How to use the command 'wireplumber' (with examples)

WirePlumber is a powerful and modular session/policy manager for PipeWire, providing a high-level library that simplifies interaction with PipeWire’s API. It manages audio and video stream routing, allowing flexible policy configurations. WirePlumber is especially useful in multimedia management and serves as a bridge to simplify complexities of dealing with audio and video streams on Linux systems using PipeWire.

Use case 1: Make WirePlumber start with the user session immediately (for systemd systems)

Code:

systemctl --user --now enable wireplumber

Motivation: For systems using systemd, it’s crucial for services like WirePlumber to start automatically with the user’s session. This ensures that audio and video policies are managed seamlessly every time a user logs in. Automating the startup process saves time and reduces the potential for errors caused by manually starting the service each session.

Explanation:

• systemctl: This is the command-line tool to examine and control the systemd system and service manager.
• --user: This option ensures that the command affects user-level services, which are specific to the logged-in user rather than system-wide settings.
• --now: Immediately starts the service as it’s being enabled, combining the enabling and starting into one command.
• enable: This component of the command ensures that WirePlumber is configured to start automatically on user login.
• wireplumber: This specifies the WirePlumber service that should be enabled.

Example output:

Created symlink /home/user/.config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/wireplumber.service → /usr/lib/systemd/user/wireplumber.service.

Use case 2: Run WirePlumber, after pipewire is started (for non-systemd systems)

Code:

wireplumber

Motivation: On systems that do not use systemd, users need a straightforward way to initiate WirePlumber manually since it lacks an automatic session management feature. Running WirePlumber after starting PipeWire ensures that the audio and video routing policies are appropriately managed without further configurations.

Explanation:

• wireplumber: This simply calls the WirePlumber executable to manage multimedia sessions. By omitting additional arguments or options, it runs with default configurations.

Example output:

[INFO] wireplumber 0.4.6 starting...
[INFO] Initializing setup for PipeWire

Use case 3: Specify a different context configuration file

Code:

wireplumber --config-file path/to/file

Motivation: Advanced users or system administrators may require different configurations for various environments or use cases. Specifying a different context configuration file allows for customizing how WirePlumber manages audio and video routing policies without altering the default configurations, facilitating flexibility and experimentation.

Explanation:

• wireplumber: Invokes the WirePlumber executable.
• --config-file: This option specifies that a non-default configuration file should be used.
• path/to/file: This argument provides the path to the custom configuration file intended for use.

Example output:

[INFO] Using custom configuration file: path/to/file
[INFO] wireplumber 0.4.6 starting with custom configuration

Use case 4: Display help

Code:

wireplumber --help

Motivation: When users need to understand what options and arguments are available with wireplumber, accessing the help command is essential. It provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of how to use the command and its various features, helping both new and experienced users navigate WirePlumber’s functionalities.

Explanation:

• wireplumber: This specifies the executable that is being queried for help.
• --help: This option is widely used in command-line programs to display usage information, detailing available commands and options.

Example output:

Usage: wireplumber [OPTION]...
Manage PipeWire multimedia routing.

Options:
  --version    Show version information
  --config-file Specify a configuration file to use
  --help       Display this help message

Use case 5: Display version

Code:

wireplumber --version

Motivation: Knowing the version of WirePlumber running on a system can be crucial for troubleshooting, compatibility checks, or simply verifying that the user is running the expected version. This is particularly important when seeking support or when specific features are version-dependent.

Explanation:

• wireplumber: The executable being queried.
• --version: This option is used to display the current version of the software installed, providing vital information about the software’s iteration.

Example output:

wireplumber 0.4.6

Conclusion:

WirePlumber serves as a critical tool in managing multimedia sessions and policies for PipeWire on Linux systems. Its use is versatile, ranging from automating session startups to handling multiple configurations and facilitating troubleshooting. By understanding and utilizing its capabilities, users can better manage and optimize audio and video streams, ensuring a richer multimedia experience with less hassle.