Bundle PipeWire client modules and record the real Frame probe

.github/workflows/pc-host.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Native libraries
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update -qq
-          sudo apt-get install -y libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev libglib2.0-dev gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-pipewire
+          sudo apt-get install -y libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev libglib2.0-dev gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-pipewire libpipewire-0.3-modules libspa-0.2-modules
           python3 desktop/build.py
       - name: Tests (real x264, fake capture consent/input)
         env:

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update -qq
-          sudo apt-get install -y libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev libglib2.0-dev gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-pipewire
+          sudo apt-get install -y libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev libglib2.0-dev gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-pipewire libpipewire-0.3-modules libspa-0.2-modules
           arch=x64; if [ "$(uname -m)" = aarch64 ]; then arch=arm64; fi
           python3 desktop/build.py --out "app/build/desktop/linux-$arch"
       - uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2

bench/results/2026-09-28-cd20243-pc-agent-frame-arm64-final.json

@@ -0,0 +1,302 @@
+{
+ "label": "pc-agent-frame-arm64-final",
+ "date": "2026-09-28T22:55:27",
+ "commit": "cd20243",
+ "config": {
+  "quality": "balanced",
+  "mode": "native",
+  "net": "none",
+  "delay_ms": 0,
+  "buffer_ms": 250,
+  "host": "frame",
+  "usb": false,
+  "ssh_opts": [],
+  "encoder": "",
+  "duration_s": 10.0,
+  "browser_flags": []
+ },
+ "frame_build": "20260925.6191901",
+ "mac": "26.5.2",
+ "host_platform": "Linux aarch64, SteamOS Frame, BUILD_ID 20260925.6191901 (synthetic host only)",
+ "source": "",
+ "pc_host": true,
+ "headset": "0:03.056203 [Info] - 1 - leaving standby",
+ "scenarios": [
+  {
+   "scenario": "test",
+   "frames_sent": 400,
+   "frames_drawn": 400,
+   "frames_shown": 339,
+   "duration_s": 10.2,
+   "stages_ms": {
+    "capture": {
+     "p50": 0.1,
+     "p95": 0.1,
+     "p99": 0.2,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "queue": {
+     "p50": 0.1,
+     "p95": 0.2,
+     "p99": 0.4,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "encode": {
+     "p50": 2.0,
+     "p95": 2.7,
+     "p99": 3.1,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "socket": {
+     "p50": 0.1,
+     "p95": 0.3,
+     "p99": 0.4,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "network": {
+     "p50": 11.8,
+     "p95": 25.2,
+     "p99": 37.8,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "decode": {
+     "p50": 0.7,
+     "p95": 1.5,
+     "p99": 2.0,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "draw": {
+     "p50": 0.3,
+     "p95": 0.7,
+     "p99": 1.0,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "present": {
+     "p50": 0.8,
+     "p95": 19.3,
+     "p99": 26.8,
+     "n": 339
+    },
+    "content": {
+     "p50": 15.1,
+     "p95": 28.6,
+     "p99": 41.3,
+     "n": 400
+    },
+    "content_shown": {
+     "p50": 17.6,
+     "p95": 39.0,
+     "p99": 47.2,
+     "n": 339
+    }
+   },
+   "fps": 39.3,
+   "fps_shown": 33.4,
+   "late_pct": 50.25,
+   "stall_max": 69.3,
+   "stalls_over_100ms": 0,
+   "mbps": 0.35,
+   "keyframes": 6,
+   "size": "1280x720",
+   "captured": 612,
+   "viewer_never_drawn": 0,
+   "input_ms": {
+    "p50": 76.6,
+    "p95": 98.2,
+    "p99": 127.8,
+    "n": 19
+   },
+   "input_shown_ms": {
+    "p50": 80.5,
+    "p95": 107.8,
+    "p99": 128.1,
+    "n": 16
+   },
+   "input_parts_ms": {
+    "uplink": {
+     "p50": 36.5,
+     "p95": 57.6,
+     "p99": 83.2,
+     "n": 19
+    },
+    "mac": {
+     "p50": 14.6,
+     "p95": 31.3,
+     "p99": 31.7,
+     "n": 19
+    },
+    "back": {
+     "p50": 15.1,
+     "p95": 32.8,
+     "p99": 36.2,
+     "n": 19
+    }
+   },
+   "inputs": {
+    "asked": 19,
+    "sent": 19,
+    "seen": 19
+   },
+   "timeline": [
+    {
+     "t": 0,
+     "fps": 40,
+     "mbps": 0.34,
+     "content_p50": 11.7,
+     "content_p95": 27.4,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 1,
+     "fps": 39,
+     "mbps": 0.37,
+     "content_p50": 11.9,
+     "content_p95": 28.2,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 2,
+     "fps": 41,
+     "mbps": 0.35,
+     "content_p50": 11.4,
+     "content_p95": 16.6,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 3,
+     "fps": 39,
+     "mbps": 0.37,
+     "content_p50": 12.7,
+     "content_p95": 28.0,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 4,
+     "fps": 38,
+     "mbps": 0.33,
+     "content_p50": 15.3,
+     "content_p95": 30.0,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 5,
+     "fps": 39,
+     "mbps": 0.37,
+     "content_p50": 16.7,
+     "content_p95": 28.5,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 6,
+     "fps": 41,
+     "mbps": 0.38,
+     "content_p50": 15.9,
+     "content_p95": 29.4,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 7,
+     "fps": 41,
+     "mbps": 0.31,
+     "content_p50": 15.6,
+     "content_p95": 28.2,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 8,
+     "fps": 38,
+     "mbps": 0.38,
+     "content_p50": 15.5,
+     "content_p95": 25.9,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 9,
+     "fps": 38,
+     "mbps": 0.29,
+     "content_p50": 16.7,
+     "content_p95": 28.8,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    },
+    {
+     "t": 10,
+     "fps": 6,
+     "mbps": 0.03,
+     "content_p50": 17.6,
+     "content_p95": 23.1,
+     "bitrate": 5529600,
+     "tier": 0,
+     "w": 1280,
+     "net": null
+    }
+   ],
+   "adapt": [],
+   "content_p50": 15.1,
+   "content_p95": 28.6,
+   "input_p50": 76.6,
+   "input_p95": 98.2,
+   "grades": {
+    "input_replies": "local",
+    "content_p50": "local",
+    "content_p95": "local",
+    "input_p50": "acceptable",
+    "input_p95": "acceptable",
+    "fps": "bad",
+    "late_pct": "bad",
+    "stall_max": "local"
+   },
+   "controller": {
+    "target": 5529600,
+    "ceiling": 5529600,
+    "tier": 0,
+    "fps": 60,
+    "scale": 1.0,
+    "baseRtt": 12.332,
+    "inFlight": 0,
+    "slack": 74.12,
+    "adapt": true
+   },
+   "events": [],
+   "source_fps": 60.0,
+   "cpu": {
+    "host": "not sampled"
+   },
+   "viewer": "h264 software; ANGLE (Mesa, zink Vulkan 1.4(Turnip Adreno (TM) 750 (MESA_TURNIP)), OpenGL 4.6); raf 72 Hz",
+   "show_s": 1.75,
+   "panel": "valve.steam.desktopgame.2001932457",
+   "src": "test",
+   "route": "network"
+  }
+ ],
+ "proof": "Synthetic x264 PC agent runs on the Frame itself, forwarded via Mac and back. Not Windows/Linux desktop capture or laser input."
+}

