vd Brink Home Automations

Home automations with Home Assistant, ESPHome, Node-RED and more tech

Elgato Stream Deck - button action examples

For a software developer

My Stream Deck XL page

On this page I share and explain the button actions I use on my Stream Deck,
and how you can use them on your own Stream Deck to trigger tasks in your daily work as a developer as well.

Personally I use it for my OS actions, mail, Spotify, AI agents, video calls, IDE, calendar, GitHub, GitLab, Home Assistant and more…

I still have some actions on my wishlist myself. Maybe you can help me with them? Or do you know any other cool and useful actions for macOS software developers yourself? I’m always looking for new ones. Let me know via a comment on one of my social posts.

How to use this page

  • The button actions are grouped per application.
  • Most button actions can be downloaded directly from here and imported into your own Stream Deck.
  • Or use them as examples for all kinds of similar button actions.


Not every button works the same way:

  • Some work out of the box with the predefined built-in actions in the Stream Deck app.
  • Some need a plugin from the Elgato Marketplace.
  • Some need a plugin that is installed manually.
  • Some need an extra program or script to work correctly.

I describe for each one whether extra steps are needed first.

Stream Deck config application one of my pages with all kinds of actions and presented data on it

NOTE: All actions on this page are specific to macOS. The same solutions are probably also available on Windows, but sometimes you need different plugins for it.

NOTE: This page is constantly updated with new plugins and integrations.
I’ve added placeholders for features I already have running and will describe in the coming months. Bookmark this page and come back after a while for extra possibilities.

Example buttons

I have buttons on my Stream Deck for the below listed applications. Click on them to see the corresponding actions, you can download them directly onto your own Stream Deck. Or you can use them as examples and change them to fit the way you work.


Claude ai agent

With the Stream Deck + Claude you can for example start Claude, switch models, paste predefined prompts, and run different skills all with a single click.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

The above actions are just examples of how to configure them. Check here for all possible Claude Code commands.

Stream Deck Local Plugin: Jetstream icon Jetstream

Shows the live state of every Claude Code session/project on your keys: which project needs your input, which one is still working and which one is done, your 5h/7d usage, and keys to approve or deny an open question or stop all sessions at once.

Developed by pimmesz Price Free OS Mac
Installation Run npm i -g @pimmesz/jetstream and then jetstream install, which hands the packed plugin to your Stream Deck app.
Jetstream keys showing the state of every Claude Code session. It also shows your usage, it show if user input is required or of it's finished. Jetstream keys showing the state of every Claude Code session. It also shows your usage, it show if user input is required or of it's finished.
  • User input needed, visualization per project
    User input needed, visualization per project icon
  • Still running, visualization per project
    Still running, visualization per project icon
  • Session done, with the time since it finished
    Session done, with the time since it finished icon
  • Idle, project without an active session
    Idle, project without an active session icon
  • Approve the open question (AskUserQuestion)
    Approve the open question (AskUserQuestion) icon
  • Deny the open question (AskUserQuestion)
    Deny the open question (AskUserQuestion) icon
  • Usage gauge - 5h and 7d used, plus time until the limit resets
    Usage gauge - 5h and 7d used, plus time until the limit resets icon
  • Stop all running sessions at once
    Stop all running sessions at once icon

Features I'm still looking for:

  • Show as running when there is still a background task in a shell is running.

all applications

Browser

Opening favorite links in a browser can easily be managed with bookmarks, so you don't need a Stream Deck for it. The extra power comes when you want to combine it with selected text or use clipboard data in your search query.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Do you use your Stream Deck in combination with your browser?

all applications

Chat

You can create a Stream Deck profile linked to your chat apps, containing your frequently used text and icons for apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Slack, etc.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Download these and create your own profile/page with your own often used text and emojis!

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: Emoji Keys icon Emoji Keys

Choose from over 5000 emojis to use as a shortcut key, so you can paste one with a single button press.

