Switch to WirePlumber as the PipeWire session manager
Summary
PipeWire currently uses a simple example session manager. This proposal is to move to the more powerful WirePlumber session manager.
Owner
- Name: Wim Taymans
- Email: wim.taymans@gmail.com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora Linux 35
- Last updated: 2021-07-19
- FESCo issue: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
- Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
- Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
Detailed Description
PipeWire uses a simple example session manager with limited features and configuration option. The proposal is to move to WirePlumber, which is more advanced.
Feedback
Benefit to Fedora
PipeWire currently uses a simple example session manager with mostly hardcoded logic and rules. This proposal wants to replace the session manager with a more advanced session manager, called WirePlumber.
WirePlumber brings to following improvements
- Drop-in replacement session manager for PipeWire, implements the exact same features as the example session manager
- built with GObject, which provides a richer development experience and adds bindings for most languages
- extensible with loadable modules
- scriptable policy using small lua scripts
- better integration with desktop settings
The main benefits will be that this session manager would allow for more customization of the policy and rules. Initially we aim for feature parity with the current solution and work on more features in the next releases.
Scope
- Proposal owners:
This is a rather isolated changed. Instead of starting the pipewire-media-session executable we would need to package and start WirePlumber instead.
WirePlumber has been kept up to data with the features in the example session manager and would need testing.
- Other developers:
None. This is an isolated PipeWire change.
- Release engineering: #Releng issue number
A new systemd service will need to be activated in the default install.
- Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Alignment with Objectives:
A more configurable and adaptable session manager will make it easier to adapt to the Audio and Video requirements and policy of the target use-case. We could more easily write desktop, PRO audio or mobile configurations.
Upgrade/compatibility impact
Should not cause any change.
How To Test
Experience should be the same as before. Retest all audio testcases.
User Experience
Should not cause any visible change.
Dependencies
None.
Contingency Plan
If the feature can not be completed we continue using the existing pipewire-media-session.
- Contingency mechanism: (What to do? Who will do it?) N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No
Documentation
[WirePlumber](https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/wireplumber)
N/A (not a System Wide Change)