Remote Controls

From Performous

Performous doesn't include built-in support for infrared remote controls, but this can be achieved using external tools.

Linux

Irxevent

Irxevent program is part of the lirc-x package and it converts lirc input to X window events. It is invoked with a customised configuration file to map the remote keys to X window events which are sent to performous. With the remote, you can navigate through the menus and songs.

Configuration file for MCE remote control follows (name it performous_ir.conf):

 # Walking the menu up, down and enter
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent
 button = Up
 config = Key Up CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent
 button = Down
 config = Key Down CurrentWindow
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = OK 
 config = Key Return CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 # Playing the game left/right 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Left 
 config = Key Left CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Right 
 config = Key Right CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Red 
 config = Key S CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Green 
 config = Key P CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Yellow 
 config = Key C CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Blue 
 config = Key Q CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Pause 
 config = Key space CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = ChanUp 
 config = Key Page_Up CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = ChanDown 
 config = Key Page_Down CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Home 
 config = Key F9 CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Radio 
 config = Key F4 CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = VolDown 
 config = Key F2 CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = VolUp 
 config = Key F3 CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Enter 
 config = Key Tab CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Stop 
 config = Key Escape CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 # Exiting the game/menu 
 
 begin 
 prog = irxevent 
 button = Back 
 config = Key Escape CurrentWindow 
 end 
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Power
 config = Key Escape CurrentWindow
 end

Here's the same config file for Hauppage Nova remote control:

 # Walking the menu up, down and enter
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = ArrowUp
 config = Key Up CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = ArrowDown
 config = Key Down CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = OK
 config = Key Return CurrentWindow
 end
 
 # Playing the game left/right
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = ArrowLeft
 config = Key Left CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = ArrowRight
 config = Key Right CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Red
 config = Key S CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Green
 config = Key P CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Yellow
 config = Key C CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Blue
 config = Key Q CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Pause
 config = Key Space CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = ChannelUp
 config = Key Page_Up CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = ChannelDown
 config = Key Page_Down CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Menu
 config = Key F9 CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = Radio
 config = Key F4 CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = VolumeDown
 config = Key F2 CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = VolumeUp
 config = Key F3 CurrentWindow
 end
 
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = PrevCh
 config = Key Tab CurrentWindow
 end
 
 # Exiting the game/menu
 begin
 prog = irxevent
 button = BackExit
 config = Key Escape CurrentWindow
 end

Following script is used to start the irxevent with correct config file. Name it startgame and place it in your $PATH, next to the actual irxevent configuration file. (The script assumes /usr/games but you can edit it for other locations, such as /usr/local/bin).

 #!/bin/sh
 # Files startgame and performous_ir.conf added in /usr/games for remote control support in performous
 cd /usr/games
 
 # Start the game and get the PID
 GAME_BIN=$1
 $GAME_BIN &
 GAME_PID=$!
 
 # Start the irxevent and get the PID
 irxevent "$GAME_BIN"_ir.conf &
 IRXEVENT_PID=$!
 
 # Wait for game to exit then kill irxevent
 wait $GAME_PID
 kill $IRXEVENT_PID

Now to start Performous with IR remote control support, run: startgame performous