Answering your inquiry. I posted this image below because I thought it was relevant to your question. I believe this topic helped me to persist on my learning path.
https://forums.digi.com/t/finding-libraries-to-control-neopixel-programmable-led-strips/27417/12
@miadrew
About “use an Intermediary Microcontroller:”
I’m working on this kind of solution for my own.
In the first version of PCB design I used UART protocol and experienced unsatisfactory results. The image below show my second version of PCB layout . This time the approach is 100% SPI protocol, I will soon validate the level of reliability in my project. 
My goal is handle gpio interrupts in microython.
If you want more information, just contact me privately.
2024-01-10T23:37:00Z
timezone: UTC-03:00