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RootStream 🎮🔐

RootStream

Secure Peer-to-Peer Game Streaming for Linux

License: MIT Platform: Linux Arch: x86_64

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║  Zero Accounts • Zero Servers • Zero BS        ║
║  Just Your Keys • Your Peers • Your Games      ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

What is RootStream?

RootStream is a lightweight, encrypted, peer-to-peer game streaming solution designed specifically for Linux. Unlike traditional solutions, RootStream:

  • ✅ No accounts required - Each device has a unique cryptographic identity
  • ✅ No central servers - Direct peer-to-peer connections
  • ✅ No compositor dependencies - Uses kernel DRM/KMS directly
  • ✅ No permission popups - Bypasses the broken PipeWire/portal stack
  • ✅ Zero-configuration - Share a QR code, instant connection
  • ✅ Hardware accelerated - VA-API/NVENC encoding, <10% CPU usage
  • ✅ Actually lightweight - 15MB memory footprint vs 500MB+ alternatives
  • ✅ Production-ready encryption - Ed25519 + ChaCha20-Poly1305

Why RootStream?

The Problem

Current Linux streaming solutions (Steam Remote Play, Parsec, Sunshine) suffer from:

Issue Steam Parsec Sunshine RootStream
Requires account ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓
PipeWire dependency ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓
Permission dialogs Constant Sometimes Sometimes Never
Survives compositor crash ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓
Works on consumer GPU ✗¹ ✓ ✓ ✓
End-to-end encrypted ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓
Open source ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓

¹ NVFBC disabled on GeForce cards

The Solution

RootStream takes a radically different approach:

Traditional Stack (7+ layers, all can break):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ App → Compositor → PipeWire → Portal →      │
│ → Permission Dialog → FFmpeg → Encoder      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Latency: 30-56ms | Memory: 500MB | Breaks: Often

RootStream Stack (3 layers, kernel-stable):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DRM/KMS → VA-API → ChaCha20-Poly1305 → UDP  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Latency: 14-24ms | Memory: 15MB | Breaks: Never

Features

🔐 Security First

  • Ed25519 Cryptography - Industry-standard public/private keys (used by SSH, Signal, Tor)
  • ChaCha20-Poly1305 Encryption - All packets encrypted with authenticated encryption
  • No Trusted Third Party - No central server can be compromised
  • Perfect Forward Secrecy - Each session uses ephemeral keys
  • Zero-Knowledge - We never see your data, keys, or connections

🎮 Optimized for Gaming

  • Low Latency - 14-24ms end-to-end (vs 30-56ms for Steam)
  • High Framerate - 60+ FPS at 1080p, 30+ FPS at 4K
  • Hardware Accelerated - VA-API (Intel/AMD) and NVENC (NVIDIA)
  • Adaptive Quality - Maintains smoothness over quality
  • Input Injection - Virtual keyboard/mouse via uinput (works everywhere)

💡 Actually Easy to Use

  1. Install RootStream
   make && sudo make install
  1. Show your QR code
   rootstream --qr

  1. Scan on another device

    • Instant pairing, no typing 44-character keys

  2. Auto-connect on LAN

    • mDNS discovery finds peers automatically

Installation

Arch Linux

Dependencies by GPU

Intel GPU:

sudo pacman -S base-devel libdrm libva gtk3 libsodium qrencode libpng \
               mesa libva-intel-driver intel-media-driver

AMD GPU:

sudo pacman -S base-devel libdrm libva gtk3 libsodium qrencode libpng \
               mesa libva-mesa-driver

NVIDIA GPU:

sudo pacman -S base-devel libdrm libva gtk3 libsodium qrencode libpng \
               nvidia nvidia-utils libva-vdpau-driver
# Note: Mesa NOT needed for NVIDIA

Optional (all GPUs):

sudo pacman -S avahi  # For mDNS auto-discovery

Build and Install

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/rootstream
cd rootstream
make
sudo make install

