Wayfarer: A Versatile Screen Recorder for GNOME and Wayland
If you're a Linux user looking for a powerful and flexible screen recording solution, Wayfarer might just be the tool you've been searching for. This open-source project, available on GitHub, offers a modern screen recorder designed specifically for GNOME and other desktop environments running on Wayland or Xorg[1].
Key Features:
Broad Compatibility: Wayfarer supports GNOME desktops on popular distributions like Arch, Fedora, Debian Testing, and Ubuntu 22.04. It also works with wlroots-based desktops[1].
Multiple Output Formats: The application supports MKV, MP4, and WebM video containers, with options for VP8, VP9, and MP4 video codecs. Audio can be recorded in Opus or MP3 format[1].
Flexible Recording Options: Users can define custom recording areas, set delays before recording starts, and even specify a timer for automatic recording stops[1].
Hardware Acceleration: Where available, Wayfarer offers VAAPI-enabled video codecs for improved performance[1].
User-Friendly Interface: The application provides an intuitive GUI for setting up and controlling recordings[1].
Technical Details:
Wayfarer is built using modern technologies, including:
- Gtk 4 (with an obsolete Gtk 3 branch available)
- Vala programming language
- GStreamer 1.0
- Pipewire / PulseAudio
- XDG Desktop Portal[1]
For developers interested in contributing or building from source, the project uses a meson/ninja build system and provides detailed instructions for setup on various Linux distributions[1].
While Wayfarer offers powerful functionality, it's worth noting that it adheres to Wayland's security model. This means users will need to authorize screen capture through the XDG Portal, though the application includes features to minimize this inconvenience[1].
If you're looking for a capable, open-source screen recording solution that embraces modern Linux desktop technologies, Wayfarer is definitely worth checking out. Visit the GitHub repository to learn more, contribute, or simply give it a try on your system.
Citations: [1] https://github.com/stronnag/wayfarer