Dev1 Galaxy Forum / BlueALSA without systemd

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:24:42 +0000

If nobody wants to maintain it, it's not needed.
If nobody can maintain it, it doesn't make sense.

Right, so the bluez-alsa packages in the official Devuan repository were built with --enable-systemd, which means they’ve picked up a systemd dependency — a bit of an oversight, really, given Devuan’s init-agnostic stance.

To address this, the packages were unpacked, the dependency manually adjusted, and then repackaged. They’ll install without complaint, though they might not function perfectly in the absence of systemd. It’s not ideal, but it’s a pragmatic fix.

The method used is a known workaround, documented here:
_https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7157

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (greenjeans) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:12:30 +0000

I guess you won't be interested but as you may know, the action path for Devuan would be for a maintainer to set up a fork project (at git.devuan.org) to sort out its utility in Devuan. I anyhow invite you to take on that role for this package (as well as fftrate packages if you like).

I agree 100%, I think Igor would be the perfect candidate to maintain packages like fftrate. He's certainly knowledgeable about all things ALSA, and you've already done the hard part for fftrate.

C'mon Igor, step up to the plate bro! Ralph's rolling out the red carpet for ya and Devuan is clearly onboard with all this amazing work being done in ALSA these days, we can all make a real difference in how sound is dealt with in Linux.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:14:25 +0000

1. The package is not needed.
2. It is easy to compile.

The Devuan consumer community want to consume knowledge rather than packages. You should not keep them in ignorance.

Knowledge and only knowledge liberates, and absolute knowledge liberates absolutely.
Isaiah Berlin, Four Essays on Liberty (1969).

How to Create a Debian Package Release Bundle

Download sourcedir:

mkdir BUILD3 && cd BUILD3

git clone https://github.com/arkq/bluez-alsa.git

cd bluez-alsa && export DEBFULLNAME="John Frum"

Install a template:

dh_make --createorig -p bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86 -c apache -e my@mail.org -s

1. debian/control

If you have libfreeaptx-dev installed, replace "libfreeaptx" with "libfreeaptx-dev" in Build-Depends. If you compiled libfreeaptx from git, leave it as is.

$ cat debian/control
Source: bluez-alsa
Section: libs
Priority: optional
Maintainer: John Frum 
Rules-Requires-Root: no
Build-Depends:
 debhelper-compat (= 13),
	dh-exec,
	libasound2-dev,
	libbluetooth-dev (>= 5.0),
	libdbus-1-dev (>= 1.6),
        libfdk-aac-dev,
	libfreeaptx,
	libglib2.0-dev (>= 2.30),
	libsbc-dev (>= 1.2),
	liblc3-dev,
	libldacbt-enc-dev (>= 2.0.0) [!hppa !m68k !powerpc !ppc64 !s390x !sparc64],
	libldacbt-abr-dev (>= 2.0.0) [!hppa !m68k !powerpc !ppc64 !s390x !sparc64],
	libmp3lame-dev,
	libmpg123-dev,
	libspandsp-dev,
	libopus-dev,
	libbsd-dev,
	libreadline-dev,
	check,
	dbus-daemon ,
	python3-docutils,
	pkgconf
Standards-Version: 4.6.2
Homepage: https://github.com/Arkq/bluez-alsa
#Vcs-Browser: https://salsa.debian.org/debian/bluez-alsa
#Vcs-Git: https://salsa.debian.org/debian/bluez-alsa.git

Package: bluez-alsa
Architecture: linux-any
Multi-Arch: same
Section: libs
Depends:
 ${shlibs:Depends},
 ${misc:Depends},
Conflicts: bluez-alsa-utils, libasound2-plugin-bluez
Provides: bluez-alsa-utils (= 4.3.1-86-1), libasound2-plugin-bluez (= 4.3.1-86-1)
Replaces: bluez-alsa-utils, libasound2-plugin-bluez
Description: Bluetooth Audio ALSA Backend 
 Bluetooth Audio ALSA Backend allows bluetooth audio without PulseAudio and PipeWire.
 This package provides sysVinit script for bluealsad daemon to run it without systemd.   
 .
 This project is a rebirth of a direct integration between Bluez and ALSA.
 Since Bluez >= 5, the build-in integration has been removed in favor of 3rd
 party audio applications. From now on, Bluez acts as a middleware between an
 audio application, which implements Bluetooth audio profile, and a Bluetooth
 audio device.

