LightBoard

Add fantastic lighting effects to your MacBook's Backlit Keyboard

LightBoard is a lightweight macOS utility that emulates keyboard-backlight effects on Macs that do not provide native software control. The app uses a virtual HID device to simulate brightness-control key presses, creating smooth lighting effects while keeping everything system-safe.

Have a look at it!

Features

1. Key-Press Illuminating Effect

Simulates rapid virtual key presses to mimic an illumination glow. This generates a brief brightness pulse whenever the effect runs.

2. Breathing Effect

Smoothly cycles the keyboard illumination by gradually increasing and decreasing brightness through controlled HID key events.

3. Intensity Adjustment

Allows users to set a maximum brightness level for all effects. The utility repeatedly emits brightness-up or brightness-down inputs until the configured intensity is reached.

4. Speed Adjustment

Controls the animation speed of all lighting effects, including breathing cycle duration and pulse frequency.

How it works?

Because macOS offers no public API for third-party keyboard-backlight control, the app uses a virtual HID keyboard device to simulate the brightness function keys.

However, this app internally: 1. Creates a virtual HID keyboard via IOHID APIs 2. Sends brightness-up and brightness-down key codes at controlled intervals 3. Loops these HID events to generate lighting animations 4. Allows user customization for speed and intensity

NOTE: The utility does not modify system files.

LIMITATIONS

• The App cannot directly modify hardware brightness, it relies on simulated key presses due to which every time the illumination occurs you'd get a pop-up on your screen