Linux Multi-seat allows multiple physical users (typically display, keyboard, mouse and other USB peripherals) to share a single computer. With powerful modern computers and graphics, this is a great solution for many use cases including kiosks and education. Yet, it's adoption has seen a downturn, leading to an increased cost of computing per user.
Typically, multi-seat requires multiple video devices - one per user. Multi-seat is also a tough cookie to setup - typically needing access to the command line. This is an impediment to people who may be looking to use this feature.. The introduction of Wayland as the way forward for Linux desktop has made it harder to implement and use multi-seat.
System Multiply tries to "multiply" the number of users that a computer can support by removing the existing restrictions of one graphics device per user. At the very least, one user per display output on a computer must be achieved. E.g. a typical laptop could cater to at-least two users. One user using the built-in screen and input, and the other working on a monitor attached to the HDMI output, with an external USB keyboard/mouse. Could we do better ? E.g. split screen on external monitor would give 3 users per laptop, and potentially 2x more users on a desktop with a discrete GPU, or a mini PC.
This project will look at these possibilities. It will also provide an easy to use graphical configuration tool so that anyone can use Linux without fiddling with paths to system devices on the command line!
Will 2025 be the year of Linux on the Desktop ? Your guess is as good as mine. But if this works, 2025 could be the year of Linux for many more users. Hopefully!
