FreeBSD Twitch Streaming Script (No OBS, No PulseAudio)

This is a simple yet powerful shell script to stream your desktop on FreeBSD using only:

• ffmpeg
• virtual_oss
• x11grab
• No OBS
• No PulseAudio
• No JACK
• No GUI bullshit

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Why?

Because:

• OBS on FreeBSD is often broken or hard to build.
• The PulseAudio + OBS combo can mess with your system's audio stack.
• We like minimalism and control.

This script provides an alternative way to stream what you see and hear, using clean CLI tools and native OSS.

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Requirements

Make sure you have the following installed:

• ffmpeg (built with --enable-oss)
• virtual_oss
• xorg running
• Your user has access to /dev/dsp* (typically via the operator group)

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Setup Instructions

0.1. Enable virtual_oss at boot

Edit /etc/rc.conf:

virtual_oss_enable="YES"
#virtual_oss_flags="-Q 0 -C 2 -c 2 -r 48000 -b 16 -s 1024 -P /dev/dsp0.1 -R /dev/null -d vdsp -l dsp"
You can adjust /dev/dspX.Y as needed for your system (see device detection below).

Start the service:

service virtual_oss start

0.2. Disable conflicting audio servers

Edit
pkill sndiod
pkill pulseaudio

1.1 Clone the repo

git clone https://github.com/yourname/freebsd-twitch-streamer.git
cd freebsd-twitch-streamer
chmod +x stream.sh

1.2. Set your Twitch stream key

./stream.sh --set-default-key YOUR_TWITCH_KEY
This embeds the key into the script itself

1.3. Start streaming

./stream.sh

2.1. Options

./stream.sh [OPTIONS] [TWITCH_STREAM_KEY]
Options:

--set-default-key <key> — Save the key into the script (self-modifying).

--skip-oss-setup — Skip virtual_oss setup (if it's already running).

--help, -h — Show usage help.

Examples
Stream with embedded key:

./stream.sh
Stream with a new key (overrides embedded key temporarily):

./stream.sh zzzz9999xxxx8888
Skip OSS setup (e.g. if already running):

./stream.sh --skip-oss-setup
Both skip setup and provide key manually:

./stream.sh --skip-oss-setup xyz789zzz000

2.2. How It Works

The script: Kills any existing virtual_oss instances, then detects your mic and system playback devices from /dev/sndstat, then tarts a new virtual_oss that mixes them into /dev/vdsp, then launches ffmpeg. Screen is captured by x11grab

2.3. Troubleshooting

No sound / no devices: Check cat /dev/sndstat and adjust device IDs accordingly. Script fails on su: Re-run it and ensure correct root password. Permission denied: Ensure your user is in the operator group, or run as root.

3. Why This Exists

"I got tired of OBS randomly breaking my FreeBSD install and PulseAudio being a parasite. So I wrote this script that uses only ffmpeg, OSS, and good old Unix principles."

This project is for minimalists, tinkerers, and FreeBSD loyalists who want to stream without the overhead.