Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Mouser: An open source alternative to Logi-Plus mouse software

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Four dominant themes in thediscussion

#	Theme	Supporting quote
1	Logitech’s official software is seen as bloated, invasive, and unreliable.	“I’m constantly baffled by the terrible quality of Logitech’s software.” — dvdplm
2	Users are actively seeking third‑party or open‑source alternatives to replace the official driver.	“SteerMouse fills this gap brilliantly. Covers every device I’ve ever tried.” — Retr0id
3	Hardware quality concerns, especially the rubberized coating turning sticky, are frequently mentioned.	“I have wondered if my skin oils are somehow naturally more caustic than average.” — Retr0id
4	Many are losing confidence in Logitech’s dominance and want better alternatives.	“I will never buy a logitech mouse/keyboard ever, especially with the options we have today.” — elxr

🚀 Project Ideas

MouserCLI – LightweightCLI for Logitech Button Remapping

Summary

Provides per‑app remapping of any Logitech mouse button to custom commands without installing Logitech Options+.
Stores configurations in the mouse’s onboard memory for offline use.
Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux via a single Rust binary (~2 MB).

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Power users, developers, and Linux/macOS users who hate bloated UI apps
Core Feature	Per‑application button remapping, quick‑launch scripts, on‑device profile persistence
Tech Stack	Rust, libusb, optional Qt for optional GUI front‑end
Difficulty	Medium
Monetization	Revenue-ready: Subscription $4.99/month

Notes

HN commenters repeatedly cite “Options+ UI bloat” and desire for offline, lightweight alternatives – this directly addresses that.
Enables scripting of gestures (e.g., bind a thumb button to a shell script) without third‑party tools like Hammerspoon.
Could be packaged as an open‑source repo with a commercial “Pro” tier for advanced profile management.

SmartShift Auto – Adaptive Scrolling for MX Master

Summary

Replicates Logitech’s SmartShift feature by dynamically adjusting scroll resistance based on thumb pressure.
Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux without vendor‑specific drivers.
Provides a smooth, pressure‑sensitive scroll experience for MX Master 3/4 users.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Gamers, designers, and productivity power users with MX Master 3/4 mice
Core Feature	Adaptive scroll speed via built‑in accelerometer + pressure sensor, on‑device configuration
Tech Stack	Go (core), platform‑specific sensor access (PPD on Linux, CoreMotion on macOS, WinRT on Windows)
Difficulty	High
Monetization	Revenue-ready: One‑time $9.99 license

Notes

Frequent complaints about “scroll acceleration jumps” in Logitech software – SmartShift solves it natively.
HN users love the “smooth scrolling” advantage that justifies premium hardware; this makes it accessible without Logitech’s driver.
Could integrate with existing open‑source mouse utilities (e.g., Piper) for broader adoption.

MouseBinder – On‑Device Profile Switcher via Thumb Button

Summary

Uses the existing programmable thumb button on Logitech mice to trigger OS‑level device switching (e.g., from laptop to desktop) without opening Logitech software.
Stores up to 5 switching scripts in the mouse’s on‑board memory.
Provides a tiny CLI that compiles scripts into the mouse’s firmware.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Multi‑device professionals (remote workers, developers) who juggle several computers
Core Feature	One‑button profile switching, script attachment, on‑board storage
Tech Stack	Python, hidapi, Logitech firmware flashing utilities
Difficulty	Low
Monetization	Hobby

Notes

Directly answers Retr0id’s question about “reassign the button to launch a .sh” – this tool does exactly that.
Eliminates the need for “gesture + scroll” combos, simplifying workflow for HN users who value precision.
Low‑cost solution aligns with the community’s preference for open‑source, no‑subscription tools.

SteadyMouse – Acceleration‑Free Cursor for macOS

Summary

Provides a system‑wide patch to disable macOS mouse acceleration and enable raw input for any Logitech mouse.
Works without installing Logitech’s Options+; runs as a lightweight background daemon.
Offers per‑application sensitivity settings via a simple preferences pane.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	macOS users frustrated by Logitech’s acceleration and bloatware
Core Feature	Raw HID access, per‑app DPI scaling, disable acceleration globally
Tech Stack	Swift, Karabiner‑Elements hooks, System Extension
Difficulty	Medium
Monetization	Revenue-ready: Freemium with $5 one‑time premium for advanced profiles

Notes

Many HN commenters (e.g., “I hate it that you can’t disable mouse acceleration in macOS”) explicitly request this exact functionality.
Complements existing tools like LinearMouse/Mos but extends them to non‑Apple mice.
Offers a clean, non‑intrusive alternative to the heavyweight Logitech driver, fitting the community’s appetite for minimalistic utilities.