Multiple cameras/screenshares in qubes-video-companion

[bartlomiejkida]

I like QubeOS design and the idea behind qubes-video-companion. However, I noticed a possible improvement that could be useful to anyone using this software.

The problem you're addressing (if any)

Currently, I can only present an screenshare within a single AppVM. If the app to be shared is located in different AppVMs, it is currently not possible to quickly and easily switch sharing between different AppVMs.

The solution you'd like

Ability to create multiple output cameras. User can be choose source on conference app (like zoom, meets etc).
An example of how this could work:

# Example create /dev/video1 with camera screen
# it is important to change the current camera name from "Qubes Video Campanion" to "Qubes Video Campanion Webcam"
qubes-video-companion webcam

# Example create /dev/video2 with ApVM1 screenshare:
# You choose AppVM and screen
# In system shows  "Qubes Video Campanion Screenshare 1"
qubes-video-companion screenshare AppVM1

# Create another shared screen - and new camera ( /dev/video3 ? )
#  In system shows  "Qubes Video Campanion Screenshare 2"
qubes-video-companion screenshare AppVM2

I wonder if at this stage it is possible to insert AppVM names instead of numbers for better identification, but I assume for security reasons it will be better to number it rather than pass the AppVM name.

As a result, the group meeting software should see multiple cameras, and the presenter will be able to switch between selected sources (e.g. webcam, image sharing from different AppVMs).

The value to a user, and who that user might be

It can be useful for any presenter - if they want to show something that is in different AppVMs (for example, the browser is AppVM1 and the SSH console is AppVM2), and they need to show something both in the console and in the browser.

Completion criteria checklist