LinuxPlay is a lightweight, low-latency, fully open-source remote desktop solution designed specifically for Linux. It provides seamless video streaming and full keyboard/mouse control with low latency, making it a superior alternative to VNC and other traditional remote desktop solutions. LinuxPlay is 100% local and private – no accounts, no cloud dependency, just pure performance.
- Low-latency using UDP multicast streaming
- Full keyboard and mouse support, including function keys and modifiers
- Multi-monitor support – Choose individual displays or view all at once
- Adaptive bitrate streaming to optimize quality based on network conditions
- Hardware-accelerated encoding and decoding for superior performance
- Drag-and-drop file transfer for seamless file sharing
- Clipboard sharing between the client and host
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y python3-pip python3-pyqt5 ffmpeg xdotool xclip libgl1-mesa-dev mesa-utils && pip3 install avRun the following command on the remote machine (the one you want to control):
python3 host.py --encoder vaapi --resolution 1600x900 --framerate 60 --audio enable --password password123| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
--encoder |
Video encoder: nvenc, vaapi, or none (CPU) |
none |
--resolution |
Capture resolution (e.g., 1920x1080) |
1920x1080 |
--framerate |
Capture framerate (e.g., 30, 60) |
30 |
--bitrate |
Initial video bitrate (e.g., 8M) |
8M |
--audio |
Enable or disable audio streaming (enable, disable) |
disable |
--adaptive |
Enable adaptive bitrate switching | Off |
--password |
Set an optional password for control messages | None |
Run this command on the local machine (the one used to control the remote PC):
python3 client.py --decoder nvdec --host_ip 192.168.1.123 --remote_resolution 1600x900 --audio enable --password password123| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
--decoder |
Video decoder: nvdec, vaapi, or none (CPU) |
none |
--host_ip |
The IP address of the host machine | Required |
--remote_resolution |
Remote screen resolution (e.g., 1600x900) |
1920x1080 |
--audio |
Enable or disable audio playback (enable, disable) |
disable |
--password |
Optional password for control events and handshake | None |
LinuxPlay does not support Wayland due to the following reasons:
- FFmpeg does not support Wayland for screen capture. Even if I wanted to, there is no reliable FFmpeg-based solution.
- GStreamer relies on PipeWire for screen capture, but PipeWire does not work on any of my systems, making it unusable.
- KMS/DRM does not work for screen capture, even with direct display output.
I have extensively tested all these alternatives and none of them worked reliably, which is why LinuxPlay remains X11-only.
LinuxPlay is fully open-source and welcomes contributions. Whether you want to improve performance, add features, or report bugs, your input is appreciated.
LinuxPlay is licensed under the MIT License.
- Xbox/PlayStation Controller
- Full Encryp 5D1D tion – Implement TLS encryption for control messages and video streaming.
- Internet-Ready Security – Enable secure remote connections with end-to-end encryption.
LinuxPlay can be used over the internet, but it currently does not include built-in encryption. It is recommended to use a VPN, SSH tunnel, or firewall rules to secure your connection if accessing remotely. Future versions will include built-in encryption for enhanced security.