Developed by Max Price Free OS Mac
  • Select an emoji from a big list and use that for a button.
    Emoji Keys: Emoji
    😂
    Text
    😂
  • Select an emoji from a big list and use that for a button.
    Emoji Keys: Emoji
    👍
    Text
    👍

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Features I'm still looking for:

  • Button press to open an emoji keyboard where you can directly type to search for the icon you're looking for
  • Slack: set away state

all applications

Google Mail

The Stream Deck can be used with navigate within Google Mail.
With Gmail's keyboard shortcuts enabled, with a keyboard shortcut you can search, compose a new email, go to your inbox or drafts, or open a label.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Features I'm still looking for:

  • Show the number of new inbox emails
  • Show the number of emails for a specific label

First you need the keyboard shortcuts to be enabled, this is not the default. Thhen check this big list of Gmail keyboard shortcuts you can map to your Stream Deck keys. You can use one of the above as example.

all applications

Google Meet

Google Meet videocall actions controled via a Stream Deck.

Google Meet buttons on my Stream Deck XL: start/end meeting, camera control, microphone (un)mute, raise hand, share screen, toggle blur and reactions. Google Meet buttons on my Stream Deck XL: start/end meeting, camera control, microphone (un)mute, raise hand, share screen, toggle blur and reactions.

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: Meeting Controls for Stream Deck icon Meeting Controls for Stream Deck

Controls a running video meeting with your Stream Deck keys: (un)mute, raise your hand and hang up.

Developed by Kolaborate Price Free OS Mac, Windows

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Custom actions for Google Meet.

Features I'm still looking for:

  • Leave call + press "Only for me"
  • confetti

all applications

Calendar

A Stream Deck key can work as a small calendar display, so you always know when your next meeting starts. See Google Meet for the controls of the meeting itself.

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: Next Meeting Countdown icon Next Meeting Countdown

Counts down the minutes to your next calendar meeting on a key, or shows the minutes left in the current one. Pressing the key opens the meeting link directly.

Developed by 6-Love Price Free OS Mac
  • Time left in current meeting
    Next Meeting Countdown: Current Meeting

    The color changes to amber and red closer to the end

    Time left in current meeting icon
  • Time to next meeting
    Next Meeting Countdown: Next Meeting

    The color changes to amber and red closer to the start

    Time to next meeting icon
    Requires/Remarks: click here to expand and see more details about these buttons.
    • Grant calendar access (macOS): Allow Stream Deck access to your calendars in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Calendars
      Grant calendar access
    • Both buttons together : "Now" and "Next" side by side in the Stream Deck app matching the macOS calendar events.
      Both buttons together
    • Button settings
      Button settings
    • No upcoming meeting : How the button looks when there is no next meeting.
      No upcoming meeting
    • On the Stream Deck
      On the Stream Deck

Features I'm still looking for:

  • Time since last meeting, so you can see how much time has passed since it ended

all applications

GitHub

Stream Deck + GitHub open your open-source repositories sections on GitHub with a single button click.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Which pages on GitHub do you often use yourself?

all applications

GitLab

Use the Stream Deck to quickly navigate to different sections of your GitLab projects.

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: GitLab Dashboard icon GitLab Dashboard

Shows live GitLab counters on your keys: the number of open merge requests, your own merge requests and open TODOs.

Developed by Wei-Meng Lee Price Free OS Mac, Windows
Installation The url, username and token need to be set once and are stored globally, not in the button itself.
See direct on the buttons the number of actions: Open issues, (own) merge requests. See direct on the buttons the number of actions: Open issues, (own) merge requests.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Features I'm still looking for:

  • Count based on specific branch names (bugfix, renovate, major)
  • Count based on specific project
  • Failed pipelines count

all applications

Home Assistant

Control your home devices direct with your Stream Deck.

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: Home Assistant icon Home Assistant

Controls and visualizes your Home Assistant entities, for example light switches, smart plugs or an air conditioner. It can also show live states like the room temperature or CO2 value.