2. debian/rules

$ cat debian/rules
#!/usr/bin/make -f

# See debhelper(7) (uncomment to enable).
# Output every command that modifies files on the build system.
#export DH_VERBOSE = 1

# See FEATURE AREAS in dpkg-buildflags(1).
#export DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS = hardening=+all

# See ENVIRONMENT in dpkg-buildflags(1).
# Package maintainers to append CFLAGS.
#export DEB_CFLAGS_MAINT_APPEND  = -Wall -pedantic
# Package maintainers to append LDFLAGS.
#export DEB_LDFLAGS_MAINT_APPEND = -Wl,--as-needed

%:
	dh $@ --with autoreconf

# dh_make generated override targets.
# This is an example for Cmake (see ).
#override_dh_auto_configure:
#	dh_auto_configure -- \
#	-DCMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH=$(DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH)
override_dh_auto_configure:
	dh_auto_configure --  --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc --with-bluealsaduser=bluealsad --enable-ldac --with-libfreeaptx --enable-aptx  --enable-aptx-hd --enable-faststream --enable-lc3-swb --enable-mp3lame --enable-mpg123 --enable-msbc --enable-ofono --enable-midi --enable-opus --enable-upower --enable-rfcomm --enable-a2dpconf --enable-hcitop --enable-test --enable-aac --enable-manpages --disable-systemd 

override_dh_installinit:
	dh_installinit --name=bluealsad

override_dh_shlibdeps: 
	dh_shlibdeps --dpkg-shlibdeps-params=--ignore-missing-info

3. debian/bluez-alsa.bluealsad.init

$ cat cat debian/bluez-alsa.bluealsad.init
cat: cat: No such file or directory
#!/bin/sh

### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides:          bluealsa
# Required-Start:    dbus $syslog $local_fs $remote_fs bluetooth
# Required-Stop:     dbus $syslog $local_fs $remote_fs
# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
# Short-Description: BlueALSA daemon
# Description:       Bluetooth ALSA audio daemon
### END INIT INFO

. /lib/lsb/init-functions

NAME=bluealsad
DESC="BlueALSA daemon"
DAEMON=/usr/bin/$NAME
PIDFILE="/var/run/$NAME.pid"
STORAGE_DIR="/var/lib/bluealsa"
USER="bluealsad"
COMMON_OPTS="--quiet --oknodo --pidfile $PIDFILE"

# Working configuration without low-quality HSP codecs
BA_OPTS="-S -p a2dp-source -p a2dp-sink -p hfp-ag -p hfp-hf -c sbc -c aac -c mp3 -c aptx -c aptx-hd -c faststream -c opus -c msbc -c lc3-swb -c ldac --aac-afterburner --aac-bitrate=320000 --aac-vbr"

# Ensure bluealsad user exists and has correct group membership
if ! id $USER >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    # Create user if it doesn't exist
    useradd -r -s /bin/false $USER
    usermod -a -G audio $USER
else
    # User exists, check if in audio group
    if ! id -nG $USER | grep -qw audio; then
        usermod -a -G audio $USER
    fi
fi

