feat(capture): implement Phase 3 PipeWire/portal desktop capture

Implement the xdg-desktop-portal ScreenCast backend via libportal: a
blocking portal handshake (interactive source picker), a PipeWire stream
on the portal's node enumerating BGRx/BGRA/RGBx/RGBA, and a latest-frame
slot handing frames to next_frame(). stop() is thread-safe; teardown
follows the order PipeWire requires. All proxy operations run under the
thread-loop lock to satisfy the protocol extension context checks
('impl_ext_end_proxy called from wrong context' otherwise).

The encoder now accepts padded strides for packed RGB inputs (real
PipeWire row pitches) and maps the new PixelFormat::Bgrx to
AV_PIX_FMT_BGRA.

Add tools/capture_smoke: a manual smoke tool (interactive, not in
meson test) that captures N frames, encodes them, and writes a
self-contained Annex-B elementary stream with prepended SPS/PPS.

Validated manually on Wayland/Hyprland: 2256x1504 H.264 elementary
stream, ffprobe clean. Phase 3 marked complete in docs/PHASES.md.

.agents/MEMORY.md

@@ -1,31 +1,37 @@
 # Project Memory — screen_cast
 
-Last updated: Phase 2 codec review fixes applied.
+Last updated: Phase 3 validated and complete; current phase is Phase 4.
 
 ## Project state
 
-- Phase 2 codec implementation reviewed with valgrind; all confirmed defects
+- **Phase 3 is done and validated on the desktop**: a manual
-  fixed on top of the capture-stub commit:
+  `./build/tools/capture_smoke 10 out.h264` run on Wayland/Hyprland produced
-  - decoder leaked every packet payload (`av_malloc` + direct `packet->data`
+  a valid 2256x1504 H.264 elementary stream (ffprobe clean). `docs/PHASES.md`
-    assignment bypassed the packet's owning `AVBufferRef`); payloads are now
+  is ticked; current phase is Phase 4 — RTP framing.
-    allocated with `av_new_packet`.
+- The first smoke run emitted `impl_ext_end_proxy called from wrong context`
-  - decoder extradata lacked `AV_INPUT_BUFFER_PADDING_SIZE`; FFmpeg's
+  warnings: `pw_context_connect_fd` and `pw_core_disconnect` ran outside the
-    extradata parser over-read the buffer (valgrind invalid reads). Now
+  thread-loop lock. Fixed by holding the lock across all pw setup/teardown
-    allocated padded and zeroed.
+  proxy operations. Re-running the smoke tool should now be warning-free
-  - oversized encoded frames are rejected before the int cast.
+  (capture worked both ways; the warnings only meant the first two
-  - EAGAIN-retry loops in encoder/decoder now handle unexpected EOF instead
+  marshaled messages were rejected and retried from the right context).
-    of retrying forever.
+- `src/capture/pipewire_capture.cpp` now implements the full backend:
-  - fixed "RTP packet" → "AVPacket" error message in the encoder.
+  libportal 0.10 handshake (`create_screencast_session` → `session_start` →
-- `CaptureFactory::create()` now returns
+  `open_pipewire_remote`), PipeWire 1.6 stream on the first portal node,
-  `CaptureResult<std::unique_ptr<CaptureSession>>` (variant with
+  BGRx/BGRA/RGBx/RGBA enumeration, latest-frame slot with condvar handoff.
-  `CaptureError`) instead of a nullable unique_ptr; the stub reports
+  Portal handshake blocks on the caller thread; frames arrive on the pw
-  "PipeWire capture is not implemented yet" as an error. New pattern lives in
+  thread. `stop()` is thread-safe; teardown follows the pw-required order.
-  `include/screencast/capture/error.h`, mirroring `codec/error.h`.
+- Encoder now accepts padded strides for packed RGB formats and the new
-- Validation: `meson test` 2/2 OK; valgrind on `test_codec_roundtrip` is now
+  `PixelFormat::Bgrx` (mapped to `AV_PIX_FMT_BGRA`); planar Yuv420p still
-  clean (0 definite losses, 0 invalid reads); clang-format clean. See
+  requires a packed layout. This was the review note blocking Phase 3.
-  `docs/RUNBOOK.md` for the reusable checks.
+- `tools/capture_smoke` (manual, not in `meson test`) captures N frames →
-- Phase 3 capture stub remains in place; remaining implementation: capture,
+  encodes → writes Annex-B including prepended SPS/PPS extradata (verified:
-  transport, rendering, and CLI/pipeline glue.
+  libx264 GLOBAL_HEADER extradata is Annex-B).
+- Earlier review fixes remain in place; valgrind on the codec round-trip
+  test is still clean after the encoder stride changes.
+- Encoder PTS caveat: the encoder time_base is derived from the configured
+  frame rate (default 25fps), but portal frames arrive at monitor refresh
+  (often 60Hz), so pts values quantize to 40ms units and can repeat. Harmless
+  for the smoke test; revisit when RTP timestamps matter (Phase 4/5).
 
 ## Decisions
 
@@ -55,14 +61,17 @@ None.
 
