2 :author: Ralph Ronnquist <ralph.>
5 This project implements a dispatch function for ALSA playback for
6 dynamic selection of output device. The idea is to direct playback
7 when it starts to the first output from the user's priority list that
8 is available at that time.
10 For instances, you might have three different output devices sometimes
13 1. a bluetooth headset
14 2. a USB soundcard for wall speakers, and
15 3. a built-in soundcard for desktop speakers.
17 and want them to selected in that priority order. I.e. playback should
18 be directed to the bluetooth headset, if connected; otherwise to the
19 USB soundcard, if plugged in; and otherwise to the built-in soundcard.
21 Ordinarily it will take some editing of ~/.asoundrc to explicitly
22 select output device for a program before it starts, and them that
23 program will keep using that setup onwards.
25 *alsa-dispatcher* provides that dynamic selection based on the user's
26 priority list without need of editing or playback program restart. By
27 this solution, there is a dynamic link in the playback chain that
28 applies the dispatch logic whenever a program starts playback anew.
29 Thus, the output device is decided depending on what is available when
30 the playback starts, or more specifically whenever a program opens an
31 output sink to start or to continue playback.