Putting together a new Linux HTPC build and looking for a 10ft UI WM/DE to use with it. Essentially, it would be a launcher for a few PWAs (Emby, Netflix, etc) as well as Steam and maybe some emulators. Navigation would likely be a wireless keyboard and, if absolutely necessary, mouse (goal is to get a bluetooth remote working and use that, but that’s the next phase).
I haven’t used Kodi since it was still Xbox Media Center (running on an actual Xbox lol), but would it be a good choice? I used it forever ago as the dashboard for my modded Xbox, and it was great. However, for this, I’d rather not run Kodi, if possible, since Emby already covers those use-cases.
If there’s no “dedicated” one, any recommendations for which regular DE might be best modifiable/extendable to work for that purpose?
Batocera works really well, has a 10ft UI, and includes:
- Kodi to stream local media and can act as an Airplay receiver. I use Jellyfin as a server but I bet Emby would work just as well.
- the ability to run Flatpaks
- a nice 10 ft UI as the default and allows for customization
- emulation backends and moonlight game streaming
- the ability to pair Xbox, PlayStation, or any other Bluetooth controllers
Get a usb IR receiver like FLIRC or something similar with HDMI CEC to control everything via standard remote.
