Howdy

Howdy adds facial authentication to Linux with built-in IR emitters and a camera. It plugs into the central PAM authentication system so you can use face recognition anywhere a password is normally required, including login, the lock screen, sudo, and su.

It works as a PAM module and includes a command line interface. The package is available for Debian and Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Fedora, and openSUSE, and it uses the system auth log for troubleshooting. A built-in IR camera is part of the intended setup.

Howdy is packaged for Debian and Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Fedora, and openSUSE. The project is explicit that it is not a replacement for a password and is meant as a faster login method, not a more secure one, since a camera-based check is easier to defeat than a strong password.