[ccouzens]

I'd be interested to hear how you'd get the usability to be as good as an operating system designed to be used with a remote running apps designed to be run with a remote.

Having to use a mouse and keyboard is a pain point for me when I use my desktop on my TV from the couch. For the mouse I use the trackpad on a ps5 controller, so the mouse isn't so bad.

Possibly you could: * Not require passwords for everyday operation of your computer * Boot into some sort of launcher designed for televisions * Have a fairly narrow set of apps and services that work well with your setup. For example I don't know how you'd use Netflix or Disney plus with a remote on Linux.

[iplist]

I've been running Kodi for over a decade now. It starts on boot, so all I have to do is start the desktop. Remote works with an open source Anroid app, it also allows streaming from Kodi to your phone and vice versa. Youtube works fine, never tried Disney+/Netflix, I'm not sure that's possible.

[amatecha]

Kodi has YouTube? YT was the only reason I didn't just set up a Pi 4 or whatever. Already got one LibreELEC system for the home theatre, but wanted YT for the "daily driver" TV display. I assumed any YT plugin for Kodi would be persistently behind API changes and often not working, etc... is my assumption wrong? Would be great to hear if so haha

[deadbunny]

You need to setup your own set of API keys (fairly easy) but it canl break for a week or so at a time when YT make changes that need updates for but it's reasonably rare (one every couple of years).

[crtasm]

I've never added API keys and it mostly works fine, need to retry a link sometimes (youtube a/b testing things I guess?) and I imagine it can't play age-gated videos.

[irusensei]

YouTube nerfed their api in a way that using third party clients is from hard to impossible. Things like requiring users to register api keys etc.

[iplist]

I use NewPipe and choose to stream to Kodi. That has worked fine for the last few years, even with an outdated Kodi YouTube plugin.

[deadbunny]

You can configure linux to directly boot into Kodi with zero interaction very easily[1]. If you pickup a machine with an IR sensor (some Intel NUCs for example) then you can configure it to use a remote[2]. RPis have HDMI-CEC which mean you can use your TV remote[3]. With that said I just use a mini keyboard[4] as it's the easiest and moat versatile for me, definitely not the most user friendly for people who don't know the keys though!).

Admittedly I only have local media and YouTube (via a Kodi Plugin)and don't use any streaming services so Kodi fulfils my needs perfectly.

1. https://kodi.wiki/view/HOW-TO:Autostart_Kodi_for_Linux

2. https://kodi.wiki/view/Remote_controls

3. https://pimylifeup.com/raspberrypi-hdmi-cec/

4. http://www.riitek.com/product/k08x.html

[vips7L]

No regular user wants to maintain this. Not everyone wants to tinker with Linux.

[tacker2000]

There exist a couple of wireless media keyboards with integrated trackpads like a large one from logitech or microsoft or some small ones from obscure chinese companies on amazon. There are also remotes that you can connect over bluetooth.

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wireless-Media-Keyboard-N9Z...

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Multi-touch-Certifi...

https://www.amazon.com/Rii-Wireless-Bluetooth-Backlight-RTi8...