ddcutil vs Dell Command | Update

ddcutil is a free Linux program for controlling monitor settings such as brightness, color levels and input source. It communicates with monitors through DDC/CI over I²C and supports monitors implementing MCCS over USB. Commands can find monitors, show capabilities, read or change VCP feature values, and save or restore color-related settings. The companion ddcui provides a Qt graphical interface with Summary, Capabilities and Features views, with the last allowing changes to modifiable values. For profile workflows, dumpvcp saves current settings to a file and loadvcp restores them. Developers can use the C API through libddcutil.so to read and write VCP values and handle profile-related features. The program is released under GNU GPL version 2. Setup requires the Linux kernel i2c-dev module, and non-root users need permissions to run it. It does not support laptop displays, which use a special API rather than I²C, and generally will not run in virtual machines because virtual video drivers do not implement I²C. For MCCS-over-USB table features, support is limited; the capabilities command synthesizes a response.

Dell Command | Update is a free standalone utility for Dell commercial client computers. It simplifies BIOS, firmware, driver, and application updates, identifying required packages from the computer identity. After the operating system and network drivers are installed, it can install additional drivers. Its interface identifies, applies, and schedules updates, while a command-line interface supports automated installations. Administrators can set download and storage locations, filters, schedules, internet proxy settings, import or export settings, and driver-library locations. Advanced Driver Restore is listed for Windows reinstallation. Version 5.1 and later supports Intel and ARM architectures, with separate releases for Intel or AMD computers and ARM computers. Dell lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 support, including UWP support for Windows 10 build 14393 or later. Version 5.7.2 requires .NET Desktop Runtime 10.0 version 10.0.8 or later. Dell warns of a service-corruption issue when that version is manually installed alongside Dell Client Device Manager 1.1.