Install Tilecast Player on Linux

Current stable Linux Player

This page is for the Linux Player Tilecast currently releases. Tilecast Edge is its replacement, but Edge is still in preview. See Tilecast Edge for the current requirements and supported features.

The Tilecast Server installer uses the newest stable Linux AppImage cached and verified on the server. It creates a systemd user service for the kiosk account and configures the Player to connect to that server. The installer chooses the newest cached release automatically; it does not ask for a version.

Before you start

• Use a 64-bit x86_64 Linux computer with a graphical desktop session on X11 or Wayland.
• Make sure the computer can reach Tilecast Server at the address in TILECAST_PUBLIC_URL.
• Sign in to Studio as an Owner to prepare the Linux release.

The server-provided installer requires root for installation. It installs the AppImage under an unprivileged kiosk account. The default account is the one that invoked sudo; pass --user to select another account.

Prepare a Linux release

1. In Studio, open Settings > Player updates and select Linux.
2. If the release you want is not listed, select Sync from GitHub.
3. Select Download beside the release and wait until Studio shows Ready to deploy. The installer cannot proceed until the server has a cached, verified Linux release.

Install the Player

Run this command on the Linux computer. Replace the example hostname with the same server address you set in TILECAST_PUBLIC_URL.

curl -fsSL https://signage.example.org/install.sh | sudo bash

To create and use a separate kiosk account, pass its name and --create-user.

curl -fsSL https://signage.example.org/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- --user signage --create-user

The installer checks the downloaded release checksum, installs the AppImage and user service, and sets the server address in the service. By default, it also tries optional AirPlay and Presentation Network setup. A failed optional setup does not prevent the Player from pairing.

If you do not need these capabilities, skip them when running the installer.

curl -fsSL https://signage.example.org/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- --without-airplay --without-presentation-network

Use the matching address from TILECAST_PUBLIC_URL. If it uses HTTP, run the command only over a trusted LAN.

If the installer prints systemctl --user start tilecast-player, run that command from the kiosk account. If the user service manager is not available yet, the service starts with the account’s next graphical session.

The Player opens with a pairing code. Continue with Pair a display.

Host limits

The published Linux AppImage is x86_64. The bundled AirPlay provisioning script uses apt-get and supports Debian-family systems; this optional setup does not determine whether the Player itself can pair. The installer does not configure the host to start a graphical desktop, enable automatic login, or install a kiosk compositor. Set up those host features separately if the display must start without an operator login.

A local HTTP server address is not encrypted. Use it only on a trusted LAN. Public hostnames require HTTPS.

Planning for Tilecast Edge

Do not turn an AppImage installation into Edge by swapping files or services yourself. Edge uses a different install layout, and its migration checks the current screen before switching over so it can roll back if something fails.

When Edge is supported on your hardware, follow Migrate from the current Linux Player instead of replacing the AppImage in place.