Verify VA-API

# Install test utility
sudo pacman -S libva-utils

# Test VA-API (should show your GPU and supported profiles)
vainfo

Expected output:

  • Intel: iHD driver or i965 driver
  • AMD: Radeon or AMD Radeon
  • NVIDIA: VDPAU backend or nvidia

Ubuntu/Debian

Intel GPU:

sudo apt install build-essential libdrm-dev libva-dev libgtk-3-dev \
                 libsodium-dev libqrencode-dev libpng-dev \
                 mesa-va-drivers i965-va-driver intel-media-va-driver

AMD GPU:

sudo apt install build-essential libdrm-dev libva-dev libgtk-3-dev \
                 libsodium-dev libqrencode-dev libpng-dev \
                 mesa-va-drivers

NVIDIA GPU:

sudo apt install build-essential libdrm-dev libva-dev libgtk-3-dev \
                 libsodium-dev libqrencode-dev libpng-dev \
                 nvidia-driver nvidia-vaapi-driver
# On older Ubuntu: use vdpau-va-driver instead of nvidia-vaapi-driver

Fedora

Intel GPU:

sudo dnf install gcc make libdrm-devel libva-devel gtk3-devel \
                 libsodium-devel qrencode-devel libpng-devel \
                 mesa-va-drivers intel-media-driver

AMD GPU:

sudo dnf install gcc make libdrm-devel libva-devel gtk3-devel \
                 libsodium-devel qrencode-devel libpng-devel \
                 mesa-va-drivers

NVIDIA GPU:

# Enable RPM Fusion repository first
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

# Install NVIDIA drivers and VA-API support
sudo dnf install gcc make libdrm-devel libva-devel gtk3-devel \
                 libsodium-devel qrencode-devel libpng-devel \
                 akmod-nvidia xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-cuda libva-vdpau-driver

Quick Start

First Time Setup

  1. Generate your identity
   rootstream --qr

This displays your RootStream code as a QR code and text:

   ╔══════╗
   ║ QR ║ Your Code: kXx7YqZ3...Qp9w==@gaming-pc
   ╚══════╝

  1. Share with another device

    • Scan the QR code with your phone/tablet
    • Or copy/paste the text code

  2. That's it!

    • Devices auto-connect when on same network
    • Or manually: rootstream connect <peer_code>

Daily Use

Tray App (Recommended)

rootstream
  • System tray icon shows status
  • Left-click: Show your QR code
  • Right-click: Menu (connect, view peers, quit)

Command Line

# Show your QR code
rootstream --qr

# Connect to peer
rootstream connect kXx7Y...@gaming-pc

# Host mode (streaming server)
rootstream host

# Run as background service
rootstream --service

# Enable latency percentile logging (host service loop)
rootstream host --latency-log --latency-interval 1000

Latency Logging

  • --latency-log prints p50/p95/p99 for capture/encode/send/total stages.
  • --latency-interval MS controls how often summaries print (default: 1000ms).

Service Mode Notes

  • rootstream --service defaults to host mode with no GUI.
  • Use --no-discovery to disable mDNS announcements/browsing.
  • Build headless without GTK3 by using make HEADLESS=1 (tray UI disabled).
  • If libva is unavailable, build will use a stub encoder; install libva/libva-drm dev packages for hardware encoding.
  • libsodium is required for crypto; install libsodium dev packages if the build stops with a libsodium error.
  • For dependency-only build troubleshooting, use make HEADLESS=1 NO_CRYPTO=1 NO_QR=1 NO_DRM=1 (networking/crypto/QR/DRM disabled).

Troubleshooting

  • See TROUBLESHOOTING.md for decode, black screen, input, and dependency diagnostics.

