The other benefit of using an Open action is that your shortcut will run whether or not the Shortcuts app is open. It doesn’t add any meaningful complexity to the process. What I like about the Open action is that it demonstrates just how easy it is to incorporate the Stream Deck into your workflow. There is also a third-party plugin for the Stream Deck that can run AppleScript, but I prefer to use the Open action method, which I’ve found is the most reliable. Here’s an example of AppleScript that runs my simple Hello World shortcut: tell application "Shortcuts Events" Just save your script locally and point the Open action at the script file to run it. This eliminates the need to turn your shortcut into a Dock item or set it up as a Services menu item, which I explain below. The Stream Deck’s Open action can also be used to trigger AppleScript, which supports running shortcuts. Stream Deck AutomationĪ saved AppleScript file is another way to trigger Shortcuts using the Stream Deck. However, it’s also worth noting that there are alternative devices like the Loupedeck Live that do everything the Stream Deck can and more, with different and fewer trade-offs, which I’ll cover briefly at the end of this story. I’ve gotten used to it, but the app’s interactions are all a bit off from Mac conventions, which makes it harder to use than it should be.Īll that said, the Stream Deck is still a powerful tool for Mac users that has been worth the trade-offs for me personally. Second, if you get into setting up a lot of automations with the Stream Deck, you’ll find yourself returning to its app over and over, unlike other accessories’ apps. I solved that problem by adding a button to the Stream Deck dedicated to surfacing its own app, but I shouldn’t have to waste a button with that. First, the app doesn’t show up when you Command-Tab between apps, which I do a lot. It’s not unusual for cross-platform accessories like the Stream Deck to use solutions like this for their setup apps, and I usually don’t mind because once they’re set up, you don’t need to use the app anymore, but two things bother me. It’s built with something called Qt Toolkit, a cross-platform development tool I haven’t come across before. The software used to set up the device isn’t great either. This app certainly isn’t going to win any design awards. The device has a USB-C port on the back but ships with a USB-C to USB-A cable, requiring an adapter or replacement cable if you’re using it with many recent Macs. The Stream Deck sits firmly on a desk, but it feels cheap for a relatively expensive accessory. Overall, the Stream Deck works well, but I’m not a fan of its design compared to similar devices. That said, I’ve had the 32-button Stream Deck XL for the past two years and appreciate the expansive interface, which requires less action management and navigation than a smaller model would.īefore digging in further, it’s worth examining the Stream Deck’s hardware and software a little more closely. As I’ll cover more below, the Stream Deck supports folders, pages, and profiles, which means that even a smaller model can support more actions than it has buttons. There are four Stream Deck models, one with 6 buttons, two with 15 buttons, and a 32-button model for prices ranging from $80 to $250. The app is straightforward, too, but powerful in the variety of actions it allows you to connect to the Stream Deck’s buttons. The device connects to your Mac via USB and serves as a push-button controller for your apps and automations, which you set up using the Stream Deck’s app. It’s just a panel of physical buttons, each of which has a tiny customizable LCD display.
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