A new version has been added to the share folder: streamer-console is the larger text-based version of the streamer project. 20251225 is the first release and includes a wide variety of tools for image and video processing, along with networking. Just like streamer-base, this image is designed for a Raspberry Pi 3B+ Rev. 1.2 but should work on any 64-bit RPI – some tweaks are likely necessary for RPI 4/5… The installed image size is 8.6G and the tar.gz is 3.1G – this image should be installed on a 16G MicroSD card or larger. This is a ‘release candidate’ while I work out a problem with boot.txt.
Apparently, the default Arch Linux boot files work on a bootable drive with a GPT partition table and the rootfs on the second partition, and the reason there were problems to begin with is that the MicroSD card had a regular MBR. So, using UUID or setting the LABEL on regular partitions works… but then I formatted the card with GPT and that uses PARTUUID and PARTLABEL, and now it isn’t booting. I don’t have a solution that will work on either style of partitioning yet. Add to the problem, that a Raspberry Pi has it’s own boot process that’s only loosely UEFI – a current boot.txt is in the share folder. The plan is to work out a multi-boot menu example with heavy notes about boot options so it should be easy to have an image coexist with any other OS.
Once I work out the partitioning issues, I’ll write a post about preparing the media and officially release streamer-console. I’ll also release an updated version of streamer base – the plan for that is to remove ffmpeg-rpi and vlc-rpi so that only v4l2 and iwd will be added. Older networking tools will still be removed, but this will make streamer-base closer to the stock Arch image if only working wireless is needed to get to the net. The inclusion of v4l and preloading video ensures all that’s needed for the original idea behind this project, and streamer-console now involves networking and image processing so a wide variety of needs may be satisfied with or without internet access. I will write a post about streamer-console along with a package list when I announce it.
Also on the agenda is streamer-graphic – the graphical version will start with the base image and add qt, lxqt, and sway for a very functional desktop. The goal is to include some basic applications and a GUI package manager – this image, once the boot.txt issues are resolved, should be suitable for novice users without much command line experience with a focus on simplicity, not tons of options.
The last version will be streamer-kiosk for running one graphical application. The idea began with the intention to try building Webcamoid for the Raspberry Pi – the challenge is partly that it’s a Debian-based project a the source, but mostly it’s just very resource intensive. I did get it to build before and it was mostly functional, but I don’t foresee being able to run it inside a gnome session or with any other graphical program currently running, so the thought is to boot directly to Webcamoid as the compositor of choice for wayland… then once I work out the howtos, the same setup could be used to boot directly to a browser, a media player, or whatever else – without needing to involve a whole desktop environment.
Although I gave up deadlines for goals along time ago, I’m thinking this project will be complete in the next couple of months, as time permits. Once done, the plan is to offer .img along with tar.gz and a handful of configuration files, and maybe update it once or twice a year. It can be moved to github if there’s any demand, but this is just a shared personal project. Long-term service is not planned for the filesystems, but time-lapse and remote video projects are upcoming and some howtos are planned.
As always, stay tuned…