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Vocalinux: Voice dictation for Linux (README)
GitHub, VocaHQ/vocalinux, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- The README of Vocalinux, an open-source desktop app for offline voice dictation on Linux. It describes the speech engines, the text-insertion methods for X11 and Wayland, and the install packages.
- How much weight it carries
- Written by the project. We cite what the README says, and we did not install or run the app for this guide.
Facts taken from this source
- Vocalinux describes itself as a free, AGPL-3.0-licensed desktop app for X11 and Wayland.
“It is a free, AGPL-3.0-licensed desktop app for X11 and Wayland.” (Opening description)
- After a model is downloaded, Vocalinux runs speech to text on your machine with whisper.cpp by default, and it also supports OpenAI Whisper, Faster Whisper, VOSK and Parakeet.
“After you download a model, local engines (whisper.cpp by default, plus OpenAI Whisper, Faster Whisper, VOSK, and Parakeet) run speech-to-text on your machine.” (Opening description)
- Vocalinux says it types recognized text on X11 and Wayland through xdotool, IBus, wtype, ydotool or a clipboard fallback.
“Text injection via xdotool, IBus, wtype, ydotool, or clipboard fallback” (Features list)
- Vocalinux turns speech into typed text in whatever app has focus, which makes it a dictation tool rather than a voice command tool.
“Vocalinux turns speech into typed text in whatever app has focus.” (Opening description)