 ## Forward-looking review notes (for later phases)
 
-- Encoder rejects non-packed strides in `make_input_frame`; PipeWire/portal
-  frames usually have alignment-padded strides — Phase 3 must pass the real
-  stride through to swscale instead of rejecting it.
 - `AV_CODEC_FLAG_GLOBAL_HEADER` suppresses in-band SPS/PPS; a receiver cannot
   join mid-stream or recover after PLI without parameter sets. Phase 5 must
   prepend SPS/PPS to keyframes or negotiate them in signaling.
 - Encoder sets no VBV (`maxrate`/`buffer_size`) — ABR only; add for smoother
   UDP streaming in Phase 7.
+- DMA-BUF-only portal streams are rejected with a clear message (hardware
+  path is Phase 7).
 - No negative-path tests yet (bad config, bad stride, undersized buffer).
 - `to_annex_b_h264` sniffs AVCC vs Annex-B by content; if an AVCC-emitting
-  encoder is ever added, prefer an explicit config flag over the heuristic.
+  encoder is ever added, prefer an explicit config flag over the heuristic.
+- Region targets are rejected: the desktop portal has no region capture.
+- `next_frame()` returns `nullopt` on stream error without surfacing the
+  reason (logged to stderr); consider an error channel when the receiver
+  pipeline lands.

.gitignore

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ meson-private/
 *.exe
 compile_commands.json
 
+# Smoke test output
+*.h264
+
 # IDE
 .vscode/
 .idea/

docs/PHASES.md

@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ frames.
 
 **Goal**: capture the desktop and feed frames into the encoder.
 
-- Add `libpipewire-0.3` dependency.
+- [x] Add `libpipewire-0.3` dependency.
-- Implement `CaptureFactory::create()` using the xdg-desktop-portal.
+- [x] Implement `CaptureFactory::create()` using the xdg-desktop-portal.
-- Wire `CaptureSession::next_frame()` → `Encoder::encode()` in a local smoke
+- [x] Wire `CaptureSession::next_frame()` → `Encoder::encode()` in a local smoke
   test that just writes a few encoded frames to disk.
 
 **Validation**: manual run on a real Linux desktop session produces a valid
@@ -89,4 +89,4 @@ where available.
 
 ## Current phase
 
-Phase 3 — PipeWire screen capture.
+Phase 4 — RTP Framing.

docs/RUNBOOK.md

@@ -27,6 +27,28 @@ FFmpeg may keep some "still reachable" allocations at exit; that is normal.
 This check caught two real defects in the Phase 2 decoder: a per-packet
 payload leak and an unpadded extradata buffer over-read. Keep using it.
 
