Back when I used to use windows I used AMD ReLive alot. It, and the nVidia version ShadowPlay Instant Replay, will constantly record the screen without using too much computer resources and at the press of a keycombo will save the last 30 seconds.

I wanted something like this for Linux...

I got tired waiting for someone else to do it.

Alot of people online suggest using OBS's replay buffer feature. However this requires opening OBS and start recording. I do not know when something will happen that I want to share. Might not even happen while playing a game. I just want something in the background (like a systemd service) so that whenever something happens I can record it.

This project uses Meson and Ninja for compiling. It also depends on FFmpeg and X11 development libraries. libunwind is not directly needed but is recommended.

$ meson bin
$ ninja -C bin

To build with x264 support, which potentially (IANAL) makes the binary GPL-licensed, run:

$ meson bin
$ meson configure bin -Dx264-gpl=true
$ ninja -C bin

To install the required dependencies on Ubuntu run:

$ apt install python3-pip ninja-build libavutil-dev libavformat-dev libavdevice-dev \
              libavcodec-dev libswscale-dev libx11-dev libunwind-dev
$ pip3 install meson

To install the required dependencies on Fedora run:

$ dnf install python3-pip ninja-build ffmpeg-devel libX11-devel libunwind-devel
$ pip install meson

To install the required dependencies on Arch run:

$ pacman -S python-pip ninja ffmpeg libx11 libunwind
$ pip install meson

Currently can be run as bin/replay-sorcery. Pressing enter will save the last 30 seconds. Early stages :)

Check out src/config.h for documentation about the configuration files.

The code itself is partway through getting better documentation and commenting. If you want to jump into it I would recommend looking at these source files and headers inparticular:

• src/input/input: handles different input devices.
• src/input/video: finds a video input device.
• src/encoder/encoder: handles different encoders.
• src/encoder/video: finds a video encoder.
• src/save: saves into an mp4 container.
• src/pktcircle: a multithreaded circle buffer for packets.

If theres any part of user or developer documentation that you feel needs to be improved. Feel free to let me know.

• Document code better
• Make a systemd service
• Add audio support
  • On first look reading from audio output does not seem supported by FFmpeg.
  • For my personal requirements it would need to support hot plugging (I use a bluetooth headset).
  • Alot of the time visuals alone are enough to tell a story.
  • (not crossing it out entirely just might take time).
• Cross-platform support
  • Theoretically possible since FFmpeg supports multiple platforms and provides inputs & encoders for them as well
  • Doubt there is any demand though
  • Maybe for Intel devices if they are fast enough?
• Smaller tweaks:
  • Add sound effect for when it saves
  • Add configuration option for changing hotkey
  • Add configuration option for changing scaler options
  • Look at $DISPLAY when choosing the default for inputDisplay