Design your own PC remote control
Couch Potato
© Lead Image © damedeeso, 123RF.com
You don't get a remote control with your PC or laptop like the one that came with your television. We'll show you how to create your own remote with an Android tablet or smartphone.
Wouldn't it be great to have a remote control for your PC that let you start and pause YouTube videos, as well as adjust the volume and brightness without leaving your couch? To implement this project, you need a server program on your Linux system that listens on a particular port, accepts instructions, and runs system commands. The device that acts as the remote control needs to run a program that can transmit requests to the Linux system over the network; it also offers a neat interface.
Using Netcat [1], you can implement the server function via the shell, and you also have the option of entering any system commands you need. Before you proceed to the implementation, check whether the following command-line programs are installed on your computer:
- Xgamma, a program for the controlling your monitor's gamma value,
- Xdotool, which transfers keyboard shortcuts to the system, and
- ImageMagick [2], which grabs screenshots of the whole screen, selected areas, or a single window (among other things).
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
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 Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.
-
United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
A new open source portal seeks to coordinate and scale open source efforts across the United Nations system.
-
KDE Linux Drops AUR
KDE Linux developers have dropped the Arch User Repository from the build pipeline due to security concerns; other distributions should consider doing the same.
-
California May Exempt Linux from Its Age-Verification Law
After backlash from the Linux community, California may be backing off on its promise to force all operating systems to verify age, but one platform may still have to comply.
-
Another Logic Bug Found in Linux Kernel
Qualys has discovered a vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be used to elevate standard user privileges.
-
Ubuntu Core 26 Offers Game-Changing Enterprise Features
Ubuntu Core 26 could be a game-changer for organizations looking for increased security and reliability.
-
AI Flooding the Linux Kernel Security Mailing List
AI is giving Linus Torvalds a headache, but not in the way you might think.
-
Top Priorities for Open Source Pros Seeking a New Job
Professional fulfillment tops the list, according to LPI report.
-
Container-Based Fedora Hummingbird Designed for Agent-First Builders
Fedora Hummingbird brings the same approach to the host OS as it does to containers to level up security.
-
Linux kernel Developers Considering a Kill Switch
With the rise of Linux vulnerabilities, the kernel developers are now considering adding a component that could help temporarily mitigate against them… in the form of a kill switch.