Install Sill with Homebrew Cask

Project links

• Homepage
• Repository
• Package manager page

Commands and aliases

No executable aliases were found in the local package database.

Project history

Sill was developed as a free and open-source way to place a live Mac window or desktop on an iPhone or iPad and control it there. Its implementation uses Apple frameworks including ScreenCaptureKit and VideoToolbox, sends HEVC video directly to paired devices, and secures current connections with TLS 1.3 and pinned device keys.

Adoption history

Sill is distributed as a notarized Mac download, through the project's own Homebrew tap, and as an iPhone and iPad application. The complete source is also available for users who want to build either side themselves.

How it is used

Users run the Mac menu-bar application, pair an iPhone or iPad by code or USB, choose a window or the desktop, and control it from the mobile device. Away from home, they can enable Remote Access and use a VPN such as Tailscale or a carefully configured port forward.

Why package nerds care

Sill is a serverless, Apple-platform-specific take on remote desktop: the Mac captures and hardware-encodes a window or desktop, while the mobile device returns touch, pointer, Pencil, and keyboard events. It is notable for supporting local networking, USB, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi, and user-controlled VPN access without requiring a vendor account or relay service.

Timeline

• Early releases supported local-network, USB, and direct wireless connections.
• Pairing at home introduced encrypted TLS 1.3 connections and pinned device identities.
• Remote Access extended connections to user-managed VPNs or router port forwarding.

Related projects

• Tailscale is explicitly documented as an easy VPN option for reaching Sill away from home.

Sources

• https://getsill.app/support
• https://github.com/Saffsanity/sill#readme
• https://github.com/Saffsanity/sill/blob/main/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md