andrew
2f59d3c115
Introduces a new `core/windows` module (`Nebula.Windows`) with `WindowService`, window/workspace models, and a Sway IPC backend for live window tracking and control (focus, close, move/resize, snap, maximize/restore, minimize, workspace switch). The desktop shell now links this module, uses compositor focus for top-bar active app text, and adds an Open Windows section in the launcher with focus/close actions. Also updates application metadata handling to parse `StartupWMClass` and map window `app_id`/class to friendly names and icons, and revises Sway config/docs for the new floating-first Desktop 0.2 behavior with temporary compositor-provided decorations.
NebulaOS
A Linux desktop environment built around a custom compositor, shell, and service stack.
Structure
| Path | Purpose |
|---|---|
core/nebula-core |
Core runtime and platform APIs (growing) |
core/applications |
Installed .desktop discovery and launching |
core/windows |
Window and workspace management (WindowService) |
compositor/ |
Compositor configuration (Sway is temporary) |
shells/ |
Desktop and future Bigscreen shells |
packages/ |
Shared UI (Nebula.UI), icons, API, and design tokens |
services/ |
System services (audio, network, bluetooth, power, accounts) |
session/ |
Session manager and desktop entry |
packaging/ |
Distribution packaging (Ubuntu) |
branding/ |
Boot assets, wallpapers, and sounds |
scripts/ |
Development helpers (including the VMware shell wrapper) |
Shells
Nebula Desktop 0.2 is a C++20 Qt Quick/QML Wayland shell using LayerShellQt. It is floating-first: ordinary applications open as independently movable windows. See shells/desktop/.
Nebula Bigscreen is planned as a separate Qt Quick/QML shell with a controller-first interaction model, sharing Nebula.UI, Nebula.Applications, and Nebula.Windows.
Standalone Nebula applications may still use React/Tauri where that is a better fit. The operating-system shell does not.
An archived React desktop prototype lives in shells/desktop/prototype-react/ as a design reference only.
Current stack
Ubuntu
↓
Wayland
↓
Sway temporary compositor / window manager
↓
Nebula Shell Qt Quick/QML via LayerShellQt
Window management is abstracted:
Nebula QML
↓
WindowService
↓
Sway IPC backend now
Nebula compositor later
↓
Sway
/ \
Wayland app XWayland app
Applications and games render on their own Wayland/XWayland paths. They are not composited inside QML.
Sway currently provides temporary window decorations (title bar and border) so windows can be identified, dragged, and resized. Custom Nebula window chrome is later work.
Getting started (development VM)
cd shells/desktop/shell
rm -rf build
cmake -S . -B build
cmake --build build -j$(nproc)
Then, from the repository root:
sh compositor/sway/dev/run-sway-vm.sh
or:
sway -c compositor/sway/nebula-sway.conf
The VMware wrapper sets QT_QUICK_BACKEND=software. Production nebula-shell does not. Details: shells/desktop/README.md and compositor/README.md.
The Qt shell must be compiled on Linux (the Ubuntu NebulaOS VM). It will not build on Windows.