punktfunk/docs-site/content/docs/clients.md at 9ff5951cb264958a015ab9bd0cd65c2f9aec8986

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enricobuehler 9e015304ee docs(dist): end-user install front door + serve/pairing/firewall accuracy fixes

Make the host docs match the real distribution path and the actual CLI. Reviewed by a
multi-agent pass (6 editors against one verified fact sheet + an accuracy reviewer); its
findings (a wrong client-Recommends claim, a native-concurrency overstatement) folded in.

- Install front door: new README "Install (host)" method-picker + docs-site/install.md
  (+ nav), routing each distro to its package registry; source build demoted to a fallback.
- Registry-first install: ubuntu-gnome/ubuntu-kde now lead with the apt registry (not a
  cargo build); bazzite leads with the Gitea RPM registry (was COPR/source). Source builds
  moved to an appendix.
- CLI accuracy: serve --native arms pairing from the web console (NOT --allow-pairing, which
  with --require-pairing/--max-concurrent is m3-host-only); --open disables mandatory pairing.
  host-cli/configuration/pairing/quickstart/troubleshooting corrected; mgmt API documented as
  always HTTPS+token. Native host serves one session at a time (extras queue) — not multi.
- Firewall: real ports documented (native UDP 9777 + the ephemeral data port caveat +
  GameStream ports) for Debian + Arch (ufw + nftables), not just Bazzite.
- Sync/accuracy: punktfunk-client (GTK4) presented as a shipping client (not "roadmap"),
  punktfunk-client-rs as the headless tool; host Recommends punktfunk-web only (not the
  client); COPR chroots f43/44; bootc header says Gitea registry not COPR.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

2026-06-15 10:43:12 +00:00

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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 Apple and Linux apps) and over GameStream (Moonlight). Pick whichever fits the device you're streaming to.

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 — Windows, Android, Steam Deck, a browser, an old phone — connects with no punktfunk-specific software. 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:

Ubuntu / Debian — apt install punktfunk-client from the punktfunk apt registry (see packaging/debian/README.md).
Fedora / Bazzite — rpm-ostree install punktfunk-client from the Gitea RPM registry (see packaging/rpm/README.md).
Arch / SteamOS — the punktfunk-client split package from the PKGBUILD (see packaging/arch/README.md).
Steam Deck / any Flatpak distro — the io.unom.Punktfunk Flatpak bundle (see packaging/flatpak/README.md); this is what the Decky plugin launches.

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

Linux reference client (headless)

punktfunk-client-rs (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-client-rs --discover                        # list hosts on the network
punktfunk-client-rs --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, or a Steam Deck	`punktfunk-client` (GTK4)
Windows, Android, a browser, a TV	Moonlight
Automated tests / latency measurement	`punktfunk-client-rs` (headless)

Whichever you choose, the first connection needs a one-time pairing.

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