---
name: "irpipe"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "lirc"
version: "1:0.10.2-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/irpipe"
---

# irpipe(1)

tool to send data to lircd over /dev/irpipe kernel device.

## NAME

**irpipe** - tool to send data to lircd over /dev/irpipe kernel device.

## SYNOPSIS

**irpipe** \[*options*\] \<file

**irpipe** --read \[*options*\] \>file

**irpipe** --filter \[*options*\] \<infile \>outfile

## DESCRIPTION

irpipe is designed to feed data to [lircd(8)](/lircd/8.md) over a /dev/irpipe device. It's a tool to enter test data to lircd in a way which is identical to real data from /dev/lirc devices.

irpipe uses two formats: text and binary. The binary format is documented in the [lirc(4)](/lirc/4.md) manual page. The text format is as defined in [mode2(1)](/mode2/1.md).

The irpipe driver allows user  to set the features returned by the **LIRC\_GET\_FEATURES** ioctl. These are documented in [lirc(4)](/lirc/4.md).

The irpipe kernel device is often not built in packaged lirc versions. See \[KERNEL DRIVER\] below.

## OPTIONS

- **-d** **--device=driver**

  Set kernel device, default is /dev/irpipe0.

- **-b** **--bin2text**

  Convert binary data to text.

- **-t** **--text2bin**

  Convert text data to binary.

- **-s** **--add-sync**

  Add long initial sync on converted output. This is often required for lircd to be able to decode data, in particular if keys are not repeated.

- **-f** **--filter**

  Send data from stdin to stdout

- **-r** **--read**

  Send data from kernel device to stdout. This option is experimental and not tested.

- **-l--length**=*bits*

  Set kernel device signal length. This is only meaningful on LIRCCODE device emulation.

- **-F--features**=*bitmask*

  Set the features bitmask, as returned by the **LIRC\_GET\_FEATURES** ioctl. See [lirc(4)](/lirc/4.md) for more.

- **-h** **--help**

  Display usage summary.

- **-v** **--version**

  Display version.

## KERNEL DRIVER

The irpipe tool is designed to work with the irpipe kernel driver, although the --filter option works without it. This driver is often not built in packaged versions. If this is the case, the driver can be built from sources in the drivers/irpipe directory. This requires kernel sources installed. The drivers/irpipe/README  provides information on building and installing the driver.

## SEE ALSO

**[lircd(8)](/lircd/8.md)**\
 **[lirc(4)](/lirc/4.md)**