Transform chaotic controller inputs into symphonic system commands.
JoyLink Console is a next-generation graphical mapper that translates raw HID signals from joysticks, gamepads, throttles, and pedals into interactive, exportable diagrams — built specifically for flight simulators like DCS World, Star Citizen, and beyond.
- Why JoyLink Console?
- Feature Matrix
- OS Compatibility
- Architecture Overview
- Example Profile Configuration
- Console Invocation
- Multi-Model AI Integration
- Responsive Interface & Multilingual Support
- Profile Gallery (Mermaid Diagram)
- 24/7 System Support Ethos
- License
- Disclaimer
Every serious flight simmer knows the pain: you own six different joystick devices, three throttle quadrants, and a button box that refuses to speak the same language as the game. You map inputs manually, forget which button does what, and lose hours debugging.
JoyLink Console solves this by acting as a universal translator for HID devices. It:
- Detects any connected joystick, gamepad, or button panel instantly.
- Generates a living diagram — a visual map of every axis, hat switch, and button — updated in real-time as you press.
- Exports diagrams as SVG, PNG, or JSON for documentation, manuals, or sharing with fellow pilots.
- Integrates with Joystick Gremlin profiles to unify multiple devices into a single virtual controller.
- Offers an OpenAI + Claude API bridge to auto-generate smart mappings: just describe your intended action (e.g., "I want to toggle landing gear with button 3 on throttle") and the AI writes the profile.
This is not another config file editor. It is a visual cockpit for your hands.
| Feature | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 🎯 Zero-config HID detection | Automatic enumeration of all connected HID devices via raw USB descriptors. | ✅ v1.0 |
| 📊 Live diagram engine | SVG-based canvas that updates per button press; supports zoom, pan, and annotation. | ✅ v1.0 |
| 🔄 Multi-device merge | Combine up to 16 devices into one virtual joystick (via Joystick Gremlin bridge). | ✅ v1.0 |
| 🤖 AI profile assistant | Ask OpenAI or Claude to write mappings in natural language. | ✅ v1.2 |
| 🌐 Multilingual UI | Interface available in 12 languages including Chinese, Russian, German, Japanese. | ✅ v1.3 |
| 📱 Responsive web UI | Full touch support for tablets; usable on mobile for quick profile edits. | ✅ v1.4 |
| 🔒 Local-first architecture | All device data stays on your machine; cloud AI calls are optional. | ✅ v1.0 |
| 🖨️ Export to PDF manual | Generate printable pilot's cheat sheets with device silhouette and labeled buttons. | ✅ v1.5 |
| Operating System | Supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 |
✅ Full | Native HID API, Joystick Gremlin integration |
 |
✅ Full | IOKit based; Metal rendering for diagrams |
 |
✅ Full | evdev + libusb; X11/Wayland |
 |
No raw HID on non-jailbroken devices | |
 |
Diagram viewing and remote monitoring |
JoyLink Console uses a three-layer unidirectional flow:
graph TD
A[Raw HID Device] -->|USB/Bluetooth| B(HID Daemon)
B -->|Event Stream| C{Profile Engine}
C --> D[AI Mapping Interface]
C --> E[Live Diagram Renderer]
E --> F[SVG/PNG Export]
D --> G[OpenAI API]
D --> H[Claude API]
E --> I[Responsive Web UI]
I --> J[Multilingual Layer]
J --> K[Touch / Desktop]
Every input event is timestamped and fed through a deterministic state machine so that no two profiles produce unexpected behavior.
Below is a sample profile for a dual-joystick + throttle setup used in Star Citizen and DCS World. This YAML-like syntax is the native format for JoyLink Console.
profile:
name: "Crusader Ares Inferno"
sim: "star-citizen"
devices:
- id: "vkb-gunfighter-mk3"
type: "joystick"
buttons:
1: "fire-primary"
2: "fire-missile"
hat1:
up: "target-ahead"
down: "target-behind"
left: "target-left"
right: "target-right"
- id: "virpil-throttle"
type: "throttle"
axes:
x: "strafe-left-right"
y: "throttle-forward-reverse"
z: "speed-limiter"
buttons:
10: "landing-gear-toggle"
11: "space-brake"
ai_hint: "I want a mapping for close-quarters dogfighting using left stick for vertical strafe and right stick for pitch/yaw."This file can be loaded into the AI assistant to produce a complete Joystick Gremlin .xml profile ready for import.
JoyLink Console offers a headless CLI mode for power users and CI/CD pipelines. The main binary is called joylink (or joylink.exe on Windows).
