Developer Workflows

Automate your development environment with one-button git operations, build triggers, and environment switching.

Overview

Conductor turns gamepads and MIDI controllers into powerful developer tools. Map git workflows, build commands, test runners, and environment management to physical buttons.

What You’ll Learn:

• One-button git operations (velocity-sensitive)
• Build/test/deploy automation
• Docker and container management
• IDE and terminal shortcuts
• Window management and workspace switching

Quick Start: One-Button Git Workflow

Map all common git operations to a single gamepad button using velocity sensitivity.

[device]
name = "Developer Setup"
auto_connect = true

[[modes]]
name = "Development"
color = "blue"

# Xbox A Button: Git Operations (Velocity-Sensitive)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A Button Soft: Git Status"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
# Soft tap
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "cd $(pwd) && git status"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A Button (Hold 1s): Git Add + Commit"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonHold"
button = 128
duration_ms = 1000
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Sequence"
actions = [
    { Shell = { command = "git add -A" } },
    { Shell = { command = "git commit -m 'Quick commit'" } }
]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A Button (Hold 2s): Commit + Push"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonHold"
button = 128
duration_ms = 2000
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Sequence"
actions = [
    { Shell = { command = "git add -A" } },
    { Shell = { command = "git commit -m 'Auto commit'" } },
    { Shell = { command = "git push" } }
]

Result: One button for git status (tap), commit (hold 1s), commit+push (hold 2s).

Complete VS Code + Git Setup

Full gamepad integration for Visual Studio Code development.

Hardware

• Recommended: PlayStation DualSense or Xbox Series X controller
• Alternative: Any gamepad or MIDI controller

Configuration

[device]
name = "VS Code Development"
auto_connect = true

[advanced_settings]
hold_threshold_ms = 800
double_tap_timeout_ms = 300

[[modes]]
name = "VS Code"
color = "blue"

# ========== Git Operations ==========
# Face Buttons: Git Workflow
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Cross/A: Git Status"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "git status"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Circle/B: Git Add + Commit"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 129
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Sequence"
actions = [
    { Shell = { command = "git add -A" } },
    { Shell = { command = "git commit -m 'Update: $(date)'" } }
]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Square/X: Git Pull"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 130
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "git pull --rebase"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Triangle/Y: Git Push"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 131
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "git push"

# ========== Build & Test ==========
# Shoulders: Build and Test
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "L1/LB: Build Project"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 136
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "npm run build"  # or cargo build, etc.

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "R1/RB: Run Tests"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 137
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "npm test"

# Triggers: Advanced Build
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "L2/LT: Clean Build"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadTrigger"
trigger = 132
threshold = 64
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Sequence"
actions = [
    { Shell = { command = "rm -rf dist node_modules" } },
    { Shell = { command = "npm install" } },
    { Shell = { command = "npm run build" } }
]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "R2/RT: Deploy"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadTrigger"
trigger = 133
threshold = 64
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "npm run deploy"

# ========== Navigation ==========
# D-Pad: Workspace & Window Management
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Up: Mission Control"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 132
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "F3"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Down: Show Desktop"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 133
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "F11"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Left: Previous Desktop"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 134
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "LeftArrow"
modifiers = ["ctrl"]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Right: Next Desktop"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 135
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "RightArrow"
modifiers = ["ctrl"]

# ========== App Launching ==========
# Button Chords: Launch Apps
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "L1+R1: Launch Terminal"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonChord"
buttons = [136, 137]
timeout_ms = 50
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Terminal"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "L2+R2: Launch VS Code"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonChord"
buttons = [138, 139]
timeout_ms = 50
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Visual Studio Code"

Docker & Container Management

[[modes]]
name = "Docker"
color = "cyan"

# Start/Stop Containers
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 1: Docker Compose Up"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "docker-compose up -d"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 2: Docker Compose Down"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 129
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "docker-compose down"

# Container Logs
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 3: View Logs"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 130
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "docker-compose logs -f"

# Cleanup
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 4 (Hold): Prune System"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonHold"
button = 131
duration_ms = 2000
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "docker system prune -af"

Rust Development (Cargo)

[[modes]]
name = "Rust Dev"
color = "orange"

# Build
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LB: Cargo Build"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 136
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "cargo build"

# Test
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "RB: Cargo Test"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 137
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "cargo test"

# Run
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A Button: Cargo Run"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "cargo run"

# Clippy
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "B Button: Cargo Clippy"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 129
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "cargo clippy"

# Format
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "X Button: Cargo Format"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 130
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "cargo fmt"

Python Development

[[modes]]
name = "Python Dev"
color = "yellow"

# Virtual Environment
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 1: Activate venv"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "source venv/bin/activate"

# Run Tests
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 2: Run Pytest"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 129
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "pytest"

# Linting
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 3: Run Flake8"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 130
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "flake8 ."

# Format
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 4: Black Format"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 131
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Shell"
command = "black ."

Troubleshooting

Shell Commands Not Executing

• Problem: Shell actions don’t run or show errors
• Solution: Use absolute paths or ensure working directory is correct
• Example: cd /path/to/project && git status instead of just git status

Environment Variables Not Available

• Problem: Shell commands can’t find tools (npm, cargo, etc.)
• Solution: Source your shell profile in command: source ~/.zshrc && npm run build

Permissions Issues

• Problem: “Permission denied” errors
• Solution: Ensure scripts are executable: chmod +x script.sh

Next Steps

• Explore Streaming Examples - OBS and streaming platform control
• See Automation Examples - Advanced productivity workflows
• Learn Shell Actions - Shell command configuration
• Join Developer Community - Share your dev setup