Lan Mouse is a software KVM switch that enables mouse and keyboard sharing across multiple computers on a local network.
The tool solves the problem of managing multiple computers with a single input device by capturing mouse and keyboard input on a sending machine and emulating it on receiving machines over the network. It uses DTLS encryption via WebRTC.rs to secure all network traffic between connected devices. The architecture supports multiple desktop environments and operating systems through pluggable backends, allowing the same core logic to work across different input systems.
Lan Mouse suits users who want an open-source alternative to proprietary tools like Synergy or Share Mouse. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with full support for modern desktop environments including GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Wayland-based compositors like Sway and Hyprland. The README notes that X11 currently only supports receiving input, not sending it. Sway and wlroots compositors without libei support may have issues with modifier keys when the sending device uses certain backends. Wayfire requires a recent version with the shortcuts-inhibit plugin enabled. On Windows, the mouse cursor becomes invisible when sending input if no physical mouse is connected. The tool includes a GTK frontend for configuration and management.
The project maintains active development with regular updates addressing platform-specific issues and expanding desktop environment support. The codebase prioritizes performance through its Rust implementation and maintainability through a modular backend architecture designed to support future platforms like Android and iOS. The README explicitly documents known limitations and caveats across different operating systems and desktop environments rather than claiming universal compatibility.