+## Capture smoke test (Phase 3, manual)
+
+Requires a running desktop session with `xdg-desktop-portal` and a backend
+that implements the ScreenCast portal (e.g. Hyprland, GNOME, KDE). The
+portal shows an interactive source picker, so this cannot run unattended.
+
+```sh
+meson compile -C build                       # builds tools/capture_smoke
+./build/tools/capture_smoke 10 out.h264      # captures 10 frames
+ffprobe -v error -show_entries stream=codec_name,width,height out.h264
+```
+
+Expected: the tool prints the negotiated resolution/format/stride and
+writes a non-empty file; `ffprobe` reports `codec_name=h264` and the correct
+width/height. The encoder prepends its Annex-B SPS/PPS extradata so the
+file is a self-contained elementary stream.
+
+If you see `impl_ext_end_proxy called from wrong context` warnings, a
+PipeWire proxy operation ran without the thread-loop lock — all pw
+calls that send messages (connect, stream, core) must happen under
+`pw_thread_loop_lock`.
+
 ## Formatting
 
 ```sh

include/screencast/capture/capture.h

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ namespace sc {
 
 enum class PixelFormat {
     Rgba,
+    Bgrx, // 4 bytes/pixel, memory order B, G, R, unused
     Yuv420p,
 };
 

meson.build

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ project('screen_cast', 'cpp',
 # Public and private include directories are declared in `src/meson.build`.
 subdir('src')
 
+# Manual smoke tools
+subdir('tools')
+
 # Tests
 enable_tests = get_option('tests')
 if enable_tests

src/capture/meson.build

@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
-# Phase 3 capture placeholder. libpipewire-0.3 will be added when the portal
+# Phase 3 capture backend: PipeWire via the xdg-desktop-portal ScreenCast
-# implementation is wired in.
+# interface, with libportal handling the portal D-Bus handshake.
+
+dep_pipewire = dependency('libpipewire-0.3')
+dep_portal = dependency('libportal')
 
 sc_capture_sources = files('pipewire_capture.cpp')
 
-# Built even though nothing links it yet, so the stub stays compile-clean.
+sc_capture = static_library('sc_capture',
-static_library('sc_capture',
     sc_capture_sources,
-    include_directories : sc_core_inc)
+    include_directories : sc_core_inc,
+    dependencies : [dep_pipewire, dep_portal])
 
-# sc_capture_dep will be declared once the app/pipeline code links against it.
+sc_capture_dep = declare_dependency(
+    link_with : sc_capture,
+    include_directories : sc_core_inc,
+    dependencies : [dep_pipewire, dep_portal])

src/capture/pipewire_capture.cpp

@@ -1,13 +1,582 @@
 #include "screencast/capture/capture.h"
 
+#include <glib.h>
+#include <libportal/portal-helpers.h>
+#include <libportal/portal.h>
+#include <libportal/remote.h>
+#include <libportal/session.h>
+
+#include <pipewire/pipewire.h>
+#include <pipewire/thread-loop.h>
+#include <spa/param/param.h>
+#include <spa/param/video/format-utils.h>
+#include <spa/pod/builder.h>
+#include <spa/utils/result.h>
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include <array>
+#include <atomic>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <format>
+#include <iostream>
 #include <memory>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
 
 namespace sc {
+namespace {
 
-CaptureResult<std::unique_ptr<CaptureSession>> CaptureFactory::create(CaptureTarget /*target*/) {
+struct GObjectDeleter {
-    // Phase 3 placeholder. The PipeWire / xdg-desktop-portal capture backend
+    void operator()(gpointer object) const noexcept {
-    // will be implemented here once the portal integration lands.
+        if (object != nullptr) {
-    return CaptureError{"PipeWire capture is not implemented yet"};
+            g_object_unref(object);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+using PortalPtr = std::unique_ptr<XdpPortal, GObjectDeleter>;
+using XdpSessionPtr = std::unique_ptr<XdpSession, GObjectDeleter>;
+
+class ScopedMainContext {
+  public:
+    ScopedMainContext() : context_(g_main_context_new()) {
+        if (context_ != nullptr) {
+            g_main_context_push_thread_default(context_);
+        }
+    }
+
+    ~ScopedMainContext() {
+        if (context_ != nullptr) {
+            g_main_context_pop_thread_default(context_);
+            g_main_context_unref(context_);
+        }
+    }
+
+    ScopedMainContext(const ScopedMainContext&) = delete;
+    ScopedMainContext& operator=(const ScopedMainContext&) = delete;
+
+    GMainContext* get() const noexcept {
+        return context_;
+    }
+
+  private:
+    GMainContext* context_;
+};
+
+class ScopedMainLoop {
+  public:
+    explicit ScopedMainLoop(GMainContext* context) : loop_(g_main_loop_new(context, FALSE)) {}
+
+    ~ScopedMainLoop() {
+        if (loop_ != nullptr) {
+            g_main_loop_unref(loop_);
+        }
+    }
+
+    ScopedMainLoop(const ScopedMainLoop&) = delete;
+    ScopedMainLoop& operator=(const ScopedMainLoop&) = delete;
+
+    void run() {
+        g_main_loop_run(loop_);
+    }
+
+    void quit() {
+        g_main_loop_quit(loop_);
+    }
+
+  private:
+    GMainLoop* loop_;
+};
+
+// Owns a raw fd and closes it unless release()d.
+class OwnedFd {
+  public:
+    explicit OwnedFd(int fd) noexcept : fd_(fd) {}
+
+    ~OwnedFd() {
+        if (fd_ >= 0) {
+            close(fd_);
+        }
+    }
+
+    OwnedFd(const OwnedFd&) = delete;
+    OwnedFd& operator=(const OwnedFd&) = delete;
+
+    OwnedFd(OwnedFd&& other) noexcept : fd_(other.fd_) {
+        other.fd_ = -1;
+    }
+
+    OwnedFd& operator=(OwnedFd&& other) noexcept {
+        if (this != &other) {
+            if (fd_ >= 0) {
+                close(fd_);
+            }
+            fd_ = other.fd_;
+            other.fd_ = -1;
+        }
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    int get() const noexcept {
+        return fd_;
+    }
+
+    int release() noexcept {
+        const int fd = fd_;
+        fd_ = -1;
+        return fd;
+    }
+
+  private:
+    int fd_;
+};
+
+std::string gerror_message(const GError* error) {
+    if (error == nullptr || error->message == nullptr) {
+        return "unknown error";
