Serial LED strip

UPDATE: Figured out how to implement the "Adalight" protocol. Would still appreciate clarification for the scope, though, since now I'd like to start messing with integrations and such.

UPTADE 2: Ok, I think I understand how this works now. OpenRGB by itself doesn't control the LEDs, it's just a translator between an abstract API and the physical lights. And you can use that API over TCP or plugins.

Hi, I'm brand new to OpenRGB, I don't even know what is and isn't in the scope of the project, but I'd like to get into it by toying with my LED strip. Between it and my PC I have an ESP8266 running Arduino, with a custom serial protocol to control the LEDs (The reason for the ESP is the ability to override it over MQTT). I've already got a program I wrote in Rust to integrate it with CS:GO, and make some pretty rainbows when idle.

So, my questions are, seeing that there are already some serial device implementations, is it possible to add support for my own device? Preferably using the plugin system if that's possible, to avoid compiling the whole thing. And if that's complicated, where can I find resources for implementing one of the existing serial protocols on my device?

I'd also like some clarification for what OpenRGB is exactly. I've gathered that it is an abstraction between LED lights and the extensive amounts of different hardware that exist to control them. But is OpenRGB also the one who controls the colors of the individual lights (for example, can I make my strip go full blast rainbow mode with just OpenRGB)? Or is that the job of someone using the SDK server?

Thanks for responses.