duckd

duckd is a lightweight desktop audio manager. it provides global hotkey volume presets, a per-application mixer, and lives in your tray.

features

• global hotkeys for volume presets, including while the main window is hidden
• per-application volume mixer for currently active audio streams
• optional default volume for every stream not explicitly listed in a preset
• system tray controls and close-to-tray behaviour
• optional start-with-system support on windows and linux
• signed in-app updates from github releases
• editable, human-readable .toml configuration
• config import and export

download

download the latest release from the website or from the releases page.

local install

git clone https://github.com/ai9an/duckd.git
cd duckd

install node.js, rust, and the tauri v2 prerequisites, then run:

npm install
npm run tauri dev

create a linux appImage:

npm run bundle:linux

create MSI and NSIS installers for windows:

npm run bundle:windows

presets

1. open presets and select new preset.
2. give the preset a name and record a global hotkey.
3. choose running applications and set their target volumes.
4. optionally set a default volume for all other active streams.
5. save the preset and use its shortcut from any application.

applications are matched by process or executable name. a preset silently skips applications that are not currently running, and explicitly listed targets override its default stream volume.

per-application microphone volume is not exposed and therefor cannot be used on windows

configuration

duckd uses .toml for a readable config system.

[general]
run_in_tray = true
hud_hotkey = "Ctrl+Shift+Space"

[[presets]]
name = "lockin"
hotkey = "Alt+3"
default_volume = 75

[[presets.targets]]
app = "vesktop.bin"
volume = 20

[[presets.targets]]
app = "spotify"
volume = 0

[[presets.targets]]
app = "firefox-bin"
volume = 0

signed releases and updates

duckd checks the latest published github release once at startup and can also check from settings. it always asks before downloading and installing an update. builds made before updater support was added cannot update themselves retroactively.

tauri requires every updater artifact to be signed. generate the long-lived updater key once and keep the private key backed up somewhere secure:

npm run tauri signer generate -- -w ~/.tauri/duckd.key

add these repository secrets before pushing a release tag:

• TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY: the private key contents
• TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY_PASSWORD: the private-key password, or an empty value
• TAURI_UPDATER_PUBLIC_KEY: the generated public key contents

keep the versions in package.json, src-tauri/Cargo.toml, and src-tauri/tauri.conf.json identical, then push a semantic version tag such as v1.2.0. the release workflow builds signed windows x64 NSIS and linux x64 AppImage artifacts, publishes them, and generates latest.json for installed clients.

desktop app built with

• tauri v2
• rust
• vanilla typeScript and vite
• windows-volume-control on windows
• pulsectl on linux