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| |/ /| | | (_| | (_| | (_) | | | | (_| |  __/\__ \   <| || (_) | |_) |
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A next-generation X11 window manager with infinite canvas, semantic zoom, and dynamic rendering modes.

Overview

DragonDesktop transforms the traditional desktop metaphor into an infinite 2D workspace where windows exist in "world coordinates" and can be positioned anywhere. Navigate freely with camera panning and zooming, save workspace layouts, and switch between CPU and compositor-accelerated rendering modes.

Key Features

• Infinite Canvas: Place windows anywhere in unlimited 2D space
• Semantic Zoom: Windows intelligently hide/show content based on zoom level
• CPU and GPU rendering modes
• ICCCM/EWMH Compliant: Full protocol support for modern applications
• Dynamic Theming: Per-application color schemes generated from app names
• Workspace Memory: Save and recall camera positions (F1-F4)
• Alt-Tab Cycling: Traditional window switching in infinite space

(insert gif here)

Installation

Automatic Installation (Recommended)

# Download and run the installer  
wget https://github.com/bulutthecat/DragonDesktop/releases/download/InfDev/install_dragon.sh  
chmod +x install_dragon.sh  
sudo ./install_dragon.sh  

The installer will:

1. Install all system dependencies
2. Clone the repository to /opt/dragondesktop
3. Set up Polybar themes
4. Register DragonDesktop as an X session
5. Create startup wrapper scripts

Manual Installation

# Install dependencies  
sudo apt update  
sudo apt install -y python3 python3-pip python3-xlib python3-pil \  
    xorg x11-xserver-utils feh firefox polybar picom alacritty rofi  
  
# Clone repository  
git clone https://github.com/bulutthecat/DragonDesktop.git  
cd DragonDesktop  
  
# Install Python dependencies  
pip3 install pywal --break-system-packages  
  
# Copy configuration  
mkdir -p ~/.config/dragondesktop  
cp config.json ~/.config/dragondesktop/  

Usage

Starting DragonDesktop

1. Log out of your current session
2. At the login screen, select DragonDesktop from the session menu
3. Log in with your credentials

Basic Navigation

Action	Keybinding
Pan camera	Super + Left Mouse Drag
Zoom in/out	Super + Scroll Wheel
Move window	Left Mouse Drag (on titlebar)
Resize window	Left Mouse Drag (bottom-right corner)
Fullscreen toggle	Click maximize button or F11
Close window	Alt + F4 or click close button

Launch applications with the built-in command bar:

1. Press Super + Space to open
2. Type command or alias
3. Press Enter to execute
4. Press Escape to cancel

Default Aliases (edit in config.json):

{  
  "aliases": {  
    "term": "alacritty",  
    "rofi": "rofi -show run",  
    "settings": "xfce4-settings-manager"  
  }  
}  

Workspace Management

Action	Keybinding
Save camera position 1-4	Super + Ctrl + F1-F4
Jump to position 1-4	Super + F1-F4
Cycle windows forward	Alt + Tab
Cycle windows backward	Alt + Shift + Tab

Configuration

Main Config (config.json)

Located at /opt/dragondesktop/config.json or ~/.config/dragondesktop/config.json:

{  
  "wallpaper_path": "/path/to/wallpaper.jpg",  
  "use_picom": true,  
  "picom_config": "/opt/dragondesktop/app_configs/picom.conf",  
  "aliases": {  
    "term": "alacritty",  
    "browser": "firefox"  
  }  
}  

Parameters:

• wallpaper_path: Path to background image (uses feh for setting)
• use_picom: Enable compositor mode (true/false)
• picom_config: Path to Picom configuration file
• aliases: Command shortcuts for the command bar

Picom Configuration

The compositor configuration can be customized at:

/opt/dragondesktop/app_configs/picom.conf

Key settings:

backend = "glx"  
vsync = true  
shadow = true  
shadow-radius = 12  
fading = false  

Polybar Configuration

DragonDesktop uses the "Simple" theme from adi1090x/polybar-themes.

Customize at:

~/.config/polybar/simple/config.ini  

Troubleshooting

Picom Fails to Start

Symptoms:

No shadows, transparency disabled, message "Using CPU mode"

Solutions:

Check if another compositor is running:

pgrep picom

Verify Picom installation:

picom --version  

Test Picom manually:

picom --config /opt/dragondesktop/app_configs/picom.conf  

Check logs:

tail -f /tmp/dragon-session.log  

Polybar Not Appearing

Symptoms:

No status bar visible

Solutions:

Verify Polybar installation:

polybar --version  

Check if config exists:

ls ~/.config/polybar/simple/launch.sh  

Launch manually for testing:

~/.config/polybar/simple/launch.sh --hack  

Windows Not Responding to Clicks

Symptoms:

Cannot focus or interact with application windows

Solutions:

1. Check if window is mapped: Press Super + F1 to save position, then Super + F1 to jump back
2. Try Alt-Tab to cycle focus: Alt + Tab
3. Restart the window manager: Log out and back in

High CPU Usage

Causes:

• CPU rendering mode active
• Large number of windows visible
• High zoom level (many small windows)

Solutions:

1. Enable Picom in config.json: "use_picom": true
2. Zoom in to reduce visible window count
3. Close unused windows

Development

Project Structure

dragondesktop/
├── app_configs
│   └── picom.conf              # Compositor configuration
├── config.json                 # Configuration file
├── dragon.png
├── input.py                    # Event handling (keyboard/mouse)
├── inst_scripts
│   ├── install_dragon.sh       # Automated installer
│   └── start-dragon.sh         # Autorun script for Desktop
├── main.py                     # Entry point
├── models.py                   # Data structures (Camera, ZWindow)
├── README.md
├── renderer.py                 # Rendering engine (CPU/Compositor)
├── run.sh
├── settings_menu.py
├── wallpapers
│   └── olga-schraven-yEJ37R74dMo-unsplash.jpg
└── wm.py                       # Core window manager logic

Adding New Features

1. New Keybindings:

   Edit input.py → _on_key_normal()

   self.wm.your_function()  
   

2. New Window Properties:

   Edit models.py → ZWindow.__init__()

   self.your_property = default_value  
   

3. EWMH Atoms:

   Edit wm.py → _setup_ewmh()

   self._NET_YOUR_ATOM = self.d.intern_atom('_NET_YOUR_ATOM')
   

Testing

# Run in nested X server (Xephyr)  
Xephyr -screen 1280x720 :1 &  
DISPLAY=:1 python3 main.py  
  
# Or use the provided test script  
./test_in_xephyr.sh  

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please follow these guidelines:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/your-feature
3. Follow PEP 8 style guidelines
4. Test thoroughly in both CPU and compositor modes
5. Submit a pull request with clear description

Code Style

• Use 4 spaces for indentation
• Maximum line length: 100 characters
• Docstrings for all public methods
• Type hints where applicable

Licence

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details

Credits

• Window Manager: Built with python-xlib
• Compositor: Picom
• Status Bar: Polybar Themes by adi1090x
• Wallpaper Management: feh

Changelog

v0.2.0 (Current)

Added Alt-Tab window cycling
Implemented compositor mode with Picom integration
Added workspace position memory (F1-F4)
Improved EWMH compliance for Polybar compatibility
Fixed window stacking issues in fullscreen mode

v0.1.0 (Initial)

Infinite canvas implementation
Basic window management (move, resize, close)
Semantic zoom system
Command bar with aliases
CPU rendering mode

Support

• Issues: Github Issues
• Discussions: Coming Soon

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Made with ♥ for the Linux community