Pros of Moonlight-qt

• More mature and actively maintained project with regular updates
• Supports a wider range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Has a larger community and more extensive documentation

Cons of Moonlight-qt

• Heavier resource usage due to Qt framework
• May have a steeper learning curve for contributors unfamiliar with Qt

Code Comparison

Moonlight-qt (C++ with Qt):

void StreamSegue::startStream(NvComputer* computer, NvApp& app)
{
    m_Computer = computer;
    m_App = app;
    m_StreamConfig.width = m_StreamWidth;
    m_StreamConfig.height = m_StreamHeight;
    m_StreamConfig.fps = m_StreamFps;
    LiStartConnection(&m_StreamConfig.stream, m_Computer->activeAddress,
                      &m_StreamConfig.serverInfo, &k_ConnCallbacks,
                      &m_StreamConfig.videoCallbacks, &m_StreamConfig.audioCallbacks,
                      NULL, 0, NULL, 0);
}

Moonlight-tv (C):

static void start_stream(PSERVER_DATA server, PAPP_LIST app) {
    STREAM_CONFIGURATION config;
    config.width = streamconfig.width;
    config.height = streamconfig.height;
    config.fps = streamconfig.fps;
    config.bitrate = streamconfig.bitrate;
    LiStartConnection(&server->serverInfo, &config, &connection_callbacks,
                      &decoder_callbacks, &audio_callbacks, NULL, 0, NULL, 0);
}

Both projects use similar APIs for stream initialization, but Moonlight-qt leverages Qt's object-oriented approach, while Moonlight-tv uses a more traditional C-style implementation.

Pros of Moonlight-Android

• More mature and actively maintained project with frequent updates
• Larger user base and community support
• Optimized for Android devices with touch controls and mobile-specific features

Cons of Moonlight-Android

• Limited to Android platform, not suitable for other devices or TVs
• May require more system resources compared to TV-oriented clients
• Potentially more complex user interface due to mobile design paradigms

Code Comparison

Moonlight-Android (Java):

@Override
protected void onResume() {
    super.onResume();
    CacheHelper.startCacheThread();
    bindService(new Intent(this, ComputerManagerService.class), serviceConnection, Service.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}

Moonlight-TV (C):

static void app_init(void)
{
    NKLOG("Initializing application");
    settings_initialize();
    config_parse(0, NULL);
    streaming_init();
}

Summary

Moonlight-Android is a well-established Android-specific client for game streaming, offering robust features and community support. Moonlight-TV, on the other hand, is designed for TV platforms, potentially providing a more streamlined experience for big-screen devices. The code comparison shows different languages and approaches, with Moonlight-Android using Java and Android-specific components, while Moonlight-TV uses C for a more low-level implementation suitable for TV devices.

Pros of moonlight-embedded

• More mature and established project with a larger community
• Supports a wider range of platforms, including Raspberry Pi and other embedded systems
• Better performance optimization for low-power devices

Cons of moonlight-embedded

• Less user-friendly interface, primarily command-line based
• Fewer built-in features for TV-specific use cases
• May require more technical knowledge to set up and configure

Code Comparison

moonlight-embedded:

int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
  CONFIGURATION config;
  config_parse(argc, argv, &config);
  connection_init(&config);
  // ... (additional setup and main loop)
}

moonlight-tv:

const app = new Application({
  width: 1280,
  height: 720,
});

app.stage.addChild(new MainMenu());
app.start();

moonlight-embedded uses C for low-level system access and performance, while moonlight-tv uses JavaScript with a framework for easier UI development and cross-platform compatibility on smart TVs and streaming devices.

moonlight-tv focuses on providing a TV-friendly interface and experience, making it more suitable for users who want a plug-and-play solution for their smart TV or streaming device. moonlight-embedded, on the other hand, offers more flexibility and broader device support, making it ideal for users who need to run Moonlight on various embedded systems or prefer command-line control.

Pros of AppImageLauncher

• Focuses on managing and integrating AppImage applications into the system
• Provides a user-friendly interface for handling AppImage files
• Supports a wide range of Linux distributions

Cons of AppImageLauncher

• Limited to AppImage format, while Moonlight-TV supports game streaming
• Lacks gaming-specific features and optimizations
• May not provide the same level of performance for gaming applications

Code Comparison

AppImageLauncher (C++):

bool AppImageLauncher::integrateAppImage(const QString& pathToAppImage, const QString& installationDirectory) {
    // Integration logic
}

Moonlight-TV (C):

int moonlight_init(int argc, char* argv[]) {
    // Initialization logic for game streaming
}

Summary

AppImageLauncher is a tool for managing AppImage applications on Linux systems, providing integration and user-friendly handling. Moonlight-TV, on the other hand, is specifically designed for game streaming using the Moonlight protocol. While AppImageLauncher offers broader application support, Moonlight-TV focuses on optimizing the gaming experience. The code comparison shows the different approaches: AppImageLauncher deals with AppImage integration, while Moonlight-TV initializes game streaming functionality.

Pros of Flatpak

• Broader application: Flatpak is a universal packaging system for Linux, while Moonlight-TV is specific to game streaming
• Larger community and more contributors: Flatpak has over 400 contributors compared to Moonlight-TV's 20+
• More comprehensive documentation and guides for users and developers

Cons of Flatpak

• More complex setup and usage compared to Moonlight-TV's focused functionality
• Larger footprint and resource requirements due to its comprehensive nature
• May introduce additional layers of abstraction, potentially impacting performance

Code Comparison

Moonlight-TV (C):

static int moonlight_init(void) {
    int ret;
    ret = config_init();
    if (ret != 0)
        return ret;
    return 0;
}

Flatpak (C):

gboolean
flatpak_dir_deploy_appstream (FlatpakDir   *self,
                              const char   *remote,
                              const char   *arch,
                              gboolean     *out_changed,
                              GCancellable *cancellable,
                              GError      **error)

The code snippets highlight the different focus areas: Moonlight-TV deals with game streaming initialization, while Flatpak handles application deployment and management.