andrew
b0c95b9e78
Introduces a new `core/applications` QML/C++ module (`Nebula.Applications`) to discover `.desktop` entries, expose filterable application models, and launch installed apps safely from the shell. The desktop launcher now uses real installed apps with themed icon loading and fallback glyphs, adds output-aware surface sizing via `OutputTracker`, and wires in image/icon providers. It also adds VMware-focused Sway/shell wrapper scripts, updates Sway config/session env defaults, and refreshes README docs to document the new development flow and Desktop 0.1 behavior.
278 lines
7.5 KiB
Markdown
278 lines
7.5 KiB
Markdown
# Nebula Desktop
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Production shell for the mouse-and-keyboard NebulaOS desktop. This is Nebula Desktop **0.1**: a usable session foundation, not only a visual prototype.
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The user can enter the development session, use the full output, open the Nebula launcher, and start real installed applications (including Foot) without Sway keyboard shortcuts.
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## Architecture
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Nebula Desktop is a **Qt Quick / QML** Wayland shell. It draws system chrome only. It does not host application or game windows.
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```text
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Ubuntu
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↓
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Wayland
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↓
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Sway
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temporary compositor
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↓
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Nebula Shell
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C++20 + Qt 6 + Qt Quick/QML + LayerShellQt
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```
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Eventual target:
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```text
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Ubuntu/Linux
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↓
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Wayland
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↓
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Nebula compositor
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↓
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Nebula Shell
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Qt Quick/QML
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```
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Normal applications remain ordinary Wayland / XWayland clients of the compositor:
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```text
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Nebula Launcher
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↓
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ApplicationService
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↓
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application process
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↓
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Wayland / XWayland
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↓
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Sway
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```
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Games, browsers, terminals, and other apps never pass through Qt Quick.
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## Production stack
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| Piece | Technology |
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|-------|------------|
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| Language | C++20 |
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| UI | Qt 6, Qt Quick, QML |
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| Layer surfaces | LayerShellQt |
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| Installed apps | `core/applications` (`import Nebula.Applications`) |
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| Build | CMake |
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| Shared design system | `packages/nebula-ui` (`import Nebula.UI`) |
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The executable is `nebula-shell`.
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QML module URI: `Nebula.Shell`.
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## Surfaces
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Independent Wayland layer-shell windows:
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| Surface | Layer | Role |
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|---------|-------|------|
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| Desktop | `BACKGROUND` | Fills the current output, no exclusive zone, no keyboard focus |
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| Top Bar | `TOP` | 40 logical pixels, exclusive zone, spans the output width |
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| Launcher | `OVERLAY` | Covers the output below the top bar while open; hidden otherwise |
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Stacking:
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```text
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OVERLAY
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Nebula Launcher
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TOP
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Nebula Top Bar
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NORMAL WAYLAND WINDOWS
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Foot, Firefox, applications, games, …
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BACKGROUND
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Nebula Desktop
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```
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Surfaces follow the live Wayland output geometry from Qt (`OutputTracker`). They do not assume 1920×1080 or other fixed desktop sizes. If VMware resizes the display, the shell updates.
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## Applications
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`core/applications` discovers freedesktop `.desktop` entries from XDG data directories:
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1. `$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications` (default `~/.local/share/applications`)
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2. `$XDG_DATA_DIRS/applications` (default `/usr/local/share:/usr/share`)
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Launcher-visible apps respect `Hidden=true`, `NoDisplay=true`, `OnlyShowIn` / `NotShowIn`, and `TryExec` when present. Localized `Name` values are used when available.
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Launching uses `QProcess::startDetached` after `QProcess::splitCommand`. Exec field codes (`%f`, `%F`, `%u`, `%U`, `%i`, `%c`, `%k`, `%%`, …) are handled for launches without file arguments. Desktop-entry strings are never passed to a shell.
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Search matches name, generic name, comment, and categories. Searching `term` should find Foot (`GenericName=Terminal`). Searching `firefox` should find Firefox if it is installed.
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Application icons use the system icon theme through Qt (`QIcon::fromTheme`). Unresolved icons use a Nebula fallback glyph, not a broken-image placeholder.
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The top-bar context text stays **Desktop** in this milestone. Launching an app is not treated as focus; real window tracking comes next.
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Mock launcher data remains only as a fallback when no installed applications are discovered.
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## Layout
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```text
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shells/desktop/
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├── README.md this file
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├── shell/ production Qt/QML shell
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│ ├── CMakeLists.txt
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│ ├── src/
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│ └── qml/
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└── prototype-react/ archived design reference only
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```
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Shared visual language lives in `packages/nebula-ui`. Application discovery lives in `core/applications`.
