/a | No |
| Dials | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (rotate + push) | 0 | 6 (rotate + push) | 0 | 0 |
| Size (D × W × H) | 84 × 60 × 58 mm | 107 × 78 × 26 mm | 118 × 84 × 25 mm (without stand) | 118 × 84 × 25 mm (without stand) | 140 × 138 × 110 mm | 34 × 182 × 112 mm (without stand) | 205 × 147 × 175 mm | Your phone | Depends on the enclosure |
| Purpose | Cheapest entry model, for a handful of fixed actions | Budget mid-range with a built-in stand, page switching via the two touch points | The classic all-rounder with the original clicky keys | Same board as the MK.2 but with low-travel scissor keys: quieter and softer to press | Best choice when you need analog control: volume, brightness, EQ, timeline scrubbing, light dimming | Maximum direct controls without switching pages, my choice for development shortcuts | The 2026 flagship, “pro control surface” for broadcast studios and editing bays | Subscription app for iOS/Android, handy to try out the software before buying hardware | OEM/DIY boards to build the keypad into your own desk or panel |
| Product page | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato | Elgato |
| Buy US* | Amazon US | Amazon US | Amazon US | Amazon US | Amazon US | Amazon US | Amazon US | Android / iOS | |
| Buy NL* | Amazon NL | Amazon NL | Amazon NL | Amazon NL | Amazon NL | Amazon NL | Amazon NL | Android / iOS |
See all these models together on this Amazon US* or Amazon NL* page.
* Links on this page may be affiliate links. You pay the normal price while supporting my blog.
My advice for a software developer
The 15-button MK.2 and the 32-button XL are the most interesting models for a software developer: they have many buttons for a full set of shortcuts without switching pages to reach buttons for all kinds of apps.
My personal ideal model
If I could create my ideal Elgato Stream Deck, it would use the 32-button XL as its base, with the following modifications:
- Scissor keys: silent, with a consistent click across each button.
- Matte button finish: the current buttons reflect light.
- A brighter backlit screen: images can look a little pale.
- A walnut-look surround for the buttons to match my other desk accessories.
I hope you get inspired and many you now also see this as product you didn’t know you needed. Or do you have all actions also direct available with your normal keyboard.
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