Desktop

Every Kiste has a full GNOME desktop with Firefox, Chrome and the usual apps. You open it in a browser at desktop.kiste.run, from any computer, tablet or phone, with nothing to install.

kiste desktop                  # opens the current Kiste's desktop in your browser
kiste desktop review-42
kiste new studio --desktop     # create a Kiste and open its desktop

In the console, open the entry under Machines and choose Desktop.

Desktop links

kiste desktop creates a desktop link and opens it. A link:

• opens one Kiste's desktop;
• works only in browsers signed in to your account: someone else who gets the link sees a sign-in page, not your desktop (D06);
• can be opened any number of times, on any of your devices, until it expires;
• expires after one hour by default; choose up to seven days with --ttl;
• survives stopping and resuming the Kiste.

kiste desktop review-42 --ttl 8h --print-url   # print a link valid for eight hours
kiste desktop review-42 --revoke               # revoke every live link of review-42

--print-url prints the link instead of opening it, for example to open it on another device. When a link expires or is revoked, only new browsers can no longer join: a desktop that is already open keeps running. Several links can be live at once, and creating one never invalidates another. Deleting the Kiste and signing out everywhere end all links.

Desktop links carry their secret in the part of the address after #, which browsers don't send to servers, and the viewer removes it from the address bar and history before it does anything else.

What you get

• Video at up to 60 frames per second with low latency, adapted to your connection. On a Retina or other dense display the picture is sharp at the display's own resolution.
• Desktop audio.
• Keyboard and mouse, including your keyboard layout, Mac shortcuts and games that capture the pointer.
• Text clipboard in both directions, with a safety rule for copying out of the Kiste; see Clipboard.
• Several viewers on one desktop at once; see Devices and multiple viewers.

The viewer explains the controls.

When the desktop isn't ready yet

A Kiste accepts SSH a few seconds before its desktop streams. The viewer waits and connects as soon as the desktop is up. A stopped Kiste has to be started first: kiste start NAME.