# waypipe adds SSH forwarding for individual Wayland applications

> **Key takeaway:** waypipe lets users run remote Wayland applications locally without a full desktop session, using configurable compression and GPU buffer transfer.

**Published:** 2026-10-20T14:18:13+00:00 
**Source:** LinuxLinks 
**Category:** distro-news 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/waypipe-adds-ssh-forwarding-for-individual-wayland-applicati.html 

## Summary
waypipe is a Rust-based utility that forwards individual Wayland applications over SSH, displaying remote windows alongside local programs. It handles GPU-backed DMA-BUF buffers with Vulkan or GBM fallback, and offers LZ4/Zstandard compression plus optional FFmpeg video encoding to reduce bandwidth. A --no-gpu flag is available for compatibility issues.

## How waypipe handles remote Wayland forwarding
- Forwards Wayland protocol messages and shared memory buffer changes through a single socket, not an entire desktop stream
- Supports GPU-backed DMA-BUF image buffers with Vulkan-based handling; falls back to GBM when needed
- Optional FFmpeg video encoding/decoding to reduce graphical data transmission
- LZ4 and Zstandard compression with configurable levels for different network conditions
- --no-gpu flag to disable GPU protocols for rendering compatibility problems
- Configurable DRM render nodes, socket paths, SSH executables, and remote waypipe locations
- One-shot mode exits automatically when the connection closes

## Why it matters
waypipe addresses a gap left by X11 forwarding as Linux distributions continue migrating to Wayland compositors, giving developers and server administrators a lightweight alternative to full remote desktop solutions.