Vocalinux
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openSUSE Setup Guide

Install Voice Dictation on openSUSE

On openSUSE Tumbleweed the install script uses zypper, resolves the versioned Python packages for your snapshot, and sets up whisper.cpp with a checksum-verified tiny model.

Install command

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/VocaHQ/vocalinux/main/install.sh -o /tmp/vl.sh bash /tmp/vl.sh

Prerequisites

  • openSUSE Tumbleweed
  • Python 3.11+ with the matching pythonXY-gobject package (the installer handles this)
  • Working microphone
  • curl installed (sudo zypper install curl)

Supported on

  • openSUSE Tumbleweed: good support
  • openSUSE Leap is not listed in the compatibility matrix

Support levels come from the project’s distribution compatibility matrix. They describe expected compatibility, not a list of test machines.

Other install options for openSUSE

Flatpak from the VocaHQ remote

Not on Flathub. The self-hosted vocahq remote updates with flatpak update and ships whisper.cpp only.

flatpak install https://vocahq.github.io/vocalinux-flatpak/com.vocalinux.Vocalinux.flatpakref

AppImage

Download the x86_64 or aarch64 AppImage from GitHub Releases. It starts on Tumbleweed and uses Vulkan through the host driver, but still needs host text-injection tools (xdotool on X11; wtype, ydotool or clipboard tools on Wayland).

chmod +x Vocalinux-*-x86_64.AppImage # or aarch64 ./Vocalinux-*-x86_64.AppImage

Compare every package format on theinstall overview, or read theFlatpak guide.

Setup notes for openSUSE

  1. Tumbleweed uses versioned Python package names such as python313-devel. The -devel suffix means development headers, not beta packages.
  2. For a manual install, if ${PYVER}-virtualenv is unavailable on your snapshot, try ${PYVER}-venv.
  3. For whisper.cpp Vulkan GPU builds, install vulkan-tools, vulkan-devel and shaderc (sudo zypper install -y vulkan-tools vulkan-devel shaderc).
  4. On KDE Plasma Wayland, set System Settings → Keyboard → Virtual Keyboard to IBus Wayland.

Post-install checklist

  • Run vocalinux --version to confirm the installed release.
  • Launch vocalinux and confirm the tray icon appears. On GNOME, the tray needs the AppIndicator extension.
  • Hold Right Alt (Option) to dictate, or switch to toggle mode in Settings → Shortcuts, and confirm text lands in a terminal and a browser.
  • If anything misbehaves, run vocalinux --debug and check the troubleshooting guide.
  • Run vulkaninfo --summary if you expect GPU acceleration.

Need help selecting an engine? Read theengine comparison. Stuck? Seetroubleshooting.