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wtf is hyperion.ng?

hyperion-project/hyperion.ng — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-26

3,764C++Audience · generalComplexity · 4/5LicenseSetup · hard

TL;DR

Hyperion is open-source software that drives LED strips around your TV to create ambient lighting that matches the colors on screen in real time, running on a Raspberry Pi with a web interface and 39 built-in lighting effects.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Hyperion))
    What it does
      Ambient lighting
      Screen color sync
      LED control
    Effects
      39 built-in patterns
      Custom Python effects
      Breathing animations
    Control
      Web interface
      JSON API
      Command-line tool
    Tech Stack
      C++
      Python
      Raspberry Pi
    Audience
      Home theater fans
      DIY enthusiasts

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Build a DIY ambient lighting system that syncs LED strips behind your TV to the colors on screen in real time.

REASON 2

Create decorative lighting patterns and animations on LED strips when no video is playing.

REASON 3

Control your LED setup remotely through a web interface or automate it via a JSON API from scripts.

REASON 4

Write custom Python lighting effects to run on your home theater LED setup.

What's in the stack?

C++PythonRaspberry PiJSON API

How it stacks up

hyperion-project/hyperion.ngabcz316/skroot-linuxkernelrootsorbet/sorbet
Stars3,7643,7653,765
LanguageC++C++C++
Setup difficultyhardhardhard
Complexity4/55/54/5
Audiencegeneraldeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires compatible LED hardware and a video capture device, designed to run on a Raspberry Pi with low CPU overhead.

MIT, use, modify, and distribute freely, including in commercial products, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

Wtf does this do

Hyperion is an open-source software project that creates ambient lighting effects around your TV or monitor by controlling LED strips. The idea is similar to the bias lighting feature that some high-end televisions advertise: the LEDs behind your screen change color to match what is on screen, extending the image into the room and reducing eye strain in dark environments. Rather than paying for a manufacturer's built-in version, Hyperion lets you build your own with off-the-shelf LED hardware. The software works by capturing what is displayed on screen (via a video capture device or software grabber), calculating the average colors along each edge of the image, and then sending color commands to connected LED strips in real time. It supports a wide range of LED controllers and hardware devices, including popular DIY options used in home theater setups. The full list of compatible hardware is in the project documentation. Hyperion is designed to run on low-power single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, keeping CPU usage low so the device can be left running continuously without much power draw. Configuration and remote control happen through a web interface that works in multiple languages. There is also a JSON-based programming interface that allows other software and scripts to interact with Hyperion, and a command-line utility for testing setups. An included effect engine, written in Python, comes with 39 built-in lighting patterns that run independently of any screen content. These include things like color cycles, breathing effects, and other animations that can be used as decorative lighting when no video source is active. Developers can also write custom effects using Python. The project is released under the MIT license, has an active community forum, a Discord server, and accepts contributions including translations through an external translation platform.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through installing Hyperion on a Raspberry Pi and connecting it to an LED strip to sync lighting with my TV.
Prompt 2
How do I set up a video capture device with Hyperion to grab screen colors from an HDMI source?
Prompt 3
Show me how to write a custom Python effect for Hyperion that creates a slow breathing color cycle on LED strips.
Prompt 4
How do I control Hyperion remotely using its JSON API to change colors or switch effects from a script?
Prompt 5
What LED hardware is compatible with Hyperion and how do I configure the LED layout to match the edges of my screen?

Frequently asked questions

wtf is hyperion.ng?

Hyperion is open-source software that drives LED strips around your TV to create ambient lighting that matches the colors on screen in real time, running on a Raspberry Pi with a web interface and 39 built-in lighting effects.

What language is hyperion.ng written in?

Mainly C++. The stack also includes C++, Python, Raspberry Pi.

What license does hyperion.ng use?

MIT, use, modify, and distribute freely, including in commercial products, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

How hard is hyperion.ng to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is hyperion.ng for?

Mainly general.

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