Multi-pointer Remote Desktop: Ending the Mouse/Keyboard Wars
Developer Chris Ball has patched the Vino Virtual Network Computing (VNC) server to display multiple simultaneous mouse and keyboard events. The result could be an end to the battle over mouse and keyboard control among local and remote users in a VNC environment.
As Chris Ball says in his blog, "Remote desktop is a pretty useful technology. It would be more useful if it wasn't so competitive, though; when someone joins, the sharer has to sit back and watch, or fight over who gets control. Well, now it's cooperative."
Ball has patched the Vino VNC server so that all VNC clients have independent mouse and keyboard control. The patch is based on Peter Hutterer's Multi-pointer X (MPX) extensions to X.org (destined for X Server 1.6.0) that allow driving a desktop with multiple mice and keyboards.
The patch applies to the server only; the clients don't need to be modified to cooperate. Every newly connected mouse/keyboard pair is registered and events are sent to the appropriate client. Ball admits that his patch is still a prototype, with some bugs. Notably, "each client can only see the pointer of themselves and the server, although the server can see everyone's pointer." He's actively working on fixing the bugs and integrating the changes into the Vino repository "so that it's ready for when the distros start shipping a multi-pointer X server." VNC would then give a user the choice of a shared cursor or multiple cursors, assuming the user's X server supports MPX.
Testing the new functionality requires an MPX-compliant X Server, an MPX-capable window manager (such as Compiz) and Ball's patches. His blog also includes a demo video of his patched VNC in action.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.
-
A New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle, a Linux AI assistant, works with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.
-
FreeBSD Promises a Full Desktop Installer
FreeBSD has lacked an option to include a full desktop environment during installation.
-
Linux Hits an Important Milestone
If you pay attention to the news in the Linux-sphere, you've probably heard that the open source operating system recently crashed through a ceiling no one thought possible.
-
Plasma Bigscreen Returns
A developer discovered that the Plasma Bigscreen feature had been sitting untouched, so he decided to do something about it.
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.