196 lines
6.9 KiB
Markdown
196 lines
6.9 KiB
Markdown
# shepherd-launcher
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A child-friendly, parent-guided desktop environment *alternative* for Wayland,
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allowing supervised access to applications and content that you define.
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Its primary goal is to return control of child-focused computing to parents,
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not software or hardware vendors, by providing:
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* the ease-of-use of game consoles
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* access to any application that can be run, emulated, or virtualized in desktop Linux
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* with granular access controls inspired by and exceeding those in iOS Screen Time
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While this repository provides some examples for existing software packages
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(including non-free software and abandonware), `shepherd-launcher` is
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*non-prescriptive*: as the end user, you are free to use them, not use them,
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or write your own.
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## Screenshots
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### Home screen
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`shepherd-launcher` presents a list of activities for the user to pick from.
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The flow of manually opening and closing activities should be familiar.
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["Happy path" demo showing home screen --> GCompris --> home screen](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1aed2040-b381-4022-8353-5ce076b1eee0)
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Activities can be made selectively available at certain times of day.
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This example, shown at 9 PM, has limited activities as a result.
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### Time limits
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Activities can have configurable time limits, including:
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* individual session length
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* total usage per day
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* cooldown periods before that particular activity can be restarted
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[TuxMath session shown about to expire, including warnings and automatic termination](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/541aa456-ef7c-4974-b918-5b143c5304c3)
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### Anything on Linux
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If it can run on Linux in *any way, shape, or form*, it can be supervised by
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`shepherd-launcher`.
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> [Big Buck Bunny](https://peach.blender.org/) playing locally via `mpv`
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> [Putt Putt Joins the Circus](https://humongous.fandom.com/wiki/Putt-Putt_Joins_the_Circus)
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> running via [ScummVM](https://www.scummvm.org/)
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> [The Secret of Monkey Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island)
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> running via [ScummVM](https://www.scummvm.org/)
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> [Minecraft](https://www.minecraft.net/) running via the
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> [Prism Launcher Flatpak](https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.prismlauncher.PrismLauncher)
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> [Celeste](https://www.celestegame.com/) running via Steam
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> [A Short Hike](https://ashorthike.com/) running via Steam
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## Core concepts
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* **Launcher-first**: only one foreground activity at a time
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* **Time-scoped execution**: applications are granted time slices, not unlimited sessions
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* **Parent-defined policy**: rules live outside the application being run
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* **Wrappers, not patches**: existing software is sandboxed, not modified
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* **Revocable access**: sessions end predictably and enforceably
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## Non-goals
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1. Modifying or patching third-party applications
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2. Circumventing DRM or platform protections
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3. Replacing parental involvement with automation or third-party content moderation
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4. Remotely monitoring users with telemetry
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5. Collecting, storing, or reporting personally identifying information (PII)
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### Regarding age verification
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`shepherd-launcher` may be considered "operating system software" under the
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[Digital Age Assurance Act][age-california] and similar legislation,
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and therefore subject to an age verification requirement.
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[age-california]: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1043
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As legislated, such requirements are fundamentally incompatible with non-goals 3, 4, and 5.
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`shepherd-launcher` will *never* collect telemetry or PII, and as such, it will never implement this type of age verification.
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As a result, `shepherd-launcher` is not licensed for use in any region that requires OS-level age verification by law.
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**If you reside in any such region, you may not download, install, or redistribute `shepherd-launcher`.**
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This includes, but is not limited to:
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* California
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* Louisiana
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* Texas
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* Utah
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[Many other states are considering similar legislation.](https://actonline.org/2025/01/14/the-abcs-of-age-verification-in-the-united-states/)
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If you disagree with this assessment and you reside in an affected region, **please contact your representatives.**
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## Installation
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`shepherd-launcher` is pre-alpha and in active development. The helper at
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`./scripts/shepherd` can be used to build and install a *fully functional*
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local kiosk setup from source:
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Check out this repository and run `./scripts/shepherd --help` or see
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[INSTALL.md](./docs/INSTALL.md) for more.
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## Example configuration
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All behavior shown above is driven entirely by declarative configuration.
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For the Minecraft example shown above:
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```toml
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# Prism Launcher - Minecraft launcher (Flatpak)
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# Install: flatpak install flathub org.prismlauncher.PrismLauncher
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[[entries]]
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id = "prism-launcher"
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label = "Prism Launcher"
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icon = "org.prismlauncher.PrismLauncher"
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[entries.kind]
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type = "flatpak"
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app_id = "org.prismlauncher.PrismLauncher"
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[entries.availability]
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[[entries.availability.windows]]
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days = "weekdays"
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start = "15:00"
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end = "18:00"
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[[entries.availability.windows]]
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days = "weekends"
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start = "10:00"
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end = "20:00"
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[entries.limits]
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max_run_seconds = 1800 # 30 minutes (roughly 3 in-game days)
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daily_quota_seconds = 3600 # 1 hour per day
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cooldown_seconds = 600 # 10 minute cooldown
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[[entries.warnings]]
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seconds_before = 120
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severity = "warn"
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message = "2 minutes remaining - save your game!"
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[[entries.warnings]]
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seconds_before = 30
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severity = "critical"
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message = "30 seconds! Save NOW!"
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```
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See [config.example.toml](./config.example.toml) for more.
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## Development
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Build instructions and contribution guidelines are described in
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[CONTRIBUTING.md](./CONTRIBUTING.md).
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If you'd like to help out, look on
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[GitHub Issues](https://github.com/aarmea/shepherd-launcher/issues) for
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potential work items.
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## Written in 2025, responsibly
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This project stands on the shoulders of giants in systems software and
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compatibility infrastructure:
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* Wayland and Sway
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* Rust
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* Flatpak and Snap
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* Proton and WINE
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This project was written with the assistance of generative AI-based coding
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agents. Substantial prompts and design docs provided to agents are disclosed in
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[docs/ai](./docs/ai/).
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