# Ensure storage directory exists with correct ownership
if [ ! -d "$STORAGE_DIR" ]; then
    mkdir -p "$STORAGE_DIR"
    chown $USER:$USER "$STORAGE_DIR"
    chmod 0700 "$STORAGE_DIR"
else
    # Directory exists, check ownership
    CURRENT_OWNER=$(stat -c "%U:%G" "$STORAGE_DIR")
    if [ "$CURRENT_OWNER" != "$USER:$USER" ]; then
        chown $USER:$USER "$STORAGE_DIR"
        chmod 0700 "$STORAGE_DIR"
    fi
fi

case "$1" in
  start)
    log_daemon_msg "Starting $DESC" "$NAME"
    start-stop-daemon $COMMON_OPTS --start --background \
        --make-pidfile --chuid $USER --exec $DAEMON -- $BA_OPTS
    log_end_msg $?
    ;;
  stop)
    log_daemon_msg "Stopping $DESC" "$NAME"
    start-stop-daemon $COMMON_OPTS --stop --retry 5
    log_end_msg $?
    ;;
  restart|force-reload)
    $0 stop
    $0 start
    ;;
  status)
    status_of_proc $DAEMON "$NAME" || exit $?
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart|force-reload|status}" >&2
    exit 1
    ;;
esac

exit 0

chmod +x debian/bluez-alsa.bluealsad.init

Create Debian source package

dpkg-source -b .

Build Debian package

dpkg-buildpackage -us -uc

$ cd .. && ls -1 *.deb
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.deb
bluez-alsa-dbgsym_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.deb

Install

sudo dpkg -i bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.deb

In bureaucratic terms, you have a complete Debian package upload set or package release bundle:
$ ls -1
bluez-alsa
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.buildinfo
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.changes
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.deb
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1.debian.tar.xz
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86-1.dsc
bluez-alsa_4.3.1-86.orig.tar.xz
bluez-alsa-dbgsym_4.3.1-86-1_amd64.deb 
This includes:
Source files (.dsc, .orig.tar.xz, .debian.tar.xz)
Binary packages (.deb)
Debug symbols (.dbgsym.deb)
Build metadata (.buildinfo)
Changes file (.changes) — the key control file listing all others
The .changes file defines the full set, used by Debian archive tools (like dak) to process uploads into a repository.

Configure the bluealsad service to start automatically at system boot

sudo update-rc.d bluealsad defaults

$ sudo service bluealsad restart
Stopping BlueALSA daemon: bluealsad.
Starting BlueALSA daemon: bluealsad.

$ sudo service bluealsad status
bluealsad is running.

See also:
_https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7671

Ah, the --with-bluealsaduser=bluealsad option — very sensible. Lets you run the daemon as a dedicated user, which is ever so slightly less daft than letting it run as root. Keeps things tidy, limits the carnage if something goes wrong. Think of it as giving your Bluetooth audio a sensible hat and a laminated badge — still can’t stop it from misbehaving entirely, but at least it’s not running the whole show.

If you don’t specify a user, it defaults to root, which works — until it doesn’t. And when used with older BlueZ versions (≤ 5.50), just make sure your chosen user’s in the "bluetooth" group, or it’ll sulk and refuse to connect. Nothing dramatic — just typical Linux passive aggression.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (ralph.ronnquist) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:40:26 +0000

I guess you won't be interested but as you may know, the action path for Devuan would be for a maintainer to set up a fork project (at git.devuan.org) to sort out its utility in Devuan. I anyhow invite you to take on that role for this package (as well as fftrate packages if you like).

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:03:41 +0000

There is, one might say, a slight oversight in the Debian bluez-alsa package: it runs as root, which is a bit like giving the keys to the house to someone just to borrow the kettle. Should a flaw exist — and history suggests they often do — it could be exploited with elevated consequences.

The good news? This doesn’t affect Devuan at all. The package simply doesn’t work without systemd, so it sits there, harmless and inert — like a very quiet paperweight.

So while Debian’s setup is perhaps more trusting than strictly necessary, Devuan users are, by design, not involved in the drama.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:11:14 +0000

What is the spec of your headset, is there something like this:

- Bluetooth codecs
- aptX™ Adaptive
aptX™ HD
aptX™
AAC
SBC
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP
AVRCP
HFP

Debian default is low quality SBC codec.
With aptX codec, sound quality is much better.

libfreeaptx is outdated in the oldstable
_https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/libfreeaptx

git version;

$ freeaptxdec --help
aptX decoder utility 0.2.2 (using libfreeaptx 0.2.2)
This utility decodes aptX or aptX HD audio stream
from stdin to a raw 24 bit signed stereo on stdout

the Debian source of bluez-alsa is outdated
_https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/bluez-alsa

The git version is now v4.3.1-86-gf1e53d3. It means that 86 bugs were fixed. In any case, everything was compiled.
All codecs available for Linux were compiled and enabled.

