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I have a digispark that uses trinket keyboard library to send media keys back to the computer using a rotary encoder. I currently have it configured to send normal media keys but about 2 weeks ago i started needing to change binds on what the rotary encoder does so i needed a driver of some sort. i asked and i got answers that i can't use serial ports but i can use unused keys like f13+ keys so i use the f keys now to communicate to c# software (it listens on these f keys and as soon as they are pressed depending on the configuration it does what it needs to do).
I don't think that code is needed for this demonstration but if u need it i'll be happy to edit this.

So i made the software and now comes a problem of what happens when u plug in the device that doesn't have the driver. its useless, so i need a way for the digispark to find out if there is a software that can "reprogram" what the rotary encoder does and if there isn't use the default functions(the media keys).

Questions:

  1. How would i go about finding out if there is the needed driver on that computer where the digispark is plugged in

  2. Is there any way to add my program made in c# to the digispark, i got a usb headset and when i first plugged it in it installed its driver, so when i plug in my digispark can it load the program

Solutions that i think may work but i have no idea how to do them:

  1. using one of these unused keys as Boolean, when its held down lets say by the c# software can the digispark using the trinket or any other compatible Tiny85 library determine if that key is pressed down or not (this may interfere with other software so i don't think its perfect solution)

  2. If anyone here knows any library or custom firmware that allows the digispark(Tiny85) to communicate on serial ports that'd be pretty useful and would solve the whole question.

For the second problem: do i need any other hardware to do this as i only have a Tiny85 digispark and a rotary encoder with a breakout board

If you have a solution please provide me code or links where i may learn how to do this because as of now i have no idea how to do this, i know my way around c# but i'm a noob in arduino programming. I already asked this on stack overflow a week ago but didn't get any comments or answers. I'm sorry if this counts as a duplicate i'll remove the one on stack overflow if needed. thank you for understanding

SenaCarbtc
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How would i go about finding out if there is the needed driver on that computer where the digispark is plugged in

I can't think of any way to do that. That's like asking if a keyboard you plug into a USB port can tell if you have Photoshop installed or not.

Is there any way to add my program made in c# to the digispark ...

No. The Digispark is a tiny computer based on the Attiny85 which has 8k of program memory, some of which is dedicated to a bootloader which lets you upload new code.

Your project is far too ambitious for the level of hardware you are proposing to use. In fact this video which I watched the other day comes to mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7AXskSxxMk

From a comment:

the it refers to the digispark, when connected the digispark checks if the f17 key is pressed down and if it is that means my program is running in the background so use the functions that are compatible with the program

OK, so you want the host computer (not the Digispark) to pretend it is holding down F17, and then when the Digispark is plugged in it checks if F17 is down, and if so it knows that the desired program is running on the PC. Is that your idea?

The problem here is that the Digispark is a USB device (not a USB host). I suppose it would be possible to write a special device driver on the PC that, once the Digispark connects, would send some special code to say whether or not the program is running. However with the Digispark only having 8 KB of program memory, this extra code (on the Digispark) might be hard to fit in. Plus you would need to write your USB device driver. Plus the device driver would need to be able to query what programs are running.

I think a far simpler solution would be to have an On/Off button on the Digispark. If you plug it into a PC which has this special program running you press the button, then the Digispark sends the alternative commands to your C# program.

Nick Gammon
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