Expose DSHMC.exe's features to the command line for scripting.

[Awebb]

Greetings you fine folks!

I just discovered this tool and it's working great. I think I've checked every resource short of reading the source code and couldn't find a way to script DSHMC.exe for easier "HID device mode" switching. Imagine calling it like this:

DSHMC --instanceid _BTHPS3BUS\..._ --hidmode sdf
DSHMC --sdfdigitalbuttons [mute/unmute]

The switch layout of course negotiable and I'd be willing to sit down and cook something (reasonable) up.

Why would we want this?
At this point, switching between PCSX2, RPCS3 and Retroarch requires a couple of clicks. By exposing those options to the CLI, one could launch, say, PCSX2 by script:

set HID mode to SDF
start PCSX2
close PCSX2
set HID mode (back) to Xinput or SXS.

[nefarius]

I understand the need and can definitely get behind this idea. Only big disadvantage I see in adding CLI to DSHMC is the need for administration elevation, that is never a good idea in scripts. Maybe have an IPC mechanism with an elevated process that makes the modification instead, not the actual CLI process, what do you think?

[Awebb]

I personally use gsudo to elevate single processes in scripts, but I see how this might not be for everyone. I'm afraid people would then run the whole script elevated, I see the issue.

Perhaps a service that does the changes and the frontend only communicates with it, an IPC mechanism, indeed. This would also eliminate the need to run the GUI as admin.

Different angle: Isn't there a way to elevate "sub processes" within a GUI in C#, that only ask the UAC when you try and run something that needs it?

[nefarius]

Different angle: Isn't there a way to elevate "sub processes" within a GUI in C#, that only ask the UAC when you try and run something that needs it?

There is but IMHO it's very ugly since unlike on *nix systems where there's a syscall here you need to invoke a new process that then runs elevated, I don't like that. Will look into the service idea, I've done similar setups before.