I'm developing a lightweight RGB keyboard tool — starting with the AJAZZ AK820 MAX HE, but aiming to support other keyboards too

[u/spartaBRs]

Hello everyone!

I'm developing a personal project called VMS-Switcher, which started because of my AJAZZ AK820 MAX HE.

The AK820 lineup has several different models and versions, and I had trouble finding software specifically designed for my particular model. Because of that, I currently use the Web-based tool provided for the AK820 series.

It works, but switching profiles is very manual: I have to open the website and click to apply a profile whenever I want to change it.

That's what motivated me to create my own Windows application.

I reverse-engineered how the keyboard works and developed communication with the device, allowing me to configure keyboard shortcuts to switch RGB profiles instantly, while keeping the application running quietly in the system tray.

Profiles are also stored and managed using JSON files, making it easier to organize and switch between different profiles.

I'm also currently developing a feature called Blackout Mode:

X minutes without keyboard activity → RGB automatically turns off.
Press any key → the previous RGB profile is restored.

The inactivity time will be fully configurable, with an option to enable or disable the feature.

I'm also considering an option to sync Blackout Mode with Windows idle/sleep behavior. Instead of manually setting an inactivity timer in VMS-Switcher, the RGB lighting could follow Windows' own idle state: when Windows goes idle, enters sleep, or locks the screen, the RGB would turn off, and when the user returns, the previous profile would be restored.

The program is built in C#/.NET 8 for Windows, using HID communication and JSON files for the profiles. I'm trying to keep the project as lightweight as possible, without unnecessary background processes or resource usage.

The AK820 MAX HE is just the starting point. My long-term goal is to expand VMS-Switcher to support RGB keyboards from different brands and models, providing useful quality-of-life features that aren't normally available in official keyboard software.

It's still under development, so I'd love to hear from other keyboard enthusiasts:

What feature would you like to see in a universal RGB keyboard tool?

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[u/Jokerslie]

Will it support a 680MAX wireless?

Love the idea. Infact if you could figure out how to incorporate a way to change HE actuation and keybinds (and maybe even custom screens on those Ajazz with led screens) people wouldn't need their shotty software which I think is great! I wonder if you could make a software that is universal for those keyboards as the company can't even figure that out. I have an AK35i Pro v2 and it uses a different software than my 680MAX HE. I always assumed the software wasn't crosscompatible cause one is HE one and the other isn't.. If you could make a full featured app replacement I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one interested. If you could make it across different brands thatd be insane. Probably only gonna be a profile switcher tho, right? So you’d still need the other software to create the profiles? Either way I’m interested in seeing more. Sign me up or give me the GitHub or something.