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Hedy

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How to Use Piper on a Raspberry Pi?

#piper #raspberrypi

1. What Is Piper (and Why You’d Use It on a Raspberry Pi)

Piper is a graphical mouse configuration tool for Linux.
It works together with libratbag, a background service that talks directly to supported mice over USB or Bluetooth.

On a Raspberry Pi, Piper is commonly used to:

  • Remap mouse buttons
  • Adjust DPI (sensitivity) levels
  • Configure polling rate
  • Set profiles (for gaming, CAD, robotics UI, kiosks)
  • Store settings directly in the mouse firmware (for supported models)

Typical use cases on Raspberry Pi:

  • Gaming or retro-console setups
  • Industrial HMIs using programmable mice
  • Lab setups where precise pointer control matters

2. Check Before You Start (Very Important)
2.1 Mouse Compatibility

Piper does not support all mice.

It supports mice that work with libratbag, including many models from:

  • Logitech (G series)
  • SteelSeries
  • Roccat
  • Corsair (limited models)

If Piper opens but shows “No devices found”, the mouse is likely unsupported.

3. Install Piper on Raspberry Pi OS
3.1 Update Your System

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
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3.2 Install Piper and libratbag

sudo apt install piper libratbagd -y
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This installs:

  • piper → graphical configuration tool
  • libratbagd → background daemon that communicates with the mouse

4. Enable and Start the libratbag Service

Piper will not work unless the service is running.

sudo systemctl enable libratbagd
sudo systemctl start libratbagd
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Check status:

systemctl status libratbagd
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You should see:

Active: active (running)
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5. Launch Piper

From the desktop:

Menu → Preferences → Piper

Or from terminal:

piper
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If your mouse is supported, it will appear immediately.

6. Using Piper: Core Functions Explained
6.1 Button Mapping

In Piper, click any mouse button and assign:

  • Left / Right / Middle click
  • Keyboard keys
  • Media controls
  • Disabled (useful for kiosks)

Example
Map a side button to:

  • Ctrl + C for copy
  • Ctrl + V for paste
  • Shift for CAD navigation

➡ Engineering tip:
Button remapping is stored either in software or mouse firmware, depending on the model.

6.2 DPI (Sensitivity) Settings

Most gaming mice support multiple DPI stages.

In Piper you can:

  • Enable/disable DPI steps
  • Set exact DPI values (e.g. 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200)
  • Choose DPI-switch behavior

Best practice on Raspberry Pi:

  • Desktop use: 800–1200 DPI
  • 4K display or CAD: 1600–2400 DPI

6.3 Polling Rate

Polling rate defines how often the mouse reports position.

Typical options:

  • 125 Hz
  • 250 Hz
  • 500 Hz
  • 1000 Hz

➡ On Raspberry Pi:

  • 500 Hz is usually the sweet spot
  • 1000 Hz offers minimal benefit and more USB load

6.4 Profiles

Some mice allow multiple profiles:

  • Gaming
  • Desktop
  • CAD / 3D modeling

You can:

  • Switch profiles manually
  • Assign profiles to DPI buttons
  • Save profiles to mouse memory

7. Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Piper Opens but Shows “No Devices Found”

Causes

  • Mouse not supported
  • libratbag service not running
  • Insufficient permissions

Fix

sudo systemctl restart libratbagd
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Try another USB port (avoid hubs).

DPI or Buttons Don’t Change

Causes

  • Mouse firmware doesn’t support onboard storage
  • Profile not applied

Fix

  • Click Apply or Save to Device
  • Replug mouse

Piper Crashes or Won’t Start

Fix

piper --debug
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Check for missing GTK dependencies:

sudo apt install libgtk-3-0
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8. Headless or Minimal Raspberry Pi (No GUI)

Piper requires a GUI.

If you are running:

  • Raspberry Pi OS Lite
  • Headless system

You must either:

  • Install a lightweight desktop (LXDE), or
  • Configure mouse via libratbag CLI (advanced, limited)

9. Performance and Stability Notes (Real-World Use)

  • Piper settings do not impact CPU load significantly
  • Mouse polling is handled in kernel space
  • Settings persist across reboot if stored in device

For industrial or kiosk deployments:

  • Test settings after power cycling
  • Avoid firmware-dependent profiles if reproducibility matters

10. When Piper Is the Right (or Wrong) Tool
Use Piper if:

  • You have a supported gaming/advanced mouse
  • You need DPI or button remapping
  • You want a GUI-based solution

Avoid Piper if:

  • Using generic office mice
  • Running headless Raspberry Pi only
  • Mouse not supported by libratbag

11. Final Takeaway

Using Piper on a Raspberry Pi is straightforward once you understand its dependency on libratbag and device support.

Workflow summary:

  1. Install piper + libratbagd
  2. Enable the service
  3. Plug in a supported mouse
  4. Configure DPI, buttons, and profiles
  5. Save settings to device

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