$ bluealsactl status
Service: org.bluealsa
Version: v4.3.1-86-gf1e53d3
Adapters: hci0
Profiles:
  A2DP-source : SBC MP3 AAC aptX aptX-HD FastStream LDAC Opus
  A2DP-sink   : SBC MP3 AAC aptX aptX-HD FastStream Opus
  HFP-AG      : CVSD mSBC LC3-SWB
  HFP-HF      : CVSD mSBC LC3-SWB

hsp codecs are not loaded with init script. They are of low quality: 8kHz sample rate.
The question is: which codecs are supported by your BT headphones?
What is your spec?

Sennheiser HD 450BT does have aptX-HD, but it has aptX
Specifications:
Bluetooth profiles: AVRCP, A2DP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs: AptX, AptX Low Latency, AAC, SBC

$ bluealsa-aplay -L
bluealsa:DEV=80:C3:BA:8B:B6:CC,PROFILE=sco,SRV=org.bluealsa
    HD 450BT, trusted audio-headphones, playback
    SCO (mSBC): S16_LE 1 channel 16000 Hz
bluealsa:DEV=80:C3:BA:8B:B6:CC,PROFILE=sco,SRV=org.bluealsa
    HD 450BT, trusted audio-headphones, capture
    SCO (mSBC): S16_LE 1 channel 16000 Hz
bluealsa:DEV=80:C3:BA:8B:B6:CC,PROFILE=a2dp,SRV=org.bluealsa
    HD 450BT, trusted audio-headphones, playback
    A2DP (aptX): S16_LE 2 channels 48000 Hz

Sennheiser HDB 630
_https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-DE/p/hdb-630/
Specifications
Codec support
aptX™ Adaptive™, aptX™ HD, aptX™, AAC, SBC

Enjoy high resolution with support for aptX™ HD and aptX™ Adaptive, especially when paired with the included BTD 700 Bluetooth® USB C Dongle
For the purest signal, connect via USB C or analog input for lossless listening at up to 24 bit/96 kHz.
_https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-DE/p/hdb-630/

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
_https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-gb/product/over-ear-headphones/px7-s2e/FP44520P.html#specifications
Specifications
Bluetooth codecs
aptX™ Adaptive
aptX™ HD
aptX™
AAC
SBC

SBC is a basic low quality codec.
aptX Adaptive is not available for Linux.

AAC in BlueALSA uses the fdk-aac library from Fraunhofer IIS, which is not completely free software.
The fdk-aac library is under Fraunhofer license which:
Is free for non-commercial use
Requires licensing for commercial applications
Has patent encumbrances in some countries
You may try high quality options: --aac-afterburner --aac-bitrate=320000 --aac-true-bps

# without -c aptx -c aptx-hd
BA_OPTS="-S -p a2dp-source -p a2dp-sink -p hfp-ag -p hfp-hf -c sbc -c aac -c mp3 -c faststream -c opus -c msbc -c lc3-swb -c ldac --aac-afterburner --aac-bitrate=320000 --aac-true-bps"

AAC codec supports 8 kHz to 96 kHz including 44.1kHz and 48kHz.