+    }
+    return std::string{error->message};
+}
+
+uint64_t monotonic_now_ns() {
+    const auto now = std::chrono::steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch();
+    return static_cast<uint64_t>(std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::nanoseconds>(now).count());
+}
+
+std::optional<PixelFormat> pixel_format_from_spa(uint32_t spa_format) noexcept {
+    switch (spa_format) {
+        case SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_BGRx:
+        case SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_BGRA:
+            return PixelFormat::Bgrx;
+        case SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_RGBx:
+        case SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_RGBA:
+            return PixelFormat::Rgba;
+        default:
+            return std::nullopt;
+    }
+}
+
+// The portal Start response exposes one entry per stream as (u a{sv}); the
+// first child of the first stream holds the PipeWire node id.
+std::optional<uint32_t> first_stream_node_id(XdpSession* session) {
+    GVariant* streams = xdp_session_get_streams(session); // transfer full
+    if (streams == nullptr) {
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    std::optional<uint32_t> node_id;
+    if (g_variant_n_children(streams) > 0) {
+        GVariant* stream = g_variant_get_child_value(streams, 0);
+        if (stream != nullptr) {
+            if (g_variant_is_of_type(stream, G_VARIANT_TYPE("(ua{sv})"))) {
+                guint32 id = 0;
+                GVariant* properties = nullptr;
+                g_variant_get(stream, "(u@a{sv})", &id, &properties);
+                if (properties != nullptr) {
+                    g_variant_unref(properties);
+                }
+                node_id = static_cast<uint32_t>(id);
+            }
+            g_variant_unref(stream);
+        }
+    }
+    g_variant_unref(streams);
+    return node_id;
+}
+
+struct SessionCreatedOp {
+    ScopedMainLoop* loop = nullptr;
+    XdpSession* session = nullptr; // owned, transferred by the caller
+    GError* error = nullptr;       // owned, cleared by the caller
+};
+
+void on_screencast_session_created(GObject* source, GAsyncResult* result, gpointer user_data) {
+    auto* op = static_cast<SessionCreatedOp*>(user_data);
+    op->session = xdp_portal_create_screencast_session_finish(XDP_PORTAL(source), result, &op->error);
+    op->loop->quit();
+}
+
+struct SessionStartedOp {
+    ScopedMainLoop* loop = nullptr;
+    bool started = false;
+    GError* error = nullptr; // owned, cleared by the caller
+};
+
+void on_screencast_session_started(GObject* source, GAsyncResult* result, gpointer user_data) {
+    auto* op = static_cast<SessionStartedOp*>(user_data);
+    op->started = xdp_session_start_finish(XDP_SESSION(source), result, &op->error) == TRUE;
+    op->loop->quit();
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+// PipeWire screencast session driven by the xdg-desktop-portal ScreenCast
+// interface (via libportal). The portal handshake runs synchronously on the
+// thread that calls CaptureFactory::create(); frames are produced on a
+// PipeWire thread and handed to next_frame() through a latest-frame slot.
+class PipeWireCaptureSession final : public CaptureSession {
+  public:
+    PipeWireCaptureSession(uint32_t node_id, XdpSessionPtr portal_session, PortalPtr portal)
+        : node_id_(node_id), portal_session_(std::move(portal_session)), portal_(std::move(portal)) {
+        stream_events_.version = PW_VERSION_STREAM_EVENTS;
+        stream_events_.state_changed = &PipeWireCaptureSession::on_state_changed;
+        stream_events_.param_changed = &PipeWireCaptureSession::on_param_changed;
+        stream_events_.process = &PipeWireCaptureSession::on_process;
+    }
+
+    ~PipeWireCaptureSession() override {
+        stop();
+        teardown_pipewire();
+    }
+
+    PipeWireCaptureSession(const PipeWireCaptureSession&) = delete;
+    PipeWireCaptureSession& operator=(const PipeWireCaptureSession&) = delete;
+
+    std::optional<CapturedFrame> next_frame() override {
+        std::unique_lock lock(frame_mutex_);
+        frame_cv_.wait(lock, [this] { return stopped_ || has_new_frame_; });
+        if (!has_new_frame_) {
+            return std::nullopt; // stopped (or the stream ended with an error)
+        }
+        has_new_frame_ = false;
+        return std::move(latest_frame_);
+    }
+
+    void stop() override {
+        {
+            std::lock_guard lock(frame_mutex_);
+            stopped_ = true;
+        }
+        frame_cv_.notify_all();
+
+        pw_thread_loop* loop = loop_;
+        if (loop != nullptr) {
+            pw_thread_loop_lock(loop);
+            if (stream_ != nullptr) {
+                pw_stream_disconnect(stream_);
+            }
+            pw_thread_loop_unlock(loop);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Connects the capture stream to the portal's PipeWire node. On success
+    // the fd has been handed to PipeWire; on failure it is closed here.
+    //
+    // Every PipeWire operation that marshals a proxy message must run under
+    // the thread-loop lock; the protocol extension rejects calls from other
+    // contexts ("impl_ext_end_proxy called from wrong context").
+    std::optional<std::string> connect_to_pipewire(OwnedFd fd) {
+        loop_ = pw_thread_loop_new("screencast-capture", nullptr);
+        if (loop_ == nullptr) {
+            return std::string{"failed to create the PipeWire thread loop"};
+        }
+        if (pw_thread_loop_start(loop_) < 0) {
+            return std::string{"failed to start the PipeWire thread loop"};
+        }
+
+        pw_thread_loop_lock(loop_);
+
+        context_ = pw_context_new(pw_thread_loop_get_loop(loop_), nullptr, 0);
+        if (context_ == nullptr) {
+            pw_thread_loop_unlock(loop_);
+            return std::string{"failed to create the PipeWire context"};
+        }
+
+        // pw_context_connect_fd takes ownership of the socket (see core.h).
+        core_ = pw_context_connect_fd(context_, fd.release(), nullptr, 0);
+        if (core_ == nullptr) {
