TwinDesk v0.1.0 Beta 🎉

TwinDesk v0.1.0 Beta 🎉

  Use two computers as one desk. TwinDesk links a Mac, Windows PC or Linux machine on your local network. It shares your screen, mouse and keyboard, clipboard, files, sound, notifications, terminal and apps. Everything goes directly between your two computers over an encrypted link, with no cloud account and no relay server.

  This is the first public beta. Expect some rough edges, and please report any bugs you find.

  ✨ Features

  - 🖥 Second screen: extend or mirror your Mac onto the PC with a real virtual display, or show the PC's screen in a window on the Mac. Uses low-latency H.264 over WebRTC, with Fastest or Smooth playback and optional frame generation.
  - 🖱 One mouse and keyboard: move the pointer off the edge of the screen to control the other computer. Edge resistance, pointer speed and screen position are adjustable. Double-tap Right Option / Right Alt to bring everything back. Trackpad gestures (switching Spaces, pinch to zoom, show desktop) work on the other side too.
  - 📋 Clipboard in both directions: copy on one computer and paste on the other, either instantly or when you switch. Password manager entries are skipped, and there's a short Recent list.
  - 📁 Files and folders: drag files across the screen edge, or copy and paste them with <kbd>⌃⌥C</kbd>/<kbd>⌃⌥V</kbd> (<kbd>Ctrl+Alt+C/V</kbd> on Windows). You can also send from the macOS Share menu or Explorer's Send to, and share a folder that appears as a network drive on the other computer.
  - 🪟 Apps from the other computer: open PC apps on the Mac, or Mac apps on the PC. Each one gets its own window and its own Dock or Start-menu icon.
  - 🔔 Notifications: one computer's notifications show up on the other as native notifications. You can hide message text or mute individual apps.
  - ⌨️ Terminal: open a shell on the other computer without a password. ssh twindesk works in any terminal.
  - 🔊 Sound: play one computer's audio on the other, in either direction.
  - 🔐 Pairing and security: computers find each other on the LAN. You pair once by comparing a code, and after that the connection is encrypted with TLS.
  - ⬆️ Update check: TwinDesk checks GitHub Releases for new versions. You can turn this off in General › Updates.


  🚀 Getting started

  1. Install TwinDesk on both computers. They need to be on the same network.
  2. Open it on both. They should find each other automatically.
  3. Check that the pairing codes match, and you're connected.
  4. Follow the Setup screen:
     - macOS: grant Screen Recording, Accessibility and Input Monitoring.
     - Windows: allow the firewall rule, set the network to Private, and optionally install the Virtual Display Driver (needed for Extend).
     - Linux (Wayland): approve input access with one admin prompt, then log out and back in once.

  ⚠️ Known limitations (beta)

  - The builds aren't code-signed yet. Windows SmartScreen and macOS Gatekeeper may warn you the first time you open TwinDesk. On Windows, choose More info → Run anyway. On macOS, right-click → Open.
  - Both computers must be on the same local network. Connecting over the internet isn't supported.
  - Linux packages are x64 only for now.