Re: sndio audio on Void Linux not always available in browsers.

On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:11:33 +0100
Alexandre Ratchov <alex_at_caoua.org> wrote:

> On Sun, Mar 22, 2026 at 11:46:47AM +0100, Brian Durant wrote:
> > On 3/21/26 11:38 AM, Alexandre Ratchov wrote:
> > 
> > > Check that both are using the sndio API. You could run sndioctl and
> > > see if the programs appear there.
> > 
> > Nothing.
> 
> So programs are using another API.
> 
> > I then tried the following:
> > 
> > $ ldd /usr/bin/epiphany | grep -E
> > 'libsndio|libpulse|libpipewire|libasound|libgst'
> >         libgstreamer-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstreamer-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff82249b000)
> >         libgstplay-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstplay-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff82242e000)
> >         libgstvideo-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstvideo-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff821abb000)
> >         libgstgl-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstgl-1.0.so.0 (0x00007ff821a21000)
> >         libgstallocators-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstallocators-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff822425000)
> >         libgstapp-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstapp-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff820667000)
> >         libgstbase-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstbase-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff8205de000)
> >         libgstpbutils-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstpbutils-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff820008000)
> >         libgstaudio-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstaudio-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff81ff7f000)
> >         libgsttag-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgsttag-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff81ff3d000)
> >         libgstfft-1.0.so.0 => /usr/lib/libgstfft-1.0.so.0
> > (0x00007ff8205d2000)
> >         libasound.so.2 => /usr/lib/libasound.so.2 (0x00007ff81d835000)
> > 
> > 
> > It appears that Epiphany is using Gstreamer, which is OK as long as it is
> > reliable. Not sure how to check Waterfox, but I will assume that it doesn't
> > support sndio, as it is distributed as a portable app.
> > 
> 
> There's a gstreamer plugin for sndio, it can play and record should
> make most programs using gstreamer just work. I don't know how
> gstreamer selects the default src/sink though.
> 
> Last point. During debug, you could run "sndiod -dd -a on -f rsnd/2"
> in a terminal. This would hold the device open and show the clients on
> stderr. Holding the device open will make the program that bypasses
> sndio fail, which in turn may give hints on the program side.
> 
> HTH,
> Alexandre
> 

I updated my Void Linux system install and lost all sndio audio. I have therefore installed OpenBSD 7.8 on two computers, which have had their own problems. I will post in a separate thread.