Example commands:
# Launch the interactive diagram editor in GUI mode
joylink gui
# Export all connected device diagrams to PNG
joylink export --format png --output ~/diagrams/
# Convert a Joystick Gremlin profile into JoyLink format
joylink convert --from gremlin --to joylink --input profile.xml --output profile.yml
# Start the AI profile assistant (requires API keys)
joylink ai --profile my_hints.yml --engine openai --output generated_profile.xml
# List all recognized HID devices
joylink devices --verboseThe CLI returns machine-readable JSON for integration with scripts or game launchers.
JoyLink Console uniquely supports both OpenAI and Claude APIs as interchangeable backends for profile generation. You may use one or both simultaneously for cross-validation.
| Provider | Feature | Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
 |
Generate mappings from natural language | Internal POST /ai/generate |
 |
Validate and refine existing profiles | Internal POST /ai/refine |
How to configure keys:
- Open
Settings > AI Integrations. - Paste your API keys into the respective fields.
- Write a plain English description of your desired mapping in the
hintsblock. - The system sends structured prompt to the selected AI service and receives back a fully formatted profile.
This capability means no more guessing — just describe what you want and the AI translates your intent into device-specific code.
The web-based control panel is built using reactive HTML5 + WebAssembly, making it:
- Touch-friendly: Pinch-to-zoom on diagrams, swipe between device tabs.
- Screen-size adaptive: Optimized for 7-inch tablets (common cockpit mounts) up to 4K monitors.
- Offline-capable: Service workers cache the entire app after first load.
Currently supported languages (more via community contributions):
| Language | Code | UI Completeness |
|---|---|---|
| English | en | 100% |
| Simplified Chinese | zh-CN | 100% |
| Russian | ru | 95% |
| German | de | 100% |
| Japanese | ja | 90% |
| French | fr | 98% |
| Spanish | es | 100% |
| Korean | ko | 85% |
Translations are crowd-sourced via a public Weblate instance — see the localization folder.
Visualize how multiple devices map into a single virtual joystick. This diagram illustrates a typical dual-stick + throttle + button box setup for Elite Dangerous.
graph LR
subgraph Physical Devices
A[VKB Gunfighter<br/>Left Stick] -->|USB| C
B[Virpil Constellation<br/>Right Stick] -->|USB| C
D[Thrustmaster Warthog<br/>Throttle] -->|USB| C
E[Button Box<br/>20x buttons] -->|Bluetooth| C
end
subgraph "JoyLink Console"
C[Device Merger] -->|Virtual Bus| F[Joystick Gremlin<br/>Virtual Device]
C --> G[Live Diagram]
C --> H[AI Profile Engine]
end
F --> I[Star Citizen]
F --> J[DCS World]
F --> K[MSFS 2024]
Every node here corresponds to a real-time element in the JoyLink Console UI.
We believe that a tool for flight simulation should never block you from flying. That's why JoyLink Console includes embedded diagnostics and community-driven help:
- On-device support panel: Click the "?" icon in any screen to see contextual tips.
- Public knowledge base: Linked from within the app — no login required.
- Automated log sanitizer: If you encounter a bug, you can generate a sanitized debug log (no API keys included) and paste it into our issue tracker.
We do not gate help behind paywalls. The entire troubleshooting system is zero-cost and always active.
This project is distributed under the MIT License. You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code for any purpose, provided you include the original license notice.
See the full text in the LICENSE file at the root of this repository.
Important: JoyLink Console is a mapping and diagramming tool, not a device driver or operating system component. It does not modify firmware, inject code into games, or circumvent any anti-cheat system.
The AI integration (OpenAI/Claude) is an opt-in feature. No data is sent to third-party servers unless you explicitly trigger the "Generate with AI" button. All profile data generated via AI is your intellectual property.
"DCS World," "Star Citizen," and all other game names are trademarks of their respective owners. This project is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by those entities.
By using this software, you agree that the maintainers shall not be held liable for any damage, loss of data, or virtual aircraft crashes — however embarrassing they may be.
JoyLink Console is the bridge between the physical and the digital — between your muscle memory and your virtual cockpit. Whether you are mapping a simple two-button joystick for a weekend flight or configuring a twenty-device HOTAS setup for a competitive sim squadron, this tool treats your hardware with the respect it deserves.
Built for pilots. Driven by diagrams. Powered by you.
JoyLink Console v2.6 – © 2026 The JoyLink Collective