# Run Doom over SSH in WND Terminal

Source: https://wndsoftware.com/docs/doom-demo

### Run Doom over SSH in WND Terminal

Play the actual Doom engine through WND Terminal’s UNIX and Linux terminal display. A separate program sends colored text over SSH, and WND Terminal sends your key presses.

Play in your browser.  Open [the free WND Terminal Doom demo](https://wndsoftware.com/doom) and click Play Doom . No download or connection setup is needed. The instructions below are for running your own desktop SSH demo.


### Watch Doom through WND Terminal

The actual engine runs separately on the Mac. WND Terminal displays its colored terminal output and sends the player’s keys over SSH.

[Watch the MP4](https://wndsoftware.com/media/features/doom-ssh-v2.mp4)

Actual WND Terminal interface and game output. The clip ends by returning to the game service’s menu. This engine port has no sound.

#### Read the visual walkthrough

- The first Doom level appears as colored terminal text inside WND Terminal.
- The player moves, turns, fires and uses the combined Shift + arrow control.
- F10, then Y quits the game and restores its SSH menu.


### What you need

This optional side demo runs separately from the customer and payroll demo. It uses Docker Desktop and the DOOM-ASCII engine, with no sound. Set it up while online; once the engine and game data are installed, the local demo can run offline.

- WND Terminal for desktop and Docker Desktop, installed and running.
- The separate WND Software booth kit and matching engine archive. [Ask WND for the booth kit](https://wndsoftware.com/contact?about=doom-demo#message).
- A lawfully obtained original Doom IWAD file. The engine package excludes original game data; the engine license does not grant rights to that data.


### Prepare the service once

Use the standalone setup guide supplied in the booth kit. On a Mac, it is WND Software Booth → docs → Doom-Demo-Setup.md . It explains how to load the matching engine archive, import your own lawful IWAD and check the service.

After setup, double-click Start Doom Demo.command  in Finder. Wait for Doom SSH ready at 127.0.0.1:22220 . Keep that window open: it prints the private-key path and public host-key fingerprint used below. ARM64 and AMD64 engine archives are separate; use the one matching your Docker host.


### Connect in WND Terminal

- In WND Terminal , click +  beside the current tab.
- Choose UNIX / Linux (SSH) .
- Set Host  to `127.0.0.1`, Port  to `22220` and User name  to `wnddemo`.
- Set Name  to Doom demo . Leave Terminal  at xterm (256 colors)  and Characters  at UTF-8 .
- In Key file , paste the private-key path printed by the launcher. This is your installation’s generated key, not a shared demo password.
- Tick Save for next time , then click Connect .
- Compare WND Terminal’s host-key fingerprint with the launcher’s fingerprint. Trust the key when they match.

The session opens a menu headed WND Terminal DOOM — SSH TERMINAL DEMO . Type 1  and press Return  to start the game.


### Play and finish

On a small screen, swipe the table to read all columns.


| Key | Action |
| --- | --- |
| Arrow keys | Move forward or backward, and turn. |
| Space | Fire. |
| Shift + arrow | Move or turn while firing. |
| E | Use or open a door. |
| Comma / period | Strafe left / right. |
| F10, then Y | Quit the game and return to the SSH menu. On a MacBook, use fn+F10 if F10 controls the Mac. |
| Control+C | Stop the game immediately and return to the menu. |

At the SSH menu, type Q  and press Return  to close the connection. Your business-demo tab remains available. To stop only the game service, double-click Stop Doom Demo.command  in the booth folder, or run `bash booth/doom.sh stop` from the source checkout. This retains its keys and game data.


### If the game does not start

Make the terminal at least 65 columns wide and 21 rows high. Resizing returns to the menu so the next start fits the new window; each start begins at the first level. For a missing-image or missing-WAD message, finish the corresponding setup step above. A changed host key needs investigation before reconnecting.

The desktop SSH demo runs on your own host. The [website Doom demo](https://wndsoftware.com/doom) opens its own hosted game automatically. Traditional terminal input does not send physical key-up events, so the adapter uses a short release timeout and modified arrow keys for combined movement and firing.

[UNIX and Linux sessions](https://wndsoftware.com/docs/vt-sessions) · [DOOM-ASCII engine source and license](https://github.com/wojciech-graj/doom-ascii) · [Visit the WND Software booth](https://wndsoftware.com/techxchange)

Technical reviewer: [Albert Joseph](https://wndsoftware.com/authors/albert-joseph), WND Software.