Add Studio realtime software H264 flag

Author: DjDeveloperr

README.md

@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ session, prints a unique `https://simdeck.djdev.me/simulator/...` URL, and keeps
 the outbound bridge alive until you press Ctrl-C. It uses hardware H.264 by
 default with realtime stream settings for remote viewing; pass `--low-latency`
 to switch to software H.264's low-latency profile for slower Macs or shared
-runners.
+runners. Pass `--software-h264` to keep the same realtime Studio stream profile
+but use the software H.264 encoder.
 
 CLI commands automatically use the same warm daemon:
 

cli/XCWH264Encoder.m

@@ -229,13 +229,13 @@ static CGSize XCWScaledDimensionsForSourceSize(int32_t width, int32_t height, XC
         return CGSizeZero;
     }
 
-    int32_t maximumDimension = XCWMaximumEncodedDimension;
-    if (mode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Hardware && realtimeStreamMode) {
-        maximumDimension = XCWMaximumRealtimeHardwareEncodedDimension;
-    } else if (mode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Software) {
-        maximumDimension = lowLatencyMode
-            ? XCWMaximumLowLatencySoftwareEncodedDimension
-            : XCWMaximumSoftwareEncodedDimension;
+    int32_t maximumDimension = realtimeStreamMode
+        ? XCWMaximumRealtimeHardwareEncodedDimension
+        : XCWMaximumEncodedDimension;
+    if (mode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Software && lowLatencyMode) {
+        maximumDimension = XCWMaximumLowLatencySoftwareEncodedDimension;
+    } else if (mode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Software && !realtimeStreamMode) {
+        maximumDimension = XCWMaximumSoftwareEncodedDimension;
     }
     int32_t longestEdge = MAX(width, height);
     if (longestEdge <= maximumDimension) {
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ static CGSize XCWScaledDimensionsForSourceSize(int32_t width, int32_t height, XC
 static int32_t XCWAverageBitRateForDimensions(int32_t width, int32_t height, XCWVideoEncoderMode mode, BOOL lowLatencyMode, BOOL realtimeStreamMode) {
     int64_t bitsPerPixelBudget = XCWBitsPerPixelBudget;
     int64_t minimumAverageBitRate = XCWMinimumAverageBitRate;
-    if (mode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Hardware && realtimeStreamMode) {
+    if (realtimeStreamMode && !lowLatencyMode) {
         bitsPerPixelBudget = XCWRealtimeBitsPerPixelBudget;
         minimumAverageBitRate = XCWMinimumRealtimeAverageBitRate;
     } else if (mode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Software) {
@@ -521,14 +521,23 @@ - (NSUInteger)maximumInFlightFrameCountLocked {
 }
 
 - (uint64_t)minimumSoftwareFrameIntervalUsLocked {
+    if (_realtimeStreamMode && !_lowLatencyMode) {
+        return XCWRealtimeHardwareMinimumFrameIntervalUs;
+    }
     return _lowLatencyMode ? XCWLowLatencySoftwareMinimumFrameIntervalUs : XCWSoftwareMinimumFrameIntervalUs;
 }
 
 - (uint64_t)initialSoftwareFrameIntervalUsLocked {
+    if (_realtimeStreamMode && !_lowLatencyMode) {
+        return XCWRealtimeHardwareInitialFrameIntervalUs;
+    }
     return _lowLatencyMode ? XCWLowLatencySoftwareInitialFrameIntervalUs : XCWSoftwareInitialFrameIntervalUs;
 }
 
 - (uint64_t)maximumSoftwareFrameIntervalUsLocked {
+    if (_realtimeStreamMode && !_lowLatencyMode) {
+        return XCWRealtimeHardwareMaximumFrameIntervalUs;
+    }
     return _lowLatencyMode ? XCWLowLatencySoftwareMaximumFrameIntervalUs : XCWSoftwareMaximumFrameIntervalUs;
 }
 
@@ -542,7 +551,10 @@ - (NSUInteger)softwareHealthyFrameWindowLocked {
 
 - (int32_t)expectedFrameRateLocked {
     if (_encoderMode == XCWVideoEncoderModeH264Software) {
-        return _lowLatencyMode ? XCWTargetLowLatencySoftwareFrameRate : XCWTargetSoftwareFrameRate;
+        if (_lowLatencyMode) {
+            return XCWTargetLowLatencySoftwareFrameRate;
+        }
+        return _realtimeStreamMode ? XCWTargetRealtimeHardwareFrameRate : XCWTargetSoftwareFrameRate;
     }
     if (_realtimeStreamMode) {
         return XCWTargetRealtimeHardwareFrameRate;

server/src/main.rs

@@ -435,6 +435,8 @@ enum StudioCommand {
         bind: IpAddr,
         #[arg(long)]
         low_latency: bool,
+        #[arg(long, conflicts_with = "low_latency")]
+        software_h264: bool,
     },
 }
 
@@ -1403,12 +1405,13 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 port,
                 bind,
                 low_latency,
+                software_h264,
             } => expose_to_studio(StudioExposeOptions {
                 simulator,
                 studio_url,
                 port,
                 bind,
-                video_codec: if low_latency {
+                video_codec: if low_latency || software_h264 {
                     VideoCodecMode::H264Software
                 } else {
                     VideoCodecMode::H264

skills/simdeck/SKILL.md

@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ run `simdeck studio expose "iPhone 17 Pro"` and keep that process running. It
 prints the unique Studio simulator URL. This defaults to hardware H.264; add
 `--low-latency` to use software H.264's low-latency profile. Studio expose uses
 realtime stream settings so remote viewers drop stale frames instead of building
-latency.
+latency. Add `--software-h264` to keep the same realtime Studio stream profile
+but encode with software H.264.
 
 The local viewer gets the API token automatically. LAN browsers pair with the printed code before receiving the API cookie. Direct HTTP calls need `X-SimDeck-Token` or `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.