Bug 388128 - [suggestion] KWin as a VNC server
Summary: [suggestion] KWin as a VNC server
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2017-12-21 22:40 UTC by RJVB
Modified: 2017-12-26 15:39 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Description RJVB 2017-12-21 22:40:42 UTC
If I'm not mistaken KWin has access to the entire desktop content. If so, does that mean it might thus be able to act as a VNC server (using the VNC qpa for inspiration)?

That'd be a really nifty feature even if a bit far from traditional WM functionality.
Comment 1 Martin Flöser 2017-12-22 07:48:06 UTC
KWin will not add vnc support for security and stability reasons. Due to that I'm setting to WONTFIX.

But there is experimental code for adding a protocol which allows to write a vnc server. This might land for 5.13.
Comment 2 RJVB 2017-12-22 09:46:55 UTC
Is there a better place to post these kind of wild ideas, where they might get *whelming reactions from the community? :)

I can't judge how unstable this might make the WM - hardly when done right I'd hope (possibly with the compositor turned off). I'd be more concerned about performance, but then this does not need to be something intended to allow *concurrent* access from multiple hosts.

FWIW, OS X has had a builtin remote desktop feature that's nothing but a VNC server, and it is in fact what inspired my suggestion. You have to enable it explicitly, and then set a password. I never got to try if multiple clients can connect, but as soon as a client connects a conspicuous icon appears in the menubar ("system tray"), with a menu under it that allows to disconnect the client in a click.
I highly doubt Apple would have left this option in the consumer version of their OS (i.e. not only in OS X Server) if the security risks were really severe. AFAIAC the security risks are only slightly higher than for the SSH server we all run -- once your IP is exposed.
Comment 3 Martin Flöser 2017-12-22 13:10:01 UTC
Let's put it like that: it's rather unlikely that you will have an idea I haven't thought about years ago. How to do VNC is something I spent quite some time thinking about years ago.
Comment 4 RJVB 2017-12-22 14:30:24 UTC
Here's one idea you clearly never got: how to avoid spewing insulting generalisations and other petty remarks ("I'll break it just because I can").
Comment 5 Martin Flöser 2017-12-22 19:48:14 UTC
I have now been the maintainer of KWin for - I don't know - 6, 7 years. I don't remember a single case where a feature or idea was suggested which I hadn't thought about before. You can think it's a generalization or even arrogant, but that's how it is. For the specific topic on remote rendering I even blogged about it in 2015: https://blog.martin-graesslin.com/blog/2015/10/september-update-for-plasmas-wayland-porting/

Please also remember that this is a technical issue tracking, that English is not my native language and that I'm German which means I'm extremely direct.
Comment 6 RJVB 2017-12-22 21:18:10 UTC
In that case, please remember that I'm Dutch so English is a second language and I am even more direct (or can be as over 30y in international exchange have taught me a minimum of restraint).