Subject: Feature Request: True Headless Receiver Mode for Linux CLI (--receive <IP>)
There is a huge, untapped market for using AudioRelay on headless Linux SBCs (Single Board Computers like Raspberry Pi, Radxa, etc.) integrated into smart soundbars, DIY multiroom setups, and mobile camper/vanlife audio hubs. Currently, AudioRelay is highly valued because it is the only reliable app that can capture the entire Android system sound without root privileges, while offering fair lifetime licensing.
However, deploying it in a headless environment as a permanent receiver is currently impossible due to the lack of proper CLI parameters.
### Current Technical Limitation
1. The `-minimized` flag only hides the GUI window but starts the application in server (sender) mode by default.
2. In this state, RtAudio only registers input and monitor ports in PipeWire/PulseAudio. No playback ports are created, leaving the system mute.
3. To act as a receiver and output audio via `ALSA Playback`, the GUI must be fully rendered, and a user must manually click the "CONNECT" button in the Player/Receiver tab.
4. Simulating clicks via virtual framebuffers (Xvfb) and automation tools (xdotool) is fragile, prone to failure, and not viable for stable embedded systems.
### Proposed Solution
Implement a dedicated command-line argument to force the Linux binary to boot directly into the receiver mode without requiring any graphical interface or manual interaction.
Example syntax:
```bash
audiorelay -headless -receive <IP_ADDRESS>
```
Or to automatically listen and wait for any authorized incoming stream:
```bash
audiorelay -headless -receiver-mode
```
### Business and Community Value
* **Massive New Target Audience:** It unlocks the entire Linux DevOps, SBC, and Smart Home community (Home Assistant integrations, custom audio nodes) that operate exclusively via SSH/CLI.
* **Vanlife & Multiroom Market Potential:** The market for smart camper modifications and mobile audio solutions is booming. Schlüsselfertige (turnkey) images or hardware bundles promoted through vanlife influencers could easily generate over €100,000 in licensing revenue.
* **Minimal Development Overhead:** The underlying receiver logic, license verification handshakes, and ALSA/PipeWire playback mechanisms are already fully functional within the core app. Exposing this routine via a startup argument without instantiating the UI compose framework should require minimal development effort with maximum financial and reputational return.
Stephan