Wiimote
This article will go through the basic steps required to have a working Wiimote in Linux for general use. It will not go into much detail for some steps as there are many guides already written for some parts already.
Prerequisites
- Bluetooth
- A Wii Remote
Wiimotes connect via Bluetooth. This must already be configured and running without the help of this guide. You will need a Wiimote, this can include (although are not required) the Nunchuk and Classic Control attachments.
Once a Wiimote is connected via Bluetooth, the device should start working, as the kernel driver for the Wiimote is in Linux since version 3.1 and the bluez package in Arch Linux includes the required wiimote plugin.
Connect the Wiimote
Infrared sources
Possible infrared sources are
Input device
MoltenGamepad
moltengamepadAUR provides a display server-neutral way to configure Wiimotes and other game controllers. It will work in X11, Wayland, or even the Linux console.
Using a Wiimote as a media device
MoltenGamepad can use the uinput kernel module to emulate keyboard key presses. You can use this to make your Wiimote control videos and music.
First, install MoltenGamepad.
Create the system-wide configuration directories:
# mkdir -p /etc/xdg/moltengamepad/profiles
Add a profile for setting up a Wiimote as a media controller (see the upstream example). You can set the key bindings to whatever you like.
/etc/xdg/moltengamepad/profiles/wiimote_mediacontrol
[wiimote] wiimote.wm_2 = key(key_nextsong) wiimote.wm_down = key(key_down) wiimote.wm_up = key(key_up) wiimote.wm_right = key(key_right) wiimote.wm_plus = key(key_volumeup) wiimote.wm_1 = key(key_previoussong) wiimote.wm_left = key(key_left) wiimote.wm_a = key(key_playpause) wiimote.wm_minus = key(key_volumedown) wiimote.wm_b = key(key_mute)
Load this profile when MoltenGamepad starts by adding it to the root configuration file:
/etc/xdg/moltengamepad/moltengamepad.cfg
load profiles from "wiimote_mediacontrol"
Finally, start/enable the moltengamepad.service unit.
X11
XWiimote provides an X11 input driver for using a Wiimote as a desktop input device. See XWiimote for details.
cwiid
uinput or XWiimote instead.The Wiimote can act as a regular input device like a mouse using wminput(1) from the cwiidAUR package. This package contains a userspace driver, libraries, and programs required for basic use of the Wiimote.
First you need to make sure to load the uinput module:
# modprobe uinput
You should have a device in /dev/uinput now. For permanent use, add uinput to MODULES in mkinitcpio.conf.
cwiid should allow you to scan for your Wiimote now. Run the following command and press the 1 and buttons on your Wiimote:
Once your Wiimote has been detected you can test if it is working by running and testing out various buttons and sensors through that interface.
If you have no infrared source, simply run:
$ wminput -w
You can control your pointer now by tilting your Wiimote forward, backward or to the sides.
If you have an infrared source, run:
$ wminput -c ir_ptr -w
Configuration
The default configuration files are in . They are a good starting point for your customized settings in ~/.cwiid/wminput or /usr/local/etc/cwiid/wminput. The general syntax is:
Wiimote_button = keyboard_key
All possible values for can be found in cwiid/wminput.list. The possible values for are keycodes in /usr/include/linux/input-event-codes.h.
Unable to open uinput
If wminput gives this error, leaving you unable to use the Wiimote, create a udev rule with the following contents :
KERNEL=="uinput", GROUP="wheel", MODE="0660"
Reboot the system afterwards. See also regarding udev rules for uinput.
Alternatively, add uinput to the MODULES array in mkinitcpio.conf:
MODULES=(uinput ...)
Regenerate the initramfs and reboot the system afterwards.