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Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

github.com

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Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#41

Post by vhodges »

mwexler wrote: post #9

This still requires a dedicated monitor connection to each box with a hardware or source switch, right? Or a screen per device? That is, the KVM (in the VGA days) used to switch the mouse, keyboard, and video source so a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse switches across devices. But barrier doesn't try to solve that part, I think. Modern HDMI KVM hardware switches seem rather expensive; anyone found a good way to "…

You can switch video inputs using dcc (eg https://www.ddcutil.com/) so you could bind a hotkey to do that or if Synergy/Barrier/Input-leap can be scripted it could do that part too.

There is also a utility that watches for usb device change events on a cheap USB keyboard/mouse (no video) switcher that does the video automatically, but I had it lock up the usb stack on my Linux machine and never really got it to work reliably enough.

I use one of the cheap usb KM switches and changing the input on the monitor manually. Still kind of sucks, but better than nothing.

Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#43

Post by finnh »

superkuh wrote: post #37
finnh wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But Synergy is now commercial, with a stupid surcharge for TLS, so would it make more sense to say "the only reason to use synergy is if you're using an old OS and don't have hi-DPI screens"?

No, you're thinking of the Synergy 2.x codebase. No one uses that and it's why Barrier exists. But Synergy 1.x is open and free as in freedom.

Gotcha, thanks. I used to use Synergy 1.x, and it was great. Recently returned to the fray and didn't have time to build-from-source (or didn't find an easy 1.x installer for new OS X) so grumble-grumbled and paid for Synergy 2. and expensed it.

Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#44

Post by jtnag »

I tried Barriers to share mouse+keyboard between work and private laptop in the same wifi. Somehow, I had issues with linking both PC.

One of the alternatives is what I use currently - Microsoft Garage Mouse Without Borders ( https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=354... ) which suites my needs.

ps. using 5GHz wifi significantly reduces mouse latency.

Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#45

Post by uberduper »

mwexler wrote: post #9

This still requires a dedicated monitor connection to each box with a hardware or source switch, right? Or a screen per device? That is, the KVM (in the VGA days) used to switch the mouse, keyboard, and video source so a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse switches across devices. But barrier doesn't try to solve that part, I think. Modern HDMI KVM hardware switches seem rather expensive; anyone found a good way to "…

Modern hdmi (I'd recommend dp versions instead of hdmi) kvm switches aren't very expensive. I'm using a 4 machine hdmi/keyboard/mouse/usb switch that was This allows me to extend my active desktop to two monitors, or show a different machine on the secondary monitor. I also use barrier for this two host configuration.

Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#46

Post by Jaruzel »

uoaei wrote: post #42

Any tool that switches screens, too? Essentially one terminal for n computers, with a hardware or software switch between them?

That would be a KVM. (not the Virtualisation software, but a dedicated Keyboard, Video, Mouse switcher). Good ones can be as expensive as ~£200.

Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#49

Post by throwaway888abc »

durazabu wrote: post #15

Barrier has been forked to https://github.com/input-leap/input-leap which has a hundred more commits by the same devs. The name is still barrier though, has anyone more info about this fork?

Thanks, bookmarked. Was using Synergy in past and was great.

Re: Barrier: Share mouse and keyboard between computers

#50

Post by checker659 »

Just an FYI for mac users: Universal Control is a native macOS alternative to barrier that's about to debut with macOS 12.3 (currently in beta). As an ex-synergy user, let me just say how awesome the implementation is. What's crazy is you can share your mouse and keyboard not only between two or more macs but also between your mac and an iPad (if you have one, obviously). And the latency is crazy unnoticably low (even over wifi).
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