+            pw_thread_loop_unlock(loop_);
+            return std::string{"failed to connect to the PipeWire remote"};
+        }
+
+        pw_properties* props = pw_properties_new(PW_KEY_MEDIA_TYPE, "Video", PW_KEY_MEDIA_CATEGORY, "Capture", nullptr);
+        stream_ = pw_stream_new(core_, "screencast", props);
+        if (stream_ == nullptr) {
+            pw_thread_loop_unlock(loop_);
+            return std::string{"failed to create the capture stream"};
+        }
+        pw_stream_add_listener(stream_, &stream_listener_, &stream_events_, this);
+
+        // Enumerate the formats the portal stream can provide. Properties that
+        // are omitted (size, framerate) mean "any".
+        std::array<uint8_t, 1024> pod_buffer{};
+        struct spa_pod_builder pod_builder = SPA_POD_BUILDER_INIT(pod_buffer.data(), pod_buffer.size());
+        const struct spa_pod* connect_params[1] = {nullptr};
+        {
+            struct spa_pod_frame outer[1];
+            struct spa_pod_frame choice[1];
+
+            spa_pod_builder_push_object(&pod_builder, &outer[0], SPA_TYPE_OBJECT_Format, SPA_PARAM_EnumFormat);
+            spa_pod_builder_add(&pod_builder,
+                                SPA_FORMAT_mediaType,
+                                SPA_POD_Id(SPA_MEDIA_TYPE_video),
+                                SPA_FORMAT_mediaSubtype,
+                                SPA_POD_Id(SPA_MEDIA_SUBTYPE_raw),
+                                0);
+            spa_pod_builder_prop(&pod_builder, SPA_FORMAT_VIDEO_format, 0);
+            spa_pod_builder_push_choice(&pod_builder, &choice[0], SPA_CHOICE_Enum, 0);
+            spa_pod_builder_id(&pod_builder, SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_BGRx); // default
+            spa_pod_builder_id(&pod_builder, SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_BGRA);
+            spa_pod_builder_id(&pod_builder, SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_RGBx);
+            spa_pod_builder_id(&pod_builder, SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_RGBA);
+            spa_pod_builder_pop(&pod_builder, &choice[0]);
+            connect_params[0] = static_cast<const struct spa_pod*>(spa_pod_builder_pop(&pod_builder, &outer[0]));
+        }
+
+        const int connect_result = pw_stream_connect(stream_,
+                                                     PW_DIRECTION_INPUT,
+                                                     node_id_,
+                                                     static_cast<enum pw_stream_flags>(PW_STREAM_FLAG_AUTOCONNECT |
+                                                                                       PW_STREAM_FLAG_MAP_BUFFERS |
+                                                                                       PW_STREAM_FLAG_DONT_RECONNECT),
+                                                     connect_params,
+                                                     1);
+
+        pw_thread_loop_unlock(loop_);
+
+        if (connect_result < 0) {
+            return std::string{"failed to connect the capture stream: "} + spa_strerror(connect_result);
+        }
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+  private:
+    static void on_state_changed(void* data, enum pw_stream_state, enum pw_stream_state state, const char* error) {
+        if (state != PW_STREAM_STATE_ERROR) {
+            return;
+        }
+        auto* self = static_cast<PipeWireCaptureSession*>(data);
+        std::cerr << std::format("screencast: capture stream error: {}\n", error != nullptr ? error : "unknown error");
+        self->mark_stopped();
+    }
+
+    static void on_param_changed(void* data, uint32_t id, const struct spa_pod* param) {
+        if (param == nullptr || id != SPA_PARAM_Format) {
+            return;
+        }
+        auto* self = static_cast<PipeWireCaptureSession*>(data);
+
+        struct spa_video_info info = {};
+        if (spa_format_parse(param, &info.media_type, &info.media_subtype) < 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (info.media_type != SPA_MEDIA_TYPE_video || info.media_subtype != SPA_MEDIA_SUBTYPE_raw) {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (spa_format_video_raw_parse(param, &info.info.raw) < 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self->video_width_.store(info.info.raw.size.width, std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        self->video_height_.store(info.info.raw.size.height, std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        self->video_spa_format_.store(info.info.raw.format, std::memory_order_relaxed);
+    }
+
+    static void on_process(void* data) {
+        auto* self = static_cast<PipeWireCaptureSession*>(data);
+        struct pw_buffer* buffer = nullptr;
+        while ((buffer = pw_stream_dequeue_buffer(self->stream_)) != nullptr) {
+            self->store_frame(*buffer);
+            pw_stream_queue_buffer(self->stream_, buffer);
+        }
+    }
+
+    void store_frame(const struct pw_buffer& pw_buffer) {
+        const struct spa_buffer* buffer = pw_buffer.buffer;
+        if (buffer == nullptr || buffer->n_datas < 1) {
+            return;
+        }
+        const struct spa_data& data = buffer->datas[0];
+        if (data.type == SPA_DATA_DmaBuf && !dma_buf_logged_.exchange(true)) {
+            std::cerr << "screencast: the portal offers DMA-BUF buffers only; software capture "
+                         "requires mapped memory (deferred to the hardware-acceleration phase)\n";
+        }
+        if (data.data == nullptr || data.chunk == nullptr) {
+            return; // unmapped (e.g. DMA-BUF) or empty buffer
+        }
+
+        const int width = video_width_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        const int height = video_height_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        const uint32_t spa_format = video_spa_format_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        if (width <= 0 || height <= 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+        const auto pixel_format = pixel_format_from_spa(spa_format);
+        if (!pixel_format.has_value()) {
