# PipeWire — Next-Generation Audio and Video Framework for Linux

> A low-latency multimedia framework that unifies audio and video handling on Linux. It replaces both PulseAudio and JACK while maintaining full compatibility with applications built for either.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# PipeWire — Next-Generation Audio and Video Framework for Linux

## Quick Use
```bash
# PipeWire is pre-installed on Fedora 34+ and Ubuntu 22.10+
# Check if PipeWire is running
pw-cli info

# Install on Ubuntu (if not default)
sudo apt install pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

# Restart the service
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
```

## Introduction
PipeWire is a server and API for handling multimedia on Linux, designed to replace both PulseAudio (consumer audio) and JACK (professional low-latency audio) with a single unified framework. It also handles video streams, enabling secure screen sharing under Wayland compositors.

## What PipeWire Does
- Routes audio and video streams between applications and hardware devices
- Provides PulseAudio and JACK compatibility layers for existing applications
- Enables low-latency audio processing suitable for professional music production
- Handles screen capture and camera streams for Wayland-native applications
- Manages Bluetooth audio codecs including AAC, LDAC, and aptX

## Architecture Overview
PipeWire is written in C and runs as a user-space daemon managed by a session manager (WirePlumber by default). It processes media through a graph of linked nodes, where each node represents a source, sink, or filter. The graph executes in a real-time thread with configurable quantum (buffer) sizes as low as 32 samples. Compatibility modules translate PulseAudio and JACK API calls into native PipeWire operations.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Ships as the default audio stack on Fedora, Ubuntu 22.10+, and many modern distros
- On older systems, install pipewire, pipewire-pulse, and wireplumber packages
- Configure default sample rate and buffer size in pipewire.conf
- Use WirePlumber Lua scripts to define routing policies and device profiles
- Adjust Bluetooth codec preferences in the bluetooth configuration files

## Key Features
- Drop-in replacement for both PulseAudio and JACK simultaneously
- Sub-millisecond latency capability for real-time audio work
- Secure video capture for screen sharing under Wayland using xdg-desktop-portal
- Per-stream volume control, routing, and format negotiation
- Bluetooth audio with support for modern high-quality codecs

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **PulseAudio** — the previous standard for desktop Linux audio; PipeWire replaces it with lower latency
- **JACK** — professional audio server; PipeWire provides equivalent latency with simpler setup
- **ALSA** — kernel-level audio layer; PipeWire sits above ALSA and adds routing and mixing
- **CoreAudio (macOS)** — Apple's integrated audio stack; PipeWire serves a similar unified role on Linux

## FAQ
**Q: Can I use PipeWire for professional audio production?**
A: Yes. With buffer sizes down to 32 samples, it matches JACK's latency for real-time work.

**Q: Will my PulseAudio applications still work?**
A: Yes. PipeWire includes a PulseAudio compatibility daemon that handles existing apps transparently.

**Q: Does PipeWire handle screen sharing?**
A: Yes. It provides the video capture backend for Wayland screen sharing via xdg-desktop-portal.

**Q: How do I switch from PulseAudio to PipeWire?**
A: Install pipewire-pulse and wireplumber, then disable PulseAudio. Most modern distros handle this automatically.

## Sources
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire
- https://pipewire.org

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-aeb98f26
Author: Script Depot