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ScreenPlink turns a normal matte computer monitor into a dry-fire laser target. A webcam mounted beside the display watches for a red laser dot on the screen, identifies the hit pixel, and feeds that position into shooting drills. The open-source project’s author says Claude Code wrote the implementation over about two weeks, while the author directed the work, fired the trainers and decided what counted as acceptable.
How can a monitor become a laser-pointer firing range?
ScreenPlink treats the display itself as the target. You aim a visible red laser trainer at the matte panel while a side-mounted webcam observes the screen. When the software sees the laser dot, it maps the dot to a screen pixel, draws a bullet hole, plays a shot sound and makes the target react or fall.
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This is a dry-fire game, not a firearm simulator and not a replacement for supervised weapons training. The project’s optical setup depends on a matte, anti-glare surface and lighting that lets the camera separate the laser from the rest of the image. Glossy screens can produce reflections that make hit detection unreliable.
What does ScreenPlink include?
The Windows v1.0 release is designed as a local game rather than an online service. The repository documents the following features:
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| Feature | Documented value |
|---|---|
| Drills | Nine |
| Target figures | Fifteen |
| Magazine size | Seventeen rounds |
| Players | Separate two-player scoring |
| Calibration | Automatic screen-marker calibration |
| Controls | Menus can be operated by shooting targets |
| Distribution | Free, offline and ad-free |
| Download size | About 230 MB for the Windows release |
Those counts and the release details are claims from the project’s 2026 repository, not results from an independent accuracy or latency study.
What hardware do I need?
The documented baseline is a matte anti-glare monitor, a webcam capable of 60 frames per second, a visible red 650 nm laser trainer or cartridge, and lighting that keeps the dot distinguishable from the screen. The author’s measured reference setup used a Dell U4320Q 42.5-inch 4K matte monitor, a Razer Kiyo Pro webcam and two LaserLyte LT-TTL trainers.
- Display: Matte is important because reflections from glossy panels can look like laser hits.
- Camera: The README calls for 60 fps; field of view and placement still affect how much of the display the camera can see.
- Laser device: The author describes the trainers as visible red 650 nm, 5 mW Class IIIa units.
- Room: Ambient light must allow the camera to distinguish the red dot without introducing strong reflections or glare.
The software is not hard-coded to the named monitor, webcam or trainers, but the author warns that other cameras, panels and rooms may behave differently. No cross-device benchmark or independent hit-accuracy comparison is provided.
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How do I install ScreenPlink on Windows?
The release is intended to run without a Python installation, package manager or conventional installer.
- Download the Windows release from the project’s repository.
- Unzip the downloaded archive to a folder you can access.
- Run
Play.cmd. - Allow Windows camera access if the operating system asks for permission.
- Follow the on-screen calibration process, then wait for the readiness indication before starting a drill.
The README says the setup reports readiness in approximately 30 seconds after calibration. The project also offers source execution through a Python virtual environment for people who want to run the code rather than the packaged release.
Why does calibration and lighting matter?
Calibration establishes the relationship between webcam coordinates and display pixels. A camera that is moved after calibration, a changed monitor position or a different crop of the screen can invalidate that mapping. Recalibrate after repositioning the webcam or display.
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Common detection problems
- Laser hits are missed: Reduce glare, check that the laser is visible red, and confirm the webcam can see the entire target area.
- False hits appear: Remove reflective objects and strong light sources from the camera’s view.
- The image is offset: Repeat automatic calibration with the camera and monitor fixed in their final positions.
- Gameplay feels inconsistent: Verify that the webcam is operating at the required 60 fps and that Windows has camera permission.
Can Claude Code build a webcam laser game?
According to the project author, “The whole thing was written by Claude Code over about two weeks.” That is an account of this project’s development, not an independently measured productivity benchmark. The same account makes clear that the author directed the work, fired the trainers and judged what was acceptable, so the result still involved human design decisions, evaluation and hardware setup.
ScreenPlink is therefore a concrete example of AI-assisted software development tied to physical computer vision: generated code has to cope with camera placement, screen optics, calibration and room lighting, not just render menus.
Does ScreenPlink run on Mac?
Not in the documented v1.0 release. The packaged distribution is for Windows, with Play.cmd as its launch path. The repository does not document a supported macOS build, so Mac users should not assume that the Windows package or its camera workflow will work unchanged.
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What safety limits should I observe?
The author says not to look into the muzzle of the laser trainer. A 5 mW Class IIIa laser can injure eyes, and turning a monitor into a target does not make the laser or the surrounding handling safe. Keep the beam away from people, animals, vehicles and reflective surfaces, follow the trainer’s labeling, and treat the setup as a laser-safety matter separate from the game software.
What makes ScreenPlink notable?
The project combines inexpensive, ordinary components with a simple computer-vision loop: the monitor supplies the target image, the webcam supplies coordinates, and the red dot supplies the input event. Its nine drills, two-player scoring, target variety and offline operation make it more than a visual demo, while the reliance on matte screens, 60-fps capture and controlled lighting shows why this kind of recreation is sensitive to hardware and environment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any webcam with ScreenPlink?
The documented requirement is a webcam capable of 60 frames per second, but the project does not publish a compatibility list or comparative camera testing. A different camera may work if it can clearly see the whole matte display and distinguish the red dot in your room.
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Will a glossy gaming monitor work?
It may, but reflections can be mistaken for the laser or hide the dot. The project specifically describes a matte panel and controlled lighting, so a glossy display is a riskier setup rather than a supported equivalent.
Does the game need an internet connection or account?
The documented Windows v1.0 release is free, offline and ad-free, with no account requirement stated. Internet access is only needed to obtain the release or source files, not for normal local play.
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Can I run the source instead of the packaged Windows build?
Yes. The repository provides a source-execution route using a Python virtual environment. The packaged release is the simpler option because it does not require a separate Python installation or dependency setup.
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