enricobuehler
844f4b86bd
Per-device install steps in one place: Linux (Flatpak via flatpak.unom.io + native apt/rpm/Arch), Steam Deck, Windows (signed MSIX from the registry), macOS (notarized DMG from releases), and iOS/Android (store/beta links). Adds it to the Connecting nav and cross-links clients.md, whose Linux/Flatpak bullet now points at the hosted flatpak.unom.io repo instead of the bundle README. Mobile store/TestFlight URLs are placeholders pending the public listings. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <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 Apple and Linux 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 — 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 — 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 / SteamOS — the
punktfunk-clientsplit package from thePKGBUILD.
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
Windows desktop client (in development)
punktfunk-client for Windows (clients/windows) is the native graphical client
for Windows — pure Rust, the same punktfunk/1 core as the Apple and Linux apps, with a WinUI 3
UI (host list, settings, PIN pairing) and the video on a SwapChainPanel, plus WASAPI audio, FFmpeg
decode, SDL3 controllers, network discovery, and PIN pairing. Launch it and pick a host from the
list, just like the Apple and Linux apps. It builds on x86_64-pc-windows-msvc; hardware (D3D11VA)
decode, 10-bit/HDR present, and packaging are in progress, so it is not yet shipped. 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
Until it ships, Moonlight remains the recommended way to stream 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, or a Steam Deck | punktfunk-client (GTK4) |
| Windows, Android, a browser, a TV | Moonlight |
| Automated tests / latency measurement | punktfunk-probe (headless) |
Whichever you choose, the first connection needs a one-time pairing.