+            if (!unsupported_format_logged_.exchange(true)) {
+                std::cerr << std::format("screencast: unsupported negotiated pixel format {}\n", spa_format);
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const int stride = data.chunk->stride;
+        const int row_bytes = width * 4; // every enumerated format is 4 bytes/pixel
+        if (stride < row_bytes) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const std::size_t required_size = static_cast<std::size_t>(stride) * (static_cast<std::size_t>(height) - 1) +
+                                          static_cast<std::size_t>(row_bytes);
+        if (data.chunk->size < required_size && data.maxsize < required_size) {
+            return; // buffer smaller than the negotiated frame
+        }
+
+        CapturedFrame frame;
+        frame.width = width;
+        frame.height = height;
+        frame.pixel_format = *pixel_format;
+        frame.stride = stride;
+        frame.timestamp_ns = monotonic_now_ns();
+        frame.pixels.resize(required_size);
+        std::memcpy(frame.pixels.data(), data.data, required_size);
+
+        {
+            std::lock_guard lock(frame_mutex_);
+            latest_frame_ = std::move(frame);
+            has_new_frame_ = true;
+        }
+        frame_cv_.notify_all();
+    }
+
+    void mark_stopped() {
+        {
+            std::lock_guard lock(frame_mutex_);
+            stopped_ = true;
+        }
+        frame_cv_.notify_all();
+    }
+
+    // PipeWire teardown in the order required by the API: destroy the stream
+    // and disconnect the core under the thread-loop lock, then drop the
+    // context, then stop the loop.
+    void teardown_pipewire() noexcept {
+        if (loop_ != nullptr) {
+            pw_thread_loop_lock(loop_);
+            if (stream_ != nullptr) {
+                spa_hook_remove(&stream_listener_);
+                pw_stream_destroy(stream_);
+                stream_ = nullptr;
+            }
+            if (core_ != nullptr) {
+                pw_core_disconnect(core_);
+                core_ = nullptr;
+            }
+            pw_thread_loop_unlock(loop_);
+        }
+        if (context_ != nullptr) {
+            pw_context_destroy(context_);
+            context_ = nullptr;
+        }
+        if (loop_ != nullptr) {
+            pw_thread_loop_stop(loop_);
+            pw_thread_loop_destroy(loop_);
+            loop_ = nullptr;
+        }
+        pw_deinit();
+    }
+
+    uint32_t node_id_ = 0;
+    XdpSessionPtr portal_session_;
+    PortalPtr portal_;
+
+    pw_thread_loop* loop_ = nullptr;
+    pw_context* context_ = nullptr;
+    pw_core* core_ = nullptr;
+    pw_stream* stream_ = nullptr;
+    struct spa_hook stream_listener_ = {};
+    struct pw_stream_events stream_events_ = {};
+
+    std::atomic<int> video_width_{0};
+    std::atomic<int> video_height_{0};
+    std::atomic<uint32_t> video_spa_format_{SPA_VIDEO_FORMAT_UNKNOWN};
+    std::atomic<bool> dma_buf_logged_{false};
+    std::atomic<bool> unsupported_format_logged_{false};
+
+    std::mutex frame_mutex_;
+    std::condition_variable frame_cv_;
+    std::optional<CapturedFrame> latest_frame_;
+    bool has_new_frame_ = false;
+    bool stopped_ = false;
+};
+
+CaptureResult<std::unique_ptr<CaptureSession>> CaptureFactory::create(CaptureTarget target) {
+    XdpOutputType outputs = XDP_OUTPUT_NONE;
+    if (std::holds_alternative<CaptureTargetWholeScreen>(target)) {
+        outputs = XDP_OUTPUT_MONITOR;
+    } else if (std::holds_alternative<CaptureTargetWindow>(target)) {
+        outputs = XDP_OUTPUT_WINDOW;
+    } else {
+        return CaptureError{"region capture is not supported by the desktop portal"};
+    }
+
+    pw_init(nullptr, nullptr);
+
+    ScopedMainContext main_context;
+    if (main_context.get() == nullptr) {
+        return CaptureError{"failed to create a GLib main context"};
+    }
+    ScopedMainLoop main_loop(main_context.get());
+
+    PortalPtr portal(xdp_portal_new());
+    if (portal == nullptr) {
+        return CaptureError{"failed to connect to the desktop portal"};
+    }
+
+    // Step 1: create the screencast session. The user picks a source in the
+    // portal dialog while this call blocks.
+    SessionCreatedOp created{&main_loop};
+    xdp_portal_create_screencast_session(portal.get(),
+                                         outputs,
+                                         XDP_SCREENCAST_FLAG_NONE,
+                                         XDP_CURSOR_MODE_EMBEDDED,
+                                         XDP_PERSIST_MODE_NONE,
+                                         nullptr,
+                                         nullptr,
+                                         &on_screencast_session_created,
+                                         &created);
+    main_loop.run();
+
+    XdpSessionPtr portal_session(created.session);
+    if (portal_session == nullptr) {
+        const std::string message = gerror_message(created.error);
+        g_clear_error(&created.error);
+        return CaptureError{"failed to create the screencast session: " + message};
+    }
+    g_clear_error(&created.error);
+
+    // Step 2: start the session.
+    SessionStartedOp started{&main_loop};
+    xdp_session_start(portal_session.get(), nullptr, nullptr, &on_screencast_session_started, &started);
+    main_loop.run();
+    if (!started.started) {
+        const std::string message = gerror_message(started.error);
+        g_clear_error(&started.error);
+        return CaptureError{"failed to start the screencast session: " + message};
+    }
+    g_clear_error(&started.error);
+
+    // Step 3: find the PipeWire node to capture.
+    const std::optional<uint32_t> node_id = first_stream_node_id(portal_session.get());
+    if (!node_id.has_value()) {
+        return CaptureError{"the screencast session exposes no streams"};
+    }
+
+    OwnedFd remote_fd(xdp_session_open_pipewire_remote(portal_session.get()));
+    if (remote_fd.get() < 0) {
+        return CaptureError{"failed to open the PipeWire remote of the screencast session"};
+    }
+