Developed by Christoph Giesche Price Free OS Mac, Windows Website →
Home Assistant
  • Control lights
    Home Assistant: Entity generic)
    Control lights icon
  • Control smart plugs
    Home Assistant: Entity generic)
    Control smart plugs icon
  • Control the AC
    Home Assistant: Entity generic)
    Control the AC icon
  • Show entity states like temperature
    Home Assistant: Entity generic)
    Show entity states like temperature icon

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Custom actions for Home Assistant.

See more info on my dedicated page about this integration. Use the plugin to define these buttons.

all applications

IntelliJ Idea

Here are just a few example keyboard shortcuts for IntelliJ on macOS.
You can define any keyboard shortcut combination as a key on your Stream Deck, for your own preferred IDE (VS Code, Eclipse, NetBeans, VIM, etc.)

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: JetBrains IDE icon JetBrains IDE

Triggers shortcuts and actions inside JetBrains IDEs.

Developed by JetBrains Price Free OS Mac, Windows
Some of the available buttons in this plugin. Some of the available buttons in this plugin.
  • Trigger actions and shortcuts inside your JetBrains IDE

Check here for all IntelliJ IDEA's keyboard shortcuts which you can map on your Stream Deck.

all applications

macOS

The button actions here trigger basic macOS features.

Built-in Stream Deck action, no plugin required

The default System > Hotkey key contains some default OS actions, like editing, lock screen and log out, screenshots and Mission Control actions. These actions trigger the keyboard key combination. <br>This key can also be used to trigger any other key combination. The default System > Hotkey key contains some default OS actions, like editing, lock screen and log out, screenshots and Mission Control actions. These actions trigger the keyboard key combination.
This key can also be used to trigger any other key combination.

Features I'm still looking for:

  • RSS reader

Check here for all possible Mac keyboard shortcuts and add your own favorite macOS actions to your own Stream Deck.

all applications

Spotify

With Spotify and Stream Deck you get your music controls on physical keys, so you don't need to switch to the Spotify app.

Stream Deck Marketplace Plugin: Spotify icon Spotify

Adds play/stop, next and volume keys, a key that shows the cover of the song that is currently playing, a key to save that song to your Liked Songs list, and keys to start one of your playlists directly.

Developed by Elgato Price Free OS Mac, Windows
Physical media player controls on your Stream Deck.<br> <br> Actions:<br> Show the song that is playing<br> Volume control +/-<br> Previous song<br> Next song<br> Save to your Liked Songs<br> Play a specific playlist<br> Toggle repeat mode Physical media player controls on your Stream Deck.

Actions:
Show the song that is playing
Volume control +/-
Previous song
Next song
Save to your Liked Songs
Play a specific playlist
Toggle repeat mode

Use the plugin to select these buttons.

all applications

Days countdown

Stream Deck Local Plugin: Final Countdown icon Final Countdown

Counts down the days to a special date for you, such as a birthday, holiday, product launch or wedding.

Developed by vdbrink (myself) Price Free OS Mac
Installation Download the plugin, then double-click io.github.vdbrink.finalcountdown.streamDeckPlugin in Finder to install the plugin in your Stream Deck app.

all applications

My wishlist

I always look for more useful additions, especially these listed ones.

  • Claude ai agent - Show as running when there is still a background task in a shell is running.
  • Chat - Button press to open an emoji keyboard where you can directly type to search for the icon you're looking for
  • Chat - Slack: set away state
  • Google Mail - Show the number of new inbox emails
  • Google Mail - Show the number of emails for a specific label
  • Google Meet - Leave call + press "Only for me"
  • Google Meet - confetti
  • Calendar - Time since last meeting, so you can see how much time has passed since it ended
  • GitLab - Count based on specific branch names (bugfix, renovate, major)
  • GitLab - Count based on specific project
  • GitLab - Failed pipelines count
  • macOS - RSS reader

If you know how I can add these button actions to my Stream Deck, please let me know!

My Stream Deck XL
Stream DeckStream Deck

Read more about the Stream Deck

 Elgato Stream Deck - Home Assistant integration
Home AssistantElgato Stream Deck - Home Assistant integration

Control and visualize your Home Assistant entities with the Stream Deck.

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