Howdy is a biometric authentication system for Linux that uses infrared cameras to provide passwordless login and privileged access. It functions as a Pluggable Authentication Module to integrate facial recognition into the standard Linux authentication pipeline.
The system relies on near-infrared camera feeds and facial models to verify identity, ignoring visible light interference. Biometric data is stored as encrypted mathematical templates on the local disk to ensure that facial models are not transmitted over a network.
The project includes tools for face model management, infrared camera configuration, and hardware diagnostics. It covers system-level adjustments such as video device path mapping, frame resolution tuning, and the management of laptop lid-close behaviors during wake events.