+    auto session = std::make_unique<PipeWireCaptureSession>(*node_id, std::move(portal_session), std::move(portal));
+    if (auto error = session->connect_to_pipewire(std::move(remote_fd))) {
+        return CaptureError{std::move(*error)};
+    }
+    return std::unique_ptr<CaptureSession>(std::move(session));
 }
 
 } // namespace sc

src/codec/ffmpeg_encoder.cpp

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "ffmpeg_raii.h"
 
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <atomic>
 #include <cstdint>
@@ -18,15 +19,24 @@ namespace {
 using namespace sc::detail;
 
 AVPixelFormat to_ffmpeg_format(PixelFormat format) noexcept {
-    return format == PixelFormat::Rgba ? AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA : AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P;
+    switch (format) {
+        case PixelFormat::Rgba:
+            return AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA;
+        case PixelFormat::Bgrx:
+            // BGRx is BGR with an unused fourth byte; FFmpeg models that layout as BGRA.
+            return AV_PIX_FMT_BGRA;
+        case PixelFormat::Yuv420p:
+            return AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P;
+    }
+    return AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
 }
 
-int expected_first_plane_stride(PixelFormat format, int width) noexcept {
+bool is_packed_rgb(PixelFormat format) noexcept {
-    return format == PixelFormat::Rgba ? width * 4 : width;
+    return format == PixelFormat::Rgba || format == PixelFormat::Bgrx;
 }
 
-std::size_t expected_buffer_size(PixelFormat format, int width, int height) {
+int minimum_row_bytes(PixelFormat format, int width) noexcept {
-    return static_cast<std::size_t>(av_image_get_buffer_size(to_ffmpeg_format(format), width, height, 1));
+    return is_packed_rgb(format) ? width * 4 : width;
 }
 
 enum class ReceiveStatus {
@@ -244,12 +254,29 @@ class FfmpegEncoder final : public Encoder {
         }
 
         const AVPixelFormat input_format = to_ffmpeg_format(frame.pixel_format);
-        const int expected_stride = expected_first_plane_stride(frame.pixel_format, frame.width);
+        if (input_format == AV_PIX_FMT_NONE) {
-        if (frame.stride != 0 && frame.stride != expected_stride) {
+            return CodecError{"unsupported pixel format"};
-            return CodecError{"unsupported input stride"};
         }
 
-        const std::size_t required_size = expected_buffer_size(frame.pixel_format, frame.width, frame.height);
+        const int row_bytes = minimum_row_bytes(frame.pixel_format, frame.width);
+        std::size_t stride = static_cast<std::size_t>(row_bytes);
+        if (frame.stride != 0) {
+            if (frame.stride < row_bytes) {
+                return CodecError{"input stride is smaller than one pixel row"};
+            }
+            if (!is_packed_rgb(frame.pixel_format) && frame.stride != row_bytes) {
+                return CodecError{"unsupported input stride for planar format"};
+            }
+            stride = static_cast<std::size_t>(frame.stride);
+        }
+
+        std::size_t required_size = 0;
+        if (is_packed_rgb(frame.pixel_format)) {
+            required_size = stride * (static_cast<std::size_t>(frame.height) - 1) + static_cast<std::size_t>(row_bytes);
+        } else {
+            required_size =
+                static_cast<std::size_t>(av_image_get_buffer_size(input_format, frame.width, frame.height, 1));
+        }
         if (frame.pixels.size() < required_size) {
             return CodecError{"input pixel buffer is too small"};
         }
@@ -274,12 +301,27 @@ class FfmpegEncoder final : public Encoder {
             return CodecError{"failed to create swscale context"};
         }
 
-        std::array<uint8_t*, 4> src{nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr};
+        std::array<const uint8_t*, 4> src{nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr};
         std::array<int, 4> src_lines{0, 0, 0, 0};
-        if (av_image_fill_arrays(
+        if (is_packed_rgb(frame.pixel_format)) {
-                src.data(), src_lines.data(), as_u8(frame.pixels.data()), input_format, frame.width, frame.height, 1) <
+            // Packed RGB is a single plane whose row pitch may be padded beyond
-            0) {
+            // the packed row size, so build the source arrays by hand.
-            return CodecError{"failed to fill input pixel arrays"};
+            src[0] = as_u8(frame.pixels.data());
+            src_lines[0] = static_cast<int>(stride);
+        } else {
+            std::array<uint8_t*, 4> planar_src{nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr};
+            std::array<int, 4> planar_lines{0, 0, 0, 0};
+            if (av_image_fill_arrays(planar_src.data(),
+                                     planar_lines.data(),
+                                     as_u8(frame.pixels.data()),
+                                     input_format,
+                                     frame.width,
+                                     frame.height,
+                                     1) < 0) {
+                return CodecError{"failed to fill input pixel arrays"};
+            }
+            std::copy(planar_src.begin(), planar_src.end(), src.begin());
+            std::copy(planar_lines.begin(), planar_lines.end(), src_lines.begin());
         }
 
         if (sws_scale(scaler_.get(), src.data(), src_lines.data(), 0, frame.height, output->data, output->linesize) <=

tools/capture_smoke.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+// Phase 3 smoke test: capture a few real desktop frames through the portal,
+// encode them to H.264, and write an Annex-B elementary stream to disk.
+//
+// This tool is intentionally manual: it needs a running desktop session and
+// the user must confirm the source picker dialog, so it is not registered
+// with `meson test`. Validation steps are documented in docs/RUNBOOK.md.
+
+#include "screencast/capture/capture.h"
+#include "screencast/codec/encoder.h"
+
+#include <charconv>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <format>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace {
+
+int positive_int_arg(std::string_view text) {
+    int value = 0;
+    const auto [ptr, ec] = std::from_chars(text.data(), text.data() + text.size(), value);
+    if (ec != std::errc{} || ptr != text.data() + text.size() || value <= 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return value;
+}
+
+std::string_view pixel_format_name(sc::PixelFormat format) {
+    switch (format) {
+        case sc::PixelFormat::Rgba:
+            return "rgba";
+        case sc::PixelFormat::Bgrx:
+            return "bgrx";
+        case sc::PixelFormat::Yuv420p:
+            return "yuv420p";
+    }
+    return "unknown";
+}
+
+bool write_bytes(std::ofstream& output, const std::vector<std::byte>& bytes) {
+    output.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(bytes.data()), static_cast<std::streamsize>(bytes.size()));
+    return output.good();
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv) {
+    const int max_frames = argc > 1 ? positive_int_arg(argv[1]) : 10;
+    if (max_frames < 0) {
+        std::cerr << "usage: capture_smoke [frames] [output.h264]\n";
+        return 1;
+    }
+    const std::string output_path = argc > 2 ? argv[2] : "screencast_smoke.h264";
+
+    std::cout << "creating capture session (choose a source in the portal dialog)...\n";
+    auto capture_result = sc::CaptureFactory::create(sc::CaptureTargetWholeScreen{});
+    if (sc::is_capture_error(capture_result)) {
+        std::cerr << std::format("capture failed: {}\n", sc::capture_error(capture_result).message);
+        return 1;
+    }
+    auto capture = std::move(sc::capture_value(capture_result));
+
+    std::ofstream output(output_path, std::ios::binary | std::ios::trunc);
+    if (!output.is_open()) {
+        std::cerr << std::format("failed to open {} for writing\n", output_path);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    std::unique_ptr<sc::Encoder> encoder;
+    std::uint64_t total_bytes = 0;
+    std::uint64_t encoded_frames = 0;
+    std::uint64_t keyframes = 0;
+
+    for (int captured = 0; captured < max_frames; ++captured) {
+        auto frame = capture->next_frame();
+        if (!frame.has_value()) {
+            std::cout << std::format("capture session ended after {} frames\n", captured);
+            break;
+        }
+
+        if (encoder == nullptr) {
+            sc::EncoderConfig config;
+            config.width = frame->width;
+            config.height = frame->height;
+            config.frame_rate_num = 25;
+            config.frame_rate_den = 1;
+            config.bitrate_kbps = 8000;
+
+            auto encoder_result = sc::EncoderFactory::create(config);
+            if (sc::is_codec_error(encoder_result)) {
+                std::cerr << std::format("encoder creation failed: {}\n", sc::codec_error(encoder_result).message);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            encoder = std::move(sc::codec_value(encoder_result));
+
+            // The encoder is configured with AV_CODEC_FLAG_GLOBAL_HEADER, so
+            // parameter sets live in extradata; prepend them so the output
+            // file is a self-contained Annex-B stream.
+            const auto extradata = encoder->get_extradata();
+            if (!extradata.empty()) {
+                if (!write_bytes(output, extradata)) {
+                    std::cerr << std::format("failed to write parameter sets to {}\n", output_path);
+                    return 1;
+                }
+                total_bytes += extradata.size();
+            }
+
+            std::cout << std::format("capturing {}x{} ({}, stride {})\n",
+                                     frame->width,
+                                     frame->height,
+                                     pixel_format_name(frame->pixel_format),
+                                     frame->stride);
+        }
+
+        auto encoded_result = encoder->encode(*frame);
+        if (sc::is_codec_error(encoded_result)) {
+            std::cerr << std::format("encode failed: {}\n", sc::codec_error(encoded_result).message);
+            return 1;
+        }
+        for (const auto& encoded : sc::codec_value(encoded_result)) {
+            if (!write_bytes(output, encoded.data)) {
+                std::cerr << std::format("failed to write encoded data to {}\n", output_path);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            total_bytes += encoded.data.size();
+            ++encoded_frames;
+            keyframes += encoded.is_keyframe ? 1 : 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (encoder != nullptr) {
+        auto flushed = encoder->flush();
+        if (sc::is_codec_error(flushed)) {
+            std::cerr << std::format("flush failed: {}\n", sc::codec_error(flushed).message);
+            return 1;
+        }
+        for (const auto& encoded : sc::codec_value(flushed)) {
+            if (!write_bytes(output, encoded.data)) {
+                std::cerr << std::format("failed to write flushed data to {}\n", output_path);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            total_bytes += encoded.data.size();
+            ++encoded_frames;
+        }
+    }
+
+    capture->stop();
+    output.close();
+
+    if (total_bytes == 0 || encoded_frames == 0) {
+        std::cerr << "no frames were captured\n";
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    std::cout << std::format("wrote {} bytes to {} ({} encoded frames, {} keyframes)\n",
+                             total_bytes,
+                             output_path,
+                             encoded_frames,
+                             keyframes);
+    std::cout << std::format("validate with: ffprobe -v error -show_entries stream=codec_name,width,height {}\n",
+                             output_path);
+    return 0;
+}

tools/meson.build

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Manual smoke tools. These are not registered with `meson test` because they
+# need an interactive desktop session (portal consent dialog).
+
+executable('capture_smoke',
+    'capture_smoke.cpp',
+    dependencies : [sc_capture_dep, sc_codec_dep])