Table of contents
Cross-Platform Support
Barrier works on various operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD, making it versatile for users with multiple devices.
Open Source
Being open source, users can review and modify the code, contributing to transparency and security while fostering a community-driven project.
Cost-Free
Barrier is free to use, unlike some alternatives that require purchasing a license, making it accessible to a wider audience.
Unified Control
Allows seamless control of multiple computers using a single keyboard and mouse, enhancing productivity and convenience.
Customizability
Offers various customization options such as hotkeys, screen edges, and clipboard sharing, adapting to user-specific workflows.
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Barrier is generally considered a good option for individuals looking for an open-source solution to seamlessly share peripherals across multiple computers. It has a positive reception within the tech community, especially among those who value open-source projects for their flexibility and community-driven support.
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Check the traffic stats of Barrier on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of Barrier on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of Barrier's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of Barrier on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about Barrier on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
I used to and still do use and recommend Barrier for sharing a mouse and clipboard and keypresses across OS's. It works for Mac, Windows, and Linux. They have a fork input-leap... It doesn't work, and there is a paid on from the same original developers called Synergy that works well too. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
Barrier is a Cross-Plattform, open source Synergy fork that works quite well without any additional HW too [0] [0] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
Synergy is open core, these portions are licensed as GPL: https://github.com/symless/synergy-core/#License-1-ov-file. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
Prior to Synergy going to closed source, it was forked into Barrier[0], which then was forked into input-leap[1]. Both open source. [0] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
Libei looks useful. But IDK why libei is necessary to run Barrier with Wayland? For client systems, couldn't there just be a virtual /dev/inputXYZ that Barrier forwards events through And for host systems, it looks like xev only logs input events when the window is focused. Is xeyes still broken on Wayland, and how to fix it so that it would work with Barrier? With Barrier, when the mouse cursor reaches a screen... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
I have a similar gaming/WFH setup (2 monitors at 1440p 144hz) and I’ve been using Barrier instead of a physical kvm, and it works really well. Not sure if you’re open to a software kvm but if you are, I’m happy to answer any questions about it if you have any. Source: almost 2 years ago
Have you tried Barrier? I casually used it to swap between my main rig and my MBP. Took a minute to get it setup but once I sorted it all out it worked pretty well. It has some settings and tweaks built in to address some of the layout issues you mentioned... Source: almost 2 years ago
Barrier appears to handle PC switching only for the keyboard and mouse. Source: almost 2 years ago
Sorry, probably not entirely on topic and can't answer anything reliable about the multimonitor stuff, but a tip regarding the 2 mice and 2 keyboards for the 2 different computers: use this: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier It's oss multi-os software that lets you use one mouse and keyboard (server) on several PCs (clients) easily over your LAN. Source: almost 2 years ago
Barrier is a free and open source alternative. Source: almost 2 years ago
I ran proxmox with passthru for any vm I wanted to use it on. I had a 2ndary older gpu for main access, and used fluxbox with firefox for the initial setup which I would start x on if I needed graphical interface, I had multi monitors, with multi inputs, so I could switch input after loading vm. This meant I had access to proxmox as headless, or with GUI, There is a software kvm that can be used for swapping... Source: almost 2 years ago
Isn't that functionnaly the same as Synergy (which was opensource but isn't anymore), and it's opensource fork Barrier (https://github.com/debauchee/barrier) ? - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
If you aren't going to use all monitors on all systems then perhaps you don't even need a KVM and can use a software based approach like this: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. Source: about 2 years ago
You could go software KVM… I haven’t used Barrier but long time ago used Synergy or a Microsoft related one called mouse anywhere or something like that. Source: about 2 years ago
Really nice workspace and and lot of the screen space. Do you have all monitors on during a day? (for me it probably would be little bit distracting). Do you use KVM or something like https://github.com/debauchee/barrier to ? Source: over 2 years ago
There's also Barrier, which is basically the same thing, but free.. But I never got it to work on MacOS and I had a couple of idle synergy licenses anyway. Source: over 2 years ago
Instead of the non-free Synergy check out the fork that evolved from the once free older Synergy: Barrier. Source: over 2 years ago
Eh, I'm stuck on Windows for work but my use is quite minimal (I'm not in IT), I basically use one app at a time and I switch between computers via Barrier. Source: over 2 years ago
When working simultaneously side-by-side I have my PC connected to 1 monitor, and my MacBook to the 2nd. I then use Barrier as a host on my Windows PC (Keychron K1SE in cable mode, and the steelseries mouse) and share it with my MacBook. Source: over 2 years ago
And how smooth is your experience with Synergy? I have been using Barrier for some time, but having problems recently. Source: over 2 years ago
Mouse Without Borders sounds a lot like Barrier [1]. [1] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
Barrier, an open-source tool designed for seamless mouse, keyboard, and clipboard sharing across multiple computers, is garnering significant attention from the tech community for its versatility and cost-effectiveness. As a fork of the once-open-source Synergy, Barrier retains many of its predecessor's capabilities while being freely available and broadly compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
One of Barrier's standout features, as highlighted frequently, is its ability to operate over a simple network connection. This functionality allows users to effortlessly transition their mouse pointer across different computer monitors without the need for additional hardware, simulating the effect of a virtual KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. This is especially beneficial in multi-operating system environments and setups where physical KVM switches might otherwise be used, such as gaming and work-from-home configurations.
Users express appreciation for Barrier’s flexibility, particularly its ease of integration across different operating systems, enhancing user productivity without incurring additional costs. Many users note their preference for Barrier over physical KVM switches, citing the software's open-source nature as a major advantage. Despite its impressive performance, some users acknowledge that Barrier may require a bit of configuration to work optimally in specific environments, especially on macOS. Even so, the consensus suggests that most find this setup time well worth the outcome.
Technical limitations do surface in discussions, particularly concerning compatibility issues with Wayland and macOS. The community is actively exploring solutions to the hurdles presented by these platforms, though no unanimous resolution has yet emerged. Users have raised the question of Barrier's dependency on libei for operation with Wayland, highlighting potential gaps in its integration with this display server.
A common theme in discussions is the comparison between Barrier and its competitors. While some users mention a few issues in functionality, many still prefer Barrier due to its cost-free, open-source nature. It is considered a more desirable option compared to Synergy, which has transitioned back to a closed-source model. Users who have lingering Synergy licenses often express frustration over this shift, further justifying Barrier as an attractive alternative.
In conclusion, Barrier's strength lies in its open-source accessibility, cross-platform support, and straightforward implementation for users seeking an economical and effective solution for managing multiple computers with a single set of input peripherals. It has successfully positioned itself as a leading choice in the remote PC access space, winning praise for its ability to cater to users with varied technical requirements and budget constraints. While certain nuances still necessitate further refinements, particularly in multi-platform environments, the overwhelming sentiment remains positive, making Barrier a highly recommended tool for multi-monitor setups.
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