enricobuehler
8f90563ffd
Every other distro has a full Host Setup page; Arch only had table rows. Add docs/arch.md (signed pacman binary repo: key import + repo + install, GPU prereqs, service/linger, web console, client, PKGBUILD appendix), slot it into the nav after fedora-kde, and point the install/client tables at it. Update the client-install rows from 'from the PKGBUILD' to the binary repo now that it exists. Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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title, description
| title | description |
|---|---|
| Clients | The ways to connect to a punktfunk host — the Apple app, Moonlight, or the Linux client. |
A punktfunk host accepts clients over its own punktfunk/1 protocol (the macOS, Linux, Windows, and
Android apps) and over GameStream (Moonlight). Pick whichever fits the device you're streaming to.
Ready to install?
Install a Client has the step-by-step for every device.
Apple app (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV)
The native app for Apple devices speaks punktfunk's own punktfunk/1
protocol — the lowest-latency, most resilient path, with the full feature set:
- Automatic host discovery — hosts on your network appear under On this network; no IP typing.
- PIN pairing built in, and pinned reconnects after that.
- Controllers, including DualSense — rumble, adaptive triggers, lightbar, motion, and touchpad.
- A live stats overlay (resolution, fps, bitrate, latency) and a built-in network speed test to pick a bitrate for your link.
Open the app, pick your host, pair once, and stream. It builds from the
clients/apple directory in the repo (Swift / VideoToolbox / Metal).
Moonlight (anything else)
punktfunk also speaks the GameStream protocol, so any Moonlight client — a browser, a smart TV, an old phone, a games console — connects with no punktfunk-specific software. (Most platforms also have a native punktfunk app below — Moonlight is the catch-all.) See Connect with Moonlight.
This is the broadest-compatibility option and great for couch gaming. It doesn't use the native protocol's FEC/encryption extensions, but for a healthy LAN that rarely matters.
Linux desktop client (GTK4)
punktfunk-client is the native graphical Linux client — a GTK4 / libadwaita app that speaks
punktfunk/1 directly, with hardware decode (VAAPI → dmabuf on Intel/AMD, software fallback),
PipeWire audio, and SDL3 controllers (rumble, lightbar, DualSense touchpad/motion). Like the Apple
app it discovers hosts on your network automatically, does PIN pairing, and pins reconnects.
It ships as a real package, not just a source build — full steps in Install a Client:
- Any Flatpak distro (recommended) —
flatpak install https://flatpak.unom.io/io.unom.Punktfunk.flatpakreffrom the hostedflatpak.unom.iorepo, thenflatpak update; this is also what the Decky plugin launches. - Ubuntu / Debian —
apt install punktfunk-clientfrom the punktfunk apt registry. - Fedora / Bazzite —
rpm-ostree install punktfunk-clientfrom the Gitea RPM registry. - Arch —
sudo pacman -Sy punktfunk-clientfrom the signed binary repo (see Arch Linux).
Launch it, pick your host from the list, and stream. For scripting you can skip the host list and connect straight away:
punktfunk-client --connect <host>:9777 # skip the picker, start a session immediately
Android app (phone + Android TV)
The native Android app speaks punktfunk/1 directly, on both phones and Android TV. It does hardware
HEVC decode (including HDR10), Opus audio with a mic uplink, game controllers with rumble and
DualSense feedback, automatic host discovery, PIN pairing with pinned reconnects, and a live stats
overlay — with D-pad and game-controller focus navigation for the couch. It builds from the
clients/android directory (Kotlin + a shared Rust core).
The app is in Google Play Internal Testing — request a tester invite on our Discord and we'll add you (see Install a Client). Once added, open the app, pick your host, pair once, and stream.
Windows desktop client
punktfunk-client for Windows (clients/windows) is the native graphical client for Windows — pure
Rust, the same punktfunk/1 core as the Apple, Linux, and Android apps, with a WinUI 3 UI (host
list, settings, PIN pairing) and the video on a SwapChainPanel. It does D3D11VA hardware decode
(software fallback), 10-bit/HDR present, WASAPI audio + mic, SDL3 controllers (rumble, lightbar,
DualSense), network discovery, and the full PIN-pairing trust surface. It builds for both x86_64
and aarch64 and ships as a signed MSIX. Launch it and pick a host from the list, just like the
other native apps.
The hardware-decode and HDR paths are complete but still pending validation on real GPU hardware. If anything misbehaves, Moonlight is a proven alternative for Windows.
A headless CLI path exists for scripting/measurement:
punktfunk-client # open the WinUI 3 window (host list / settings)
punktfunk-client --discover # list hosts on the network
punktfunk-client --headless --connect <host>:9777 # no window: connect, count frames, print stats
Prefer the broadest compatibility, or no install? Moonlight also streams to Windows (see below).
Linux reference client (headless)
punktfunk-probe (in the repo) is a command-line client for the native protocol, used for
testing, development, and latency measurement — not an everyday client. It connects, streams to a
file, runs the speed test, and can discover hosts:
punktfunk-probe --discover # list hosts on the network
punktfunk-probe --connect <host>:9777 --pin <fp> # connect to one
Which should I use?
| You're streaming to… | Use |
|---|---|
| A Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV | The Apple app |
| A Linux desktop or laptop | punktfunk-client (GTK4) |
| A Steam Deck | The Decky plugin in Gaming Mode, or the GTK4 client in Desktop Mode |
| An Android phone or TV | The Android app |
| Windows | The native punktfunk-client (signed MSIX) or Moonlight |
| A browser, a smart TV, or any other device | Moonlight |
| Automated tests / latency measurement | punktfunk-probe (headless) |
Whichever you choose, the first connection needs a one-time pairing.