Course Collector: Linux touchscreen micro PC / kiosk

Linux touchscreen micro PC / kiosk

Use a Linux desktop session with Python 3.10+, FFmpeg/ffprobe and Chromium or Google Chrome installed. A 64-bit micro PC with a 1024×600 or larger touchscreen is the recommended starting point; processor and disk needs depend on camera resolution and recording duration. Hardware performance has not been benchmarked here.

From the extracted Collector folder:

python3 linux_kiosk_setup.py install --autostart

The installer creates an isolated Python environment, copies the app to a stable per-user location and adds a desktop launcher plus login autostart. It requires no administrator access; your Linux installation may need its python3-venv package. Launch from the application menu, or use ./launch-kiosk.sh for a portable installation. USB serial GPS also needs the optional dependency shown by the installer. Grant the desktop user access to camera and serial devices.

Kiosk mode opens Chromium full-screen with an isolated profile and keeps the browser sandbox enabled. It relaunches the browser if it closes; video capture continues in the local backend. The touch layout provides larger buttons and fields, a local text/number keyboard, and a screen wake-lock request where supported. Automatic startup occurs at desktop login: configure auto-login on the micro PC if it must start after power-on without a password. Disable desktop sleep, screen blanking and screen locking during field collection; the browser cannot reliably control these OS settings. This is an operator kiosk, not a locked-down public terminal.

Alternative launch: python3 app.py --kiosk --kiosk-browser /path/to/chromium. To disable login startup: python3 linux_kiosk_setup.py disable-autostart. To exit kiosk, press Alt+F4 then stop the backend from its terminal, or end the current user's Collector process from the desktop system monitor. Stop the take in the app first. SIGTERM/terminal interruption attempts to finalize recording; power loss may leave a take needing recovery. Recordings and course drafts stay in ~/.ga360-course-collector outside the installed application folder.