You open an application
You launch a game, a browser, an editor, or other software. geetRPCS-linux tracks the application in the foreground.
COMMUNITY LINUX PORT / DISCORD
geetRPCS,
on Linux.
Show the game or application you are using on your Discord profile. geetRPCS-linux builds on the idea behind geetRPCS, software originally designed for Windows, and adapts it to the Linux ecosystem.
IN A NUTSHELL
Your activity.
Your Discord presence.
When you switch from one application to another, geetRPCS-linux can update your Rich Presence to reflect the application in the foreground. The content shown depends on the configuration associated with that application.
01 — HOW IT WORKS
How does it
work?
The software watches the active window, looks for a match in its catalog, then communicates with your Discord client.
The software identifies it
It compares the application's identifier or some of its window information with its catalog, which contains common Linux applications.
Discord updates your profile
The presence configured for the application is sent to the compatible Discord client, through its local IPC interface.
What if the application isn't recognized?
Heads up: the “Also show apps missing from the catalog” option is enabled by default. If a usable Discord Application ID is configured, an unknown window may therefore use your global presence; the provided template shows its name and can show its title. To prevent this, turn the option off in the Discord settings of the interface: unknown windows will then be treated as AFK.
02 — WHERE THE PROJECT COMES FROM
A fork of geetRPCS,
adapted to Linux.
A Windows application as the starting point. Linux as the new platform.
The original project, geetRPCS, is designed for Windows. geetRPCS-linux is an independent port that carries over its goal — showing a Discord presence based on the application in use — and adds the mechanisms needed for Linux environments.
The port is written in Rust, with a graphical interface built on GTK4 and libadwaita. It is developed by a single person and evolves gradually.
It is not a clone that has exactly every feature of the Windows version. The current differences are detailed below.
03 — WHAT THE SOFTWARE OFFERS
The essential
features.
The capabilities described here reflect the code and documentation of the Linux version v0.4.3 published on GitLab.
01 / CATALOG
Applications
already cataloged.
A built-in catalog of 92 common Linux applications for recognizing windows. You can add, edit, or disable entries from the graphical interface. Some entries have no dedicated Discord Client ID: they then use a global ID configured by the user.
Browsers · Games · Tools · Multimedia02 / CUSTOMIZATION
One presence
per application.
Configure the details, state, images, timestamps, and up to two Rich Presence buttons for each application.
03 / SYNCHRONIZATION
The catalog
can update itself.
The upstream geetRPCS database can be synchronized automatically every 24 hours. Your local customizations always take priority.
Pause and private mode
Pause the presence or enable private mode to hide window titles.
Graphical interface and tray
The GTK4/libadwaita interface lets you manage the catalog and the settings. It is available in English and French: the language follows the system by default and can be changed in “Database & preferences”. A StatusNotifierItem menu is built in; its icon is displayed if the Linux panel provides a compatible host. Otherwise, the main window remains usable.
04 — BEFORE YOU START
Is your Linux desktop
compatible?
Detecting the active window depends on your session: GNOME, KDE Plasma, Sway, Hyprland, X11… The compatibility page explains the differences and points out any components that may need to be installed.
Take the compatibility test05 — CONNECTING TO DISCORD
A compatible Discord
client is required.
geetRPCS-linux does not connect to your account by impersonating you. It communicates with a local client that exposes the Rich Presence interface (IPC or arRPC).
Discord Desktop for Linux
Connection through the client's local IPC socket.
Documented supportVesktop installed natively
Enable “Enable Rich Presence via arRPC” in Vesktop's settings. Don't add a second arRPC server: Vesktop already ships with its own.
Documented supportVesktop as a Flatpak
The sandbox may block access to the host's IPC socket. A native installation is recommended; the Flatpak setup requires extra permissions.
Setup sometimes requiredDiscord Web and other clients
A compatible arRPC server must be available on the machine. Equicord and Vencord rely on the host Discord client.
Depends on the arRPC bridge used06 — TRANSPARENCY
What isn't
yet identical to Windows.
The Linux port is under development. It carries over several important features but does not yet reproduce the entire Windows version.
The v0.4.3 documentation states that the following features are not yet implemented in the Linux port:
- Mouse / power activity detector
- Tray icon animation
- Global keyboard shortcuts
- Live preview of the Rich Presence
- Multilingual help assistant
- CSV export from the statistics interface
This list describes the documented state of version 0.4.3; it may evolve in future releases.
07 — PRIVACY
Keep control
over what Discord shows.
A Rich Presence can show your activity to the people allowed to see your Discord status. The “Also show apps missing from the catalog” setting is enabled by default: if a valid Discord ID is available, an unknown application may use your global presence, whose default template includes the window title.
To avoid publishing unknown windows, turn this setting off in the Discord tab: they will then use the AFK presence. Private mode hides the title of every window. Automatic hiding of titles containing certain private keywords is also enabled by default, but it does not hide every title.
Sensitive files are protected by restrictive user permissions (0600). Communication with Discord goes through a local IPC socket; the software does not inject code into the Discord client.
Read the answers about how it works08 — FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Before you
get started.
A few quick answers to questions you might have before using the software.
What is Discord Rich Presence?
It's the Discord feature that lets an application publish detailed activity on your profile: the name of the game or software, details, state, images, and sometimes buttons. The content depends on what the application sends.
Does geetRPCS-linux work on every Linux desktop?
Not automatically. Linux uses several display systems and window managers. geetRPCS-linux has different detection methods, but some sessions require an extension or extra configuration. See the compatibility matrix.
Is this an official version of geetRPCS?
No. It's a community, independent fork, ported to Linux and developed by a single person. It is not presented as an official version or as a product affiliated with the original project.
Why isn't my status showing up on Discord?
Check that Discord or your compatible client is running, that IPC/arRPC is enabled, and that the client is reachable from the Linux session. Also check that a valid Discord Application ID is available for the activity and that Discord allows sharing your activity. For Vesktop, enable “Enable Rich Presence via arRPC”.
Do I need to configure a Discord Application ID?
Yes, a presence must be associated with an application created in the Discord Developer Portal. Some catalog entries already have a Client ID; for the others, configure a global Application ID or a per-application ID. Without a valid ID, geetRPCS-linux cannot send the presence.
What happens if a window isn't recognized?
By default, “Also show apps missing from the catalog” is enabled. An unknown window can therefore use the global presence, and its title may be shown. Turn this option off in the Discord settings to treat it as AFK and avoid sending its name or title in the Rich Presence.
Are all the features of geetRPCS for Windows available?
No. The Linux port already has the Rich Presence engine, the catalog, customization, the pause/private modes, and the graphical interface, but several Windows features still need to be developed. The list is in the differences with Windows section.
How can I suggest an environment to test?
The compatibility catalog grows with the tests and documentation available. To add an environment, you need to specify the name of the desktop or window manager, the session in use (Wayland or X11), and the observed results.
geetRPCS-linux · COMMUNITY PORT
Linux is varied.
The documentation should be too.
Start by checking your environment, then read the details that match your session.
View compatibility