Controller support

Which controllers work on each platform, over which connection, and where features are limited. Input parsing, controller presets, calibration, and haptics are the same everywhere; only how the device is reached differs per platform.

Legend: ✅ supported · ⚠️ needs one-time setup · ❌ not available.

Connections per platform

Connection	Windows	macOS	Linux	Android
Raw HID (full feature access)	✅	✅	⚠️ udev rules	✅ USB-OTG only
Standard gamepad (buttons/axes/rumble)	✅	✅	✅	✅

On Android, raw HID is available over a wired USB-OTG connection only. Bluetooth controllers come through the standard gamepad layer (buttons, axes, basic rumble).

Features per platform

Feature	Windows	macOS	Linux	Android (USB-OTG)	Android (Bluetooth)
Standard input (buttons/axes)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Precise raw-HID input	✅	✅	⚠️ udev	✅	❌
Output writes (LEDs/config)	✅	✅	⚠️ udev	✅	❌
Basic rumble	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅ (device-dependent)
Advanced HID haptics	✅	✅	⚠️ udev	✅	❌
Switch / NSO controller init	✅	✅	⚠️ udev	✅	❌
Stick / trigger calibration	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

On Linux, the ⚠️ features need the controller udev rules from linux-setup.md. The .deb installs them automatically.

By controller

Controller	Windows / macOS	Linux	Android (USB-OTG)	Android (Bluetooth)
Xbox	✅	✅	✅	✅
PlayStation (DS4 / DualSense)	✅	✅	✅	✅ standard
8BitDo / generic pads	✅	✅	✅	✅ standard
Switch Pro Controller	✅	✅	✅	✅ standard
Switch Pro Controller 2	✅	✅	✅	❌
NSO GameCube	✅	✅	✅	❌
Keyboard	✅	✅	✅	✅

Limitations

• Linux needs the controller udev rules for raw-HID controllers (Nintendo, Sony) and for the Switch/NSO init. Without them, only standard gamepad input works. The .deb installs the rules; AppImage users install them manually (linux-setup.md).
• Android Bluetooth delivers only standard gamepad input (buttons, axes, basic rumble). Raw HID, advanced haptics, output writes, and the Switch/NSO init are not available over Bluetooth, because Android gives apps no raw Bluetooth-HID access.
• Switch Pro Controller 2 and NSO GameCube need a vendor init sequence over a raw connection before they send input. On desktop this works over USB and Bluetooth; on Android it works over USB-OTG only. Over Bluetooth they don't work, so use the on-screen touch controls instead.
• iOS is not a supported target yet.