While BlueALSA's automatic selection is limited to 48kHz, the codecs themselves support higher rates. For example, AAC supports up to 96kHz.
You can manually select higher sample rates using:

bluealsactl codec -r96000 PCM_PATH aac

bluealsactl list-pcms

Sennheiser HD 450BT does not support 96kHz sample rate with AAC codec, but it has analog audio cable with 3.5mm jack plug. It is much better than any Bluetooth codec.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (ralph.ronnquist) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:04:57 +0000

Thanks. Good advice. I'll probably look at doing that eventually.
(I'm not using my bluetooth headset much at the moment)

It could possibly be helpful to the debian maintainer of bluez-alsa-util to lodge a bug regarding outdated codecs. Especially if there is a patch included. I guess the packaging project is on salsa.debian.org.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:55:23 +0000

It was compiled with --enable-systemd (see: debian/rules )

I have already recompiled the Debian source package.
It is outdated, and the codecs are outdated.
The git version is much better.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (ralph.ronnquist) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:48:41 +0000

I think bluealsa gets started via dbus, But I haven't explored it.

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:29:53 +0000

It does not seem to contain any init script.
I have already enabled the stable repository:

$ apt source bluez-alsa-utils
Reading package lists... Done
Picking 'bluez-alsa' as source package instead of 'bluez-alsa-utils'
NOTICE: 'bluez-alsa' packaging is maintained in the 'Git' version control system at:
https://salsa.debian.org/bluetooth-team/bluez-alsa.git
Please use:
git clone https://salsa.debian.org/bluetooth-team/bluez-alsa.git
to retrieve the latest (possibly unreleased) updates to the package.
Need to get 257 kB of source archives.
Get:1 http://deb.devuan.org/merged stable/main bluez-alsa 4.3.1-3 (dsc) [2,528 B]
Get:2 http://deb.devuan.org/merged stable/main bluez-alsa 4.3.1-3 (tar) [249 kB]
Get:3 http://deb.devuan.org/merged stable/main bluez-alsa 4.3.1-3 (diff) [6,076 B]
Fetched 257 kB in 0s (764 kB/s)       
dpkg-source: info: extracting bluez-alsa in bluez-alsa-4.3.1
dpkg-source: info: unpacking bluez-alsa_4.3.1.orig.tar.xz
dpkg-source: info: unpacking bluez-alsa_4.3.1-3.debian.tar.xz

The source package is from Debian repository, configured for systemd.

bluez-alsa-utils_4.3.1-3_amd64.deb

was compiled for systemd, it does not have any init script inside.

_https://pkginfo.devuan.org/cgi-bin/package-query.html?c=package&q=bluez-alsa-utils=4.3.1-3.1
Package: bluez-alsa-utils
Version: 4.3.1-3.1
Installed-Size: 521
Maintainer: Debian Bluetooth Maintainers
Content
/etc/alsa/conf.d/20-bluealsa.conf
/etc/default/bluez-alsa
/usr/bin/a2dpconf
/usr/bin/bluealsa-aplay
/usr/bin/bluealsa-cli
/usr/bin/bluealsa-rfcomm
/usr/bin/bluealsa
/usr/bin/hcitop
/usr/lib/systemd/system/bluealsa-aplay.service
/usr/lib/systemd/system/bluealsa.service
/usr/share/dbus-1/system.d/bluealsa.conf
/usr/share/doc/bluez-alsa-utils/changelog.Debian.gz
/usr/share/doc/bluez-alsa-utils/copyright
/usr/share/man/man1/bluealsa-aplay.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/bluealsa-cli.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/bluealsa-rfcomm.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/hcitop.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man8/bluealsa.8.gz

It should look like this:

/etc/init.d/bluealsa

In the git version, it is already renamed to "bluealsad"

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (ralph.ronnquist) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:17:45 +0000

Yes try https://pkginfo.devuan.org/bluez-alsa-utils rather
(golinux' URL includes the AI bot distraction so it's not sharable)

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:40:59 +0000

https://pkginfo.devuan.org/cgi-bin/poli … .68.126.15

An error occurred while reading CGI reply (no response received)

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (golinux) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:38:25 +0000

Maybe this?
https://pkginfo.devuan.org/cgi-bin/poli … .68.126.15

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (igorzwx) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:32:19 +0000

Can you post URL of the source package?

Re: BlueALSA without systemd

dummy@example.com (ralph.ronnquist) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:17:25 +0000

Note also that In excalibur bluez-alsa-utils provides bluealsa (without systemd dependency).