The first release of the composite server niri has been published. This project was inspired by the GNOME-extension paperwm and introduces the mosaic (tiling) layout, where windows are grouped into an infinitely scrollable tape on the screen. When a new window is opened, the tape expands, while previously added windows maintain their size. The project’s code is written in Rust and is licensed under GPLV3. Packages for Fedora , Nixos , Arch Linux , and FreeBSD are available.
The main motivation behind creating a separate composite manager, NIRI, was the inability to implement separate