Tuple for Linux (alpha)

Tuple for Linux is currently in alpha and under active development. The client is primarily command-line driven. To install, visit the Linux install page for the latest download command and architecture options. Join the Slack channel to provide feedback, report bugs, and ask questions.

Display server support

Tuple runs natively on both X11 and Wayland. The client automatically detects your session type using the XDG_SESSION_TYPE environment variable. All core features, including screen sharing, the drawing overlay, and UI windows, work on both display servers.

Current feature set

The Tuple client on Linux is extremely barebones at the moment. We’ll be working hard to flesh it out in the coming weeks — your patience is appreciated!

What works

Logging in and running Tuple as a daemon — you’ll appear available for your contacts / teammates
Receiving an incoming direct call
Starting a call
Joining a call via a URL
Hearing (and being heard by) others using the system default audio device
Viewing a shared screen
Sharing your own screen
Viewing drawing annotations on a shared screen
Drawing on the shared screen
Remotely controlling someone else’s screen
Initiating a direct call from the command line
Listing and managing contacts and favorites
Muting and unmuting your microphone

Not yet implemented

UI for making calls, managing contacts, and settings (everything is done via the command line for now)
Being remotely controlled while sharing
Viewing text or highlight click annotations on the shared screen
Changing audio devices
Sharing or viewing webcams

Commands

The commands below are specific to the Linux client. They’re separate from the newer Tuple CLI, which currently only ships with the macOS client. When the Tuple CLI reaches Linux, the Linux client will adopt its interface.

Command	Description
`tuple login`	Initiates the login process. Outputs a URL to log in via the web; the last step emits an authorization code to be used in `tuple auth`.
`tuple auth $AUTH_CODE`	Authorizes the local Tuple client. Takes the code emitted via the web login flow as its only parameter.
`tuple logout`	Logs you out of Tuple.
`tuple call`	Starts a direct call with one of your contacts. Lists your favorited contacts who are currently online and prompts you to pick one.
`tuple new`	Starts a new call and automatically adds you as a participant. Prints the URL of the call to the console so you can share it with others.
`tuple end`	Ends the current call if it’s just you and one other person; leaves the call if others are still on it (or you’re in a room).
`tuple join $CALL_URL`	Joins a call that’s in progress (or a room). Takes the URL of the call or room as its only parameter.
`tuple ls`	Lists your contacts.
`tuple favorite $USER_ID`	Favorites a contact.
`tuple unfavorite $USER_ID`	Removes a contact from your favorites.
`tuple share`	Starts sharing your entire viewable display — not just one monitor.
`tuple unshare`	Stops sharing your screen.
`tuple mute`	Mutes your microphone during a call.
`tuple unmute`	Unmutes your microphone during a call.
`tuple on`	Starts running the Tuple daemon. The daemon also starts automatically when most other commands are run (including `auth`, `new`, and `join`).
`tuple off`	Stops the Tuple daemon.
`tuple ui`	Displays a simple debugging UI.
`tuple settings`	Lists all settings.
`tuple set $name $value`	Sets the setting named `$name` to the given `$value`.

Settings

Setting	Type	Values	Description
`host-overlay`	bool	`0`, `1`	Enables the “host overlay”, which is where annotations are drawn. Transparency doesn’t work correctly with certain window managers / compositors, which can cause this window to render incorrectly. Use this setting to disable it if needed.
`capture`	enum	`auto`, `x11`, `portal`	Controls which screen capture mechanism Tuple uses. `auto` selects the best method for your session type. `x11` forces X11 capture. `portal` forces the XDG Desktop Portal (PipeWire) capture used on Wayland.

Screen capture methods

You can also cycle through capture mechanisms during a call by clicking the capture button in the call UI. The button appears next to the screen share button and displays the current capture mechanism (auto, x11, or portal). Clicking it cycles to the next option.

Fonts

Tuple runs fc-match sans-serif:fontformat=TrueType to find your system’s “sans-serif” font.

Troubleshooting screen capture

If screen capture fails, Tuple displays the operation that failed and either the system error name or its errno value. You can dismiss the popup by clicking Dismiss or pressing Enter. Common causes of screen capture failures on Linux include:

Wayland: The XDG Desktop Portal or PipeWire service is not running, or the portal stream disconnected. Make sure xdg-desktop-portal and pipewire are installed and active on your system.
X11: Tuple could not query screen information. Verify that your X11 display server is running and accessible.

If the error persists, check the log file for the same operation and error details, then share them with the team in the Slack channel.

Logs

Tuple logs to:

$XDG_DATA_HOME/tuple/0/log.txt

If the $XDG_DATA_HOME environment variable is not set, logs are written to:

$HOME/.local/share/tuple/0/log.txt

These are useful to include in any bug reports.

Getting Started

Pairing with Tuple

Managing Your Account

Team Management

Application Preferences

Tuple CLI

Triggers

Troubleshooting

Display server support

Current feature set

What works

Not yet implemented

Commands

Settings

Screen capture methods

Fonts

Troubleshooting screen capture

Logs

​Display server support

​Current feature set

​What works

​Not yet implemented

​Commands

​Settings

​Screen capture methods

​Fonts

​Troubleshooting screen capture

​Logs

Display server support

Current feature set

What works

Not yet implemented

Commands

Settings

Screen capture methods

Fonts

Troubleshooting screen capture

Logs