How can I easily view and record a video input in Linux?

"you could use irexec to kickoff mencoder, which can use a v4l input. You will have to use the tv:// url as the encode source and specify the v4l device with some options that can be found in the mencode/mplayer man page.

You should also be able to use it to kickoff VLC as an encoder as well (VLC can both run headless [minus a gui] and sports a fully featured encoder) from the commandline.

But for the easiest solution, I think you should look into a linux DVR app like MythTV, which should support all of this out of the box."

"I would consider looking at this page. Based on your comments to @Saavedro, however, it might be too 'scripty' for you.

It does allow you to exert full ir control and call whatever programs you want to map to different controls, but typing is definitely required."