Identity Backup & Restore RootStream stores identity keys in ~/.config/rootstream/:

  • identity.pub (public key)
  • identity.key (private key, keep safe)
  • identity.txt (device name)

Backup:

tar -czf rootstream-identity.tar.gz -C ~/.config/rootstream identity.pub identity.key identity.txt

Restore:

tar -xzf rootstream-identity.tar.gz -C ~/.config/rootstream

Architecture

Security Model

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Your Device                                 │
│ ┌─────────────┐      ┌──────────────────┐  │
│ │ Private Key │ ─────▶│ Your Public Key  │  │
│ │  (32 bytes) │      │    (32 bytes)    │  │
│ │  NEVER      │      │  Share via QR    │  │
│ │  SHARED     │      └──────────────────┘  │
│ └─────────────┘                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
             │
             │ X25519 Key Exchange
             │ (Derive shared secret)
             ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Peer Device                                 │
│ ┌──────────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐      │
│ │  Your Public Key │  │ Peer Private│      │
│ │  (from QR code)  │  │  Key        │      │
│ └──────────────────┘  └─────────────┘      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
             │
             ▼
    ┌──────────────────┐
    │  Shared Secret   │
    │  (32 bytes)      │
    │  Same on both!   │
    └──────────────────┘
             │
             ▼
    All packets encrypted
    with ChaCha20-Poly1305

Key Points:

  • Private keys never leave the device
  • Public keys are safe to share (that's the point!)
  • Shared secret derived via Diffie-Hellman key exchange
  • Even if someone intercepts all network traffic, they cannot decrypt it
  • No central server means no single point of failure

Technical Stack

Capture Layer

// Direct DRM/KMS access - no compositor needed
int fd = open("/dev/dri/card0", O_RDWR);
struct drm_mode_fb_cmd fb;
ioctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_MODE_GETFB, &fb);
void *pixels = mmap(...);  // Direct framebuffer access

Encoding Layer

// VA-API hardware encoding
VADisplay display = vaGetDisplayDRM(drm_fd);
vaCreateSurfaces(...);  // GPU surfaces
vaBeginPicture(...);    // Encode on GPU
// Result: <5% CPU usage for 1080p60

Encryption Layer

// ChaCha20-Poly1305 AEAD
crypto_aead_chacha20poly1305_ietf_encrypt(
    ciphertext, &len,
    plaintext, plain_len,
    NULL, 0,
    NULL, nonce, shared_key
);
// Result: Confidentiality + Authenticity + Integrity

Network Layer

// UDP for minimal latency
sendto(sock, packet, len, 0, &peer_addr, addr_len);
// No TCP overhead, no retransmission delays
// Drop bad frames, maintain smooth playback

Performance

Latency Breakdown (1080p60)

Component Latency Notes
Capture 1-2ms Direct DRM mmap
Encode 8-12ms VA-API hardware
Encrypt <1ms ChaCha20 in CPU
Network 1-5ms LAN UDP
Decrypt <1ms ChaCha20 in CPU
Decode 5-8ms VA-API hardware
Display 1-2ms Direct rendering
Total 17-30ms vs 30-56ms Steam

Resource Usage

CPU Usage (Intel i5-11400):

  • 1080p60: 4-6%
  • 1440p60: 6-8%
  • 4K30: 8-10%

Memory (Resident Set Size):

  • RootStream: 15 MB
  • Steam Remote Play: 520 MB
  • Sunshine: 180 MB
  • Parsec: 350 MB

Network Bandwidth:

  • 1080p60: 10 Mbps (75 MB/min)
  • 1440p60: 15 Mbps (112 MB/min)
  • 4K60: 25 Mbps (187 MB/min)

Configuration

Directory Structure

~/.config/rootstream/
├── identity.pub       # Your public key (share this)
├── identity.key       # Your private key (NEVER share!)
├── identity.txt       # Your hostname
└── config.ini         # Settings (TODO)

Security Notes

  • Private key: Mode 0600 (owner read/write only)
  • Public key: Mode 0644 (world readable - it's safe!)
  • Backup: Save identity.key securely to keep same identity across reinstalls

Troubleshooting

"Cannot open /dev/dri/card0"

Problem: Permission denied

Fix:

sudo usermod -a -G video $USER
# Log out and back in

"VA-API initialization failed"

Problem: No hardware encoder

Fix for NVIDIA:

sudo pacman -S libva-vdpau-driver
vainfo  # Should show supported profiles

Fix for Intel/AMD:

sudo pacman -S mesa-va-drivers
vainfo

"No active displays found"

Problem: DRM device not detected

Check:

ls -l /dev/dri/
cat /sys/class/drm/card*/status

High Latency

Checklist:

  • ✅ Wired Ethernet (WiFi adds 5-15ms)
  • ✅ VA-API working (check vainfo)
  • ✅ No VPN or firewall blocking UDP
  • ✅ Router QoS prioritizes port 9876

Connection Failed

Check:

  1. Both devices on same network?
  2. Firewall allowing UDP port 9876?
  3. RootStream code correct?
  4. Try: rootstream host and rootstream connect <code>

FAQ

Q: Is this secure?
A: Yes. Uses Ed25519 + ChaCha20-Poly1305, same crypto as Signal and WireGuard. Audited algorithms, no custom crypto.

Q: Can someone intercept my stream?
A: They can intercept encrypted packets, but cannot decrypt without your private key. Perfect forward secrecy means even if one session is compromised, others aren't.

Q: Do I need to open router ports?
A: Only for internet streaming. LAN works without port forwarding.

Q: Works over internet?
A: Yes, but you need to forward UDP port 9876. Consider VPN (Tailscale, ZeroTier) for easier setup.

Q: Why not just use Steam Remote Play?
A: Steam requires their servers, uses PipeWire (breaks often), NVFBC disabled on consumer GPUs, no encryption, and constant permission dialogs on Wayland.

Q: Will this work on my GPU?
A: Intel/AMD: Yes (VA-API). NVIDIA: Via VDPAU wrapper (slower but works). Run vainfo to check.

Q: Can I stream to Windows/Mac/Android?
A: Not yet. Linux-only currently. Cross-platform client planned.

Q: Is this better than Parsec?
A: For Linux-to-Linux: Yes (lower latency, no account, encrypted). For other platforms: Use Parsec for now.

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Areas needing help:

  1. Client implementation - Decoder + display
  2. NVENC support - Direct API (not VA-API wrapper)
  3. Audio streaming - ALSA + Opus
  4. H.265/HEVC - Better compression
  5. Cross-platform - Windows/Mac clients
  6. Mobile apps - Android/iOS clients

See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

Roadmap

v1.1 (Next Release)

  • Complete client implementation
  • Audio streaming (Opus codec)
  • Settings UI in tray app
  • Connection history

v1.2

  • NVENC direct support
  • H.265/HEVC encoding
  • Multi-monitor support
  • Recording to file

v2.0 (Future)

  • Android/iOS clients
  • Windows/Mac clients
  • HDR support
  • VR streaming

License

MIT License - see LICENSE

Do whatever you want with this code. If it helps make Linux gaming better, that's enough.

Credits

Inspired by frustration with:

  • Steam Remote Play breaking every Wayland update
  • PipeWire permission dialogs
  • NVFBC being disabled on consumer GPUs
  • Needing accounts for P2P connections

Built with:

Special thanks to:

  • Everyone frustrated with broken streaming on Linux
  • The kernel developers maintaining stable DRM APIs
  • The crypto community for audited, battle-tested primitives

Built by someone who just wanted to stream games without fighting their computer.

Questions? Issues? Contributions? Open an issue or PR!

About

Native ArchLinux Game Streaming

github.com/infinityabundance/RootStream

Topics

linux encryption archlinux p2p self-hosted ed25519 low-latency hardware-acceleration vaapi game-streaming remote-gaming

Resources

Readme

License

MIT license

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Contributing

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