Linux Questions

968 readers

10 users here now

Linux questions Rules (in addition of the Lemmy.zip rules)

stay on topic
be nice (no name calling)
do not post long blocks of text such as logs
do not delete your posts
only post questions (no information posts)

Tips for giving and receiving help

be as clear and specific
say thank you if a solution works
verify your solutions before posting them as facts.

Any rule violations will result in disciplinary actions

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

possiblylinux127

Program to send keystrokes to a remote PC (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/linuxquestions

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Here is my problem:

Our TV is connected to a SBC running a GNOME/Wayland desktop, where we watch Jellyfin and sometimes Netflix/Hulu through Firefox.

I'd like to be able to trigger pause/play (space button) from Home Assistant, which is running on my home server.

What I am thinking of would be a server/daemon running on the TV computer that my home server would be able to send keys to via a CLI tool (in this case the space key). I am surprised to find that I cannot locate any program like this.

Can anyone provide any suggestions here?

Other ideas:

Jellyfin's HA integration doesn't let me pause/play from it, and that still doesn't handle Hulu/Netflix.
I was able to get this working through SSH and there are tools like ydotool/wtype here that work, but I found waiting for SSH to be a bit slow to connect.

Update: I got frustrated and coded up a solution: https://gitlab.com/neilsimp1/kbsrv

top 10 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Have you tried KDE Connect?

I have only used it to control my TV computer from my phone, but I can't see why it wouldn't work between 2 computers.
There is a 'Multimedia control' feature that allows pause/play/stop and volume control, the 'Remote Input' feature has a keyboard (so you should be able to trigger the space button) and if you want to do something more complicated you can set up and run commands.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

X2 on kde connect, I regularly use it to control my desktop with my laptop

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Good to hear. I set it up on desktop and the controls work, other than Virtual monitor.

Have you had any luck getting Virtual monitor to run?
I think I need to open some ports but if you've got it running, any tips you could offer would be great.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Of you're fine with proprietary there's Unified Remote.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Unified Remote Control?

[–] Kalkaline 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Where is the machine located compared to the viewing room? Could you not use a wireless keyboard?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I have a wireless keyboard. I want to be able to send a key event from CLI on another PC, though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If your willing to write a little code, you could get an esp32, and use on of the keyboard libraries to make it appear as a keyboard?

https://hackaday.com/2021/03/26/usb-comes-to-the-esp32/

Very roundabout solution though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I am fine with a little coding (see update in my post)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Thats definitely better than using a separate esp32. Nice!