Linux-first dictation

Speech-to-text that feels native on KDE Plasma.

Viska turns speech into text with local Whisper models, global hotkeys, privacy-first defaults and an interface built for daily Linux desktop use.

Download .deb Install command

Latest test build: 0.5.13~dev0 for Ubuntu/Kubuntu-style Debian systems.

Local Whisper Optional cloud engines KDE Plasma-first Wayland aware

Download

Install the current Debian package.

This early build is intended for testing on Kubuntu/KDE Plasma first. The package includes the Viska app and installs its Python runtime dependencies.

viska_0.5.13~dev0_all.deb latest.deb

Version: 0.5.13~dev0
Size: 219 KB
SHA256: 471afce50f585fdaa6a1590745d3eba605acfd12b3992f436c18aff689fa9bd6

Install

Download, verify and install.

Use the checksum before installing. Package installation can pull Python dependencies from PyPI during setup.

wget https://getviska.app/downloads/latest.deb
sha256sum latest.deb
sudo apt install ./latest.deb

What it does

A focused dictation tool for the Linux desktop.

Local by default

Run speech-to-text on your machine with curated Whisper models, including Swedish-friendly options.

KDE and Wayland aware

Built around portal hotkeys, X11 fallback paths and practical Linux text insertion strategies.

Proofreading

Use a local Ollama model or a cloud provider to clean up transcripts before inserting them.

Cloud models, desktop flow

Use providers like Deepgram, OpenAI, OpenRouter, xAI, Gemini and Mistral while keeping Viska's desktop hotkeys and UI.

Privacy-first

Audio stays local unless you explicitly choose a cloud provider. No telemetry is collected.

Cloud when needed

Local-first does not mean local-only.

Viska can keep the same desktop experience - hotkeys, tray state, editor workflow and proofreading preview - while routing transcription or language work through cloud providers when you opt in.

Compatibility

Built for Kubuntu first.

Best target: Kubuntu / KDE Plasma on Wayland.
Also planned: other Linux desktops through backend fallbacks.
Not yet: macOS or Windows packages.

Changelog

Recent development.

0.5.13~dev0
Dark website launch, lighter recording cues, subtler in-app recording motion and explicit shutdown cleanup.
0.5.11~dev0
Proofread preview redesign with wrapping, scrolling and clearer review controls for longer transcripts.
0.5.8~dev0
Field-test fixes for KDE Plasma Wayland, hotkey backends, dialog layout and model/proofreading settings.

Full changelog

FAQ

Before you install.

Is this stable?

No. Viska is still a fast-moving test build. Expect field-test fixes and frequent releases.

Does press-to-talk work on Wayland?

On modern KDE Plasma it should work through the XDG GlobalShortcuts portal. Other desktops may need fallbacks.

Why host a .deb directly?

It is the fastest path for early testing. A signed APT repository is the better long-term distribution path.