Issues Running on Alienware Area51 R2 (desktop)

1. Expected behavior.

Running sudo alienfx should recognize my FX controller.

2. Actual behavior.

You are running alienfx under Python-Version: 3.10.5 (main, Aug  1 2022, 07:53:20) [GCC 12.1.0]
ERROR:root:No Alien FX controller, defined by a supported model, found!
would you like to perform a zonescan? (y/n):

3. Steps to reproduce the problem.

Install AlienFX on a clean EndeavourOS installation and try to run it.

4. Specifications like the version of the project, install method, operating system, and hardware.

Project Version: 2.3.4-1
Operating System: EndeavourOS
Hardware Version: Alienware Area-51 R2

5. Additional info.

python-setuptools wasn't pulled as a dependency and had to be installed manually.

I had performed a zonescan but after getting the controller address and working zones, I have no idea how to get it working.

These are your zonecodes for current controller ("0x187c / 0x0526"):
right pannel up: 0x0001
right pannel left: 0x0002
right pannel right: 0x0004
left pannel up: 0x0020
left pannel left: 0x0040
left pannel right: 0x0080
alien head: 0x0400
front left: 0x0800
front right: 0x1000

the current controller address matches the address from alienfx/core/controller_area51_r2.py But the zone codes are different.

sudo lsusb -v

Bus 003 Device 005: ID 187c:0526 Alienware Corporation A-51
Device Descriptor:
bLength                18
bDescriptorType         1
bcdUSB               0.02
bDeviceClass            0 
bDeviceSubClass         0 
bDeviceProtocol         0 
bMaxPacketSize0        64
idVendor           0x187c Alienware Corporation
idProduct          0x0526 
bcdDevice            0.00
iManufacturer           1 Alienware
iProduct                2 A-51
iSerial                 3 5.5.0
bNumConfigurations      1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength                 9
bDescriptorType         2
wTotalLength       0x0029
bNumInterfaces          1
bConfigurationValue     1
iConfiguration          0 
bmAttributes         0xc0
  Self Powered
MaxPower                0mA
Interface Descriptor:
  bLength                 9
  bDescriptorType         4
  bInterfaceNumber        0
  bAlternateSetting       0
  bNumEndpoints           1
  bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
  bInterfaceSubClass      0 
  bInterfaceProtocol      0 
  iInterface              0 
    HID Device Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType        33
      bcdHID               1.01
      bCountryCode            0 Not supported
      bNumDescriptors         1
      bDescriptorType        34 Report
      wDescriptorLength      56
     Report Descriptors: 
       ** UNAVAILABLE **
  Endpoint Descriptor:
    bLength                 7
    bDescriptorType         5
    bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
    bmAttributes            3
      Transfer Type            Interrupt
      Synch Type               None
      Usage Type               Data
    wMaxPacketSize     0x000a  1x 10 bytes
    bInterval              10
Device Status:     0x0000
(Bus Powered)

I've modified the alienfx/core/controller_area51_r2.py file to match the zone codes, added new zones in alienfx/core/controller.py to better distinguish between all the led zones. (since it's a desktop, zone names like "Left Keyboard" are confusing and unhelpful)

Additionally I've modified the /alienfx/data/themes/default.json file to get the new zones to initialize successfully. I guess I should not save it as a default but a preset made specifically for area51, right?

I think all of this is worth making a pull request but I'm still having a minor problem with this setup. Every morphing animation seems to have very limited brightness range. Alien Head seems to have only 8 brightness states (from the off state to full brightness) and other zones seem to have only 14 brightness states.

This makes any color change / fade to black animation really rough. Is there anything I could try to smooth it out?

trackmastersteve / alienfx