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## Linux build
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This project will not compile on Windows. LayerShellQt is a Wayland API and is not stubbed.
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On the Ubuntu NebulaOS VM:
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```bash
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sudo apt install \
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qt6-base-dev \
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qt6-declarative-dev \
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qt6-wayland \
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liblayershellqtinterface-dev \
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qml6-module-org-kde-layershell \
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qml6-module-qtquick \
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qml6-module-qtquick-window \
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adwaita-icon-theme \
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cmake \
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build-essential
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```
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Qt 6.4 or newer is required. `loadFromModule` is used on Qt 6.5+.
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```bash
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cd shells/desktop/shell
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rm -rf build
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cmake -S . -B build
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cmake --build build -j$(nproc)
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```
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The production binary is `shells/desktop/shell/build/nebula-shell`. It does **not** force `QT_QUICK_BACKEND=software`. GPU-accelerated Qt Quick is the production default.
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### QML lint
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If the installed Qt provides `qmllint`:
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```bash
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qmllint \
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shells/desktop/shell/qml/*.qml \
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shells/desktop/shell/qml/surfaces/*.qml \
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shells/desktop/shell/qml/components/*.qml \
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shells/desktop/shell/qml/mock/*.qml \
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packages/nebula-ui/qml/Nebula/UI/*.qml
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```
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Do not use ESLint or Oxlint on the production Qt shell.
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## Development session (VMware)
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From the repository root, the intended flow is:
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```bash
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sway -c compositor/sway/nebula-sway.conf
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```
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or, recommended on the VM (sets cursor env and starts Sway from the repo root):
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```bash
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./compositor/sway/dev/run-sway-vm.sh
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```
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That should:
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1. start Sway without a Sway bar
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2. autostart `nebula-shell` through `scripts/run-nebula-vm.sh`
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3. fill the current output
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4. show a normal Adwaita 24px cursor
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5. let the Nebula launcher start Foot and other installed apps
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Skip autostart while debugging the compositor:
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```bash
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NEBULA_SHELL_AUTOSTART=0 sway -c compositor/sway/nebula-sway.conf
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```
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### VMware software rendering
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The VMware virtual GPU currently cannot run the Qt Quick accelerated path correctly. The **development wrapper** therefore sets:
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```bash
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QT_QUICK_BACKEND=software
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```
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That variable is not a production default. `scripts/run-nebula-vm.sh` is the only place that sets it automatically. Production `nebula-session` / `nebula-shell` must run GPU-accelerated.
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Manual equivalent, if you start the shell yourself:
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```bash
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QT_QUICK_BACKEND=software ./build/nebula-shell
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```
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### Output / resolution
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The development Sway config requests `1920x1080` at scale `1` when that mode exists. If the VM does not advertise it, Sway keeps the preferred mode. This is a development default, not a production requirement.
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Inspect outputs and modes:
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```bash
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swaymsg -t get_outputs
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```
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Set a mode explicitly if needed:
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```bash
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swaymsg output <name> mode 1920x1080
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swaymsg output <name> scale 1
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```
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In VMware, also set the guest display (or Autofit Guest) so the advertised modes match the host window.
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### Cursor
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Sway owns the cursor:
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```text
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XCURSOR_THEME=Adwaita
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XCURSOR_SIZE=24
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seat * xcursor_theme Adwaita 24
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```
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Install `adwaita-icon-theme` if the theme is missing. A branded Nebula cursor is a later task. `WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS=1` is set only by the VMware Sway wrapper.
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### Emergency shortcuts
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These remain for development fallback. They are not the normal UX once the GUI launcher works.
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| Shortcut | Action |
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|----------|--------|
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| Super+Enter | open Foot |
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| Super+Shift+E | exit Sway |
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| Super+Shift+C | reload Sway config |
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## Design reference
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`prototype-react/` is an archived React/Vite UI. It is **not** the production shell. Keep it until the Qt shell reaches visual and behavioural parity, then remove it in a later cleanup.
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## Out of scope
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Not implemented in this milestone:
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- Sway IPC / focused-window tracking
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- workspaces, window overview, dock
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- PipeWire, NetworkManager, BlueZ, UPower
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- notifications, XDG portals, Polkit
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- login/lock screen, greetd
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- a custom Nebula compositor
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- Nebula Bigscreen
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- Gamescope
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Those come later. Bigscreen is expected to reuse `Nebula.UI` and `Nebula.Applications`.
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