desktop/build.py

@@ -50,6 +50,29 @@ def build(destination):
             target = plugins_out / source.name
             shutil.copy2(source, target)
             pending.append(source)
+    if not win:
+        # PipeWire dynamically loads support and protocol modules. ldd cannot
+        # discover those; bundle them with a private client-only config instead
+        # of accidentally loading a different distro's client modules/config.
+        libdir = plugin_dir.parent
+        for relative in ('pipewire-0.3/libpipewire-module-protocol-native.so',
+                         'pipewire-0.3/libpipewire-module-client-node.so',
+                         'spa-0.2/support/libspa-support.so'):
+            source = libdir / relative
+            if not source.is_file():
+                raise SystemExit('Missing PipeWire runtime library: ' + str(source))
+            target = destination / 'lib' / relative
+            target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            shutil.copy2(source, target)
+            pending.append(source)
+        config = destination / 'share' / 'pipewire'
+        config.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        (config / 'client.conf').write_text(
+            'context.spa-libs = { support.* = support/libspa-support }\n'
+            'context.modules = [\n'
+            '  { name = libpipewire-module-protocol-native }\n'
+            '  { name = libpipewire-module-client-node }\n'
+            ']\n')
     copied = set()
     while pending:
         binary = pending.pop()

docs/pc-in-headset.md

@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ protocol, panel launcher and adaptation. It does not launch or require
 Sunshine, OBS or another desktop-streaming app. GStreamer and its codec
 plugins are ordinary libraries bundled with the Windows and Linux app;
 users do not install a GStreamer application. The shared library build keeps
-license texts and package provenance alongside the libraries.
+license texts and package provenance alongside the libraries. Linux also
+bundles the PipeWire client’s dynamically loaded SPA/protocol modules and a
+private client configuration; it does not change the desktop’s configuration.
 
 First-party alternatives considered (**documented**): Valve Remote Play
 streams a game/desktop, rather than providing this per-window panel protocol;
@@ -144,6 +146,13 @@ same bounded shaping relay, without administrator privileges.
 - **Verified, Mac:** all 600 states in a 60-second congestion/recovery trace
   matched the original Swift controller. `tests/test_pc_controller.py` retains
   the original trace digest as a regression check.
+- **Verified, real Frame, current agent at `cd20243`:** the repeated synthetic
+  probe drew 400 frames at 39.3 fps, content p50/p95 15.1/28.6 ms, and synthetic
+  input-to-drawn p50 76.6 ms. Test clicks now change the pattern color before
+  injection is timestamped. The frame-rate/late-frame targets still failed;
+  this remains a Frame-hosted x264 test through a Mac relay, not a desktop or
+  physical-laser measurement. Helper exit 0 and cleanup succeeded.
+  [Current probe result](../bench/results/2026-09-28-cd20243-pc-agent-frame-arm64-final.json).
 - **Untested:** real Windows WGC → Media Foundation → Frame; real Linux
   portal → PipeWire → VA-API/x264 → Frame; physical laser input on either.
   No benchmark numbers for those desktop paths are claimed.

tests/test_pcview.py

@@ -173,6 +173,36 @@ class NativeTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def tearDown(self):
         self.request('/close?k='+self.token, 'POST')
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(sys.platform.startswith('linux'), 'Linux PipeWire client libraries')
+    def test_bundled_pipewire_context_needs_no_system_modules(self):
+        # No portal request, remote connection or desktop capture: create and
+        # destroy a private client context to test the dynamically loaded SPA
+        # and protocol modules that ldd cannot discover.
+        code = """
+import ctypes as C, os
+lib = C.CDLL(os.path.join(os.environ['FRAME_PC_NATIVE'], 'lib', 'libpipewire-0.3.so.0'))
+for name, ret, args in [
+    ('pw_init', None, [C.c_void_p, C.c_void_p]),
+    ('pw_main_loop_new', C.c_void_p, [C.c_void_p]),
+    ('pw_main_loop_get_loop', C.c_void_p, [C.c_void_p]),
+    ('pw_context_new', C.c_void_p, [C.c_void_p, C.c_void_p, C.c_size_t]),
+    ('pw_context_destroy', None, [C.c_void_p]),
+    ('pw_main_loop_destroy', None, [C.c_void_p])]:
+    fn = getattr(lib, name)
+    fn.restype, fn.argtypes = ret, args
+lib.pw_init(None, None)
+loop = lib.pw_main_loop_new(None)
+assert loop, 'bundled SPA loop support did not load'
+context = lib.pw_context_new(lib.pw_main_loop_get_loop(loop), None, 0)
+assert context, 'bundled PipeWire client modules did not load'
+lib.pw_context_destroy(context)
+lib.pw_main_loop_destroy(loop)
+"""
+        env = frame_pcview.PCView([], lambda *a: None, 'frame').agent_environment()
+        env['FRAME_PC_NATIVE'] = str(capture.NATIVE)
+        result = subprocess.run([sys.executable, '-c', code], env=env, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=15)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+
     def test_auth_and_real_h264_stats(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.request('/status')[0], 403)
         status, body = self.request('/ticket?src=test&k='+self.token, 'POST')

ui/frame_pc_agent.py

@@ -585,4 +585,7 @@ def main():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main()
+    try:
+        main()
+    except (OSError, RuntimeError, AttributeError) as e:
+        raise SystemExit('PC streaming helper: ' + str(e))

ui/frame_pcview.py

@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ class PCView(MacView):
             env['PATH'] = str(NATIVE / 'bin') + os.pathsep + env.get('PATH', '')
         else:
             env['LD_LIBRARY_PATH'] = str(NATIVE / 'lib') + os.pathsep + env.get('LD_LIBRARY_PATH', '')
+            env['PIPEWIRE_MODULE_DIR'] = str(NATIVE / 'lib' / 'pipewire-0.3')
+            env['SPA_PLUGIN_DIR'] = str(NATIVE / 'lib' / 'spa-0.2')
+            env['PIPEWIRE_CONFIG_DIR'] = str(NATIVE / 'share' / 'pipewire')
+            env['PIPEWIRE_CONFIG_NAME'] = 'client.conf'
         return env
 
     def shutdown(self):