# Stage Remote — Desktop Helper

A tiny desktop app that listens to your Stage Remote room and sends **real arrow keys** to a window you pick — so you can drive native PowerPoint, Keynote, a desktop PDF viewer, or anything else without keeping that app focused.

## What's different from "just send keys to whatever is focused"

The helper lets the **operator pick a target window** from a dropdown (e.g. *Keynote*, *Microsoft PowerPoint*, *Preview*). Every click coming from the room first brings that window to the front, then sends the keystroke — so you can keep using your laptop normally and the slides still advance.

Leave the dropdown on *Active window* to fall back to the old behavior.

## Run

```bash
cd electron-helper
npm install
npm start
```

Then in the helper window: paste your room code, pick the slide app from the **Target window** dropdown, click Connect.

## Build a standalone app

```bash
npm run package:mac     # macOS
npm run package:win     # Windows
npm run package:linux   # Linux
```

Output lands in `electron-helper/release/`.

## Platform notes

- **macOS**: First run will prompt for *Accessibility* permission (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility). Required to send keystrokes to other apps and to switch windows. Targets are listed by application name.
- **Windows**: Works out of the box. Targets are listed as `Window title — ProcessName`.
- **Linux**: Requires `wmctrl` and `xdotool` (`sudo apt install wmctrl xdotool`). Targets are listed by window title.
