KCast

Version: 0.3.0

Description

KCast Version: 0.3.0 is a KDE Plasma 6 widget that lets you cast video files or youtube URLs to a Chromecast devices in your local network. It supports device discovery, local media playback via an embedded HTTP server, and drag-and-drop integration with browsers and file managers like Dolphin.

Caution! starting with version 0.0.2 we need catt installed.

Community reception

KCast was recently featured on r/kde and received over 28,000 views and 295 upvotes (99% positive). Thanks to everyone for the amazing feedback, ideas, and testing!

If you’d like to support ongoing development, consider sponsoring the project:
💖 GitHub Sponsors

Homepage

https://www.agundur.de/

Features

• Chromecast discovery using Avahi (mDNS)
• Media playback controls: Play, Pause, Resume, Stop
• Support for local media files via built-in HTTP server
• Drag & Drop from Firefox, Chrome, or Dolphin

Visuals

🛠️ Installation

Build

git clone https://github.com/Agundur-KDE/KCast.git

mkdir build && cd build

cmake ..

make

make install (as root) 

Arch Linux Installation

KCast is available in the Arch User Repository (AUR).

If you use an AUR helper like yay or paru, you can install it with:

yay -S kcast
paru -S kcast

If you prefer to build manually from the AUR package:

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/kcast.git
cd kcast
makepkg -si

Note: The AUR package is community-maintained by a third party Special thanks for creating and keeping it up to date.

Installing KCast via the openSUSE Build Service Repository

For openSUSE Tumbleweed (and compatible systems):

# Add the repository
sudo zypper ar -f https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/Agundur/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/home:Agundur.repo

# Automatically import GPG key (required once)
sudo zypper --gpg-auto-import-keys ref

# Refresh repository metadata
sudo zypper ref

# Install KCast
sudo zypper in kcast

Installing KCast via my COPR repository (Fedora)

# Enable repository
sudo dnf copr enable agundur/KCast

# Install package
sudo dnf install kcast

Install on Debian (Trixie)

Prerequisites

• You’re running KDE Plasma 6 on Debian 13 (Trixie) — e.g. on plasma-desktop / plasma-workspace.

• Architecture: packages provided are amd64 (x86-64).

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y pipx
pipx ensurepath   # add ~/.local/bin to PATH (log out/in if prompted)
pipx install catt
catt --version

Download the .deb from the project’s GitHub Release page, then:

sudo apt install ./kcast_0.3.0-1_amd64.deb 

Dependencies

To run KCast successfully, the following software must be installed:

Required

KCast is based on:

• catt

  $ pipx install catt

• Python 3

• Avahi Daemon – for local network device discovery (mDNS) (systemctl status avahi-daemon)

Networking & Firewall:

• Your PC and the Chromecast must be on the same LAN

• mDNS must be allowed through the firewall

• The internal HTTP server uses TCP port 8000 to serve local files

To allow via firewalld:

---

• sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=mdns

• sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=8009/tcp

• sudo firewall-cmd --reload

• For the casting of local files to work you need to allow in the port range 45000-47000 over tcp.

Usage

• Switch on a chromecast enabled device in your locale network.
• drop a video file from Dolphin and/or Web-Browser on it an hit "play"

Tested Hardware

KCast has been tested successfully with the

🛒JMGO N1S Pro 4K Triple Laser Projector (Affiliate link).

This projector supports high-quality Chromecast streaming and works reliably with KCast. Using this link helps support the development of KCast at no additional cost to you.

🛒Samsung HW-Q935GD 9.1.4-Kanal Q-Soundbar (Affiliate link).

Support

• Open an issue in git ...

KCast Issues

Roadmap

• Add config options like default devie
• Try add youtube support

Contributing

accepting contributions ...

KCast

Authors and acknowledgment

Alec

License

GPL

Project status

active