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Dasher

Linux Installation

Dasher is included in most Linux distribution repositories and can also be built from source.

Install from Package Manager

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install dasher

This installs:

  • Dasher GTK application
  • All alphabet files
  • Training texts for common languages
  • Desktop integration

Fedora

sudo dnf install dasher

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -S dasher

openSUSE

sudo zypper install dasher

Gentoo

sudo emerge app-accessibility/dasher

Flatpak (Universal)

Available on Flathub:

flatpak install flathub org.alternativeinterface.dasher
flatpak run org.alternativeinterface.dasher

What Gets Installed

The package includes:

  • /usr/bin/dasher - Main executable
  • /usr/share/dasher/ - Shared data files
  • /usr/share/dasher/alphabets/ - Alphabet definitions
  • /usr/share/dasher/training/ - Training texts
  • /usr/share/doc/dasher/ - Documentation
  • Desktop menu entry

Launching Dasher

From your application menu:

  • Unity/GNOME: Applications → Universal Access → Dasher
  • KDE: Applications → Utilities → Dasher

From terminal:

dasher

Building from Source

Build Dasher from the latest source code if you need:

  • The latest features
  • A specific version not in your distro
  • To contribute development

Install Build Dependencies

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install \
  build-essential \
  git \
  cmake \
  libgtk2.0-dev \
  libexpat1-dev \
  libgettext-po-dev \
  libglib2.0-dev \
  libpango1.0-dev

Fedora:

sudo dnf install \
  gcc-c++ \
  git \
  cmake \
  gtk2-devel \
  expat-devel \
  gettext-devel \
  glib2-devel \
  pango-devel

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S \
  base-devel \
  git \
  cmake \
  gtk2 \
  expat \
  gettext

Clone and Build

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/dasher-project/dasher.git
cd dasher

# Create build directory
mkdir build && cd build

# Configure with CMake
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr

# Build (uses all CPU cores)
make -j$(nproc)

# Install (requires sudo)
sudo make install

Install to User Directory

To install without sudo:

cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=~/.local
make -j$(nproc)
make install

Then add ~/.local/bin to your PATH:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Input Devices on Linux

Dasher for Linux supports many input methods:

Mouse

  • Move cursor to steer
  • Click to select
  • Adjust sensitivity in Preferences

Eye Tracking

Compatible with:

  • Tobii Eye Tracker 4C, 4, 5
  • Tobii Dynavox PCEye and I-series
  • MyGaze assistive trackers

Setup:

  1. Install eye tracker software from manufacturer
  2. Calibrate using their software
  3. In Dasher: Settings → Control → Input Device → Eye tracker
  4. Select your device from the list

Joystick / Gamepad

  • USB joysticks
  • Xbox/PlayStation controllers
  • Generic gamepads

Setup:

# Verify joystick is detected
ls /dev/input/js*

# Test with jstest
sudo apt-get install joystick
jstest /dev/input/js0

Then in Dasher, select “Joystick” as input device.

Switch Access

For single or multiple switches:

Connect switches via:

  • USB switch interface
  • GPIO (Raspberry Pi)
  • Keyboard (any key)

In Dasher: Settings → Control → Input Device → Button(s)/Switch(es)

Speech Output

Dasher uses the Speech Dispatcher on Linux.

Installing Speech Dispatcher

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install speech-dispatcher

Fedora:

sudo dnf install speech-dispatcher

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S speech-dispatcher

Configuring

  1. Test speech dispatcher:

    spd-say "Hello world"

  2. In Dasher: Settings → Speech → Enable speech

  3. Select voice and adjust rate

Installing More Voices

eSpeak NG (high quality):

sudo apt-get install espeak-ng-espeak

Festival (older but comprehensive):

sudo apt-get install festival festvox-kallpc16k

Troubleshooting

Problem: Package not found in repository

Solution:

  • Your distribution may not include Dasher
  • Build from source instead (see above)
  • Try the Flatpak version

Problem: Build fails with missing dependencies

Solution:

# Check CMake output for missing packages
# Install missing packages, e.g.:
sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-dev libexpat1-dev

Problem: Dasher won’t start

Solution:

# Run from terminal to see errors
dasher

# Common issues:
# - Missing libraries: check ldd output
# - Configuration corrupt: rm ~/.dasher/*

Problem: No speech output

Solution:

# Test speech dispatcher
spd-say "test"

# If not working, install and start:
sudo apt-get install speech-dispatcher
sudo systemctl start speech-dispatcher

Problem: Eye tracker not detected

Solution:

  • Ensure tracker software is installed
  • Check permissions: groups $USER (should have video/input)
  • Add to groups if needed: 
    sudo usermod -a -G input,video $USER
  • Log out and back in

Problem: Joystick not working

Solution:

# Check device exists
ls -l /dev/input/js*

# Test with jstest
sudo apt-get install joystick
jstest --event /dev/input/js0

# Check permissions
sudo chmod 666 /dev/input/js0

Uninstalling

Package Manager Install

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get remove dasher
# To remove config files too:
sudo apt-get purge dasher

Fedora:

sudo dnf remove dasher

Arch:

sudo pacman -R dasher

From Source

cd build
sudo make uninstall

Flatpak

flatpak uninstall org.alternativeinterface.dasher

User Configuration

Dasher stores user files in:

~/.dasher/           # User settings
├── config           # Main configuration
└── training/        # User training texts

Backup this folder to preserve your settings.

System-Wide Files

Installed to (for reference, don’t modify):

/usr/share/dasher/
├── alphabets/       # Alphabet definitions
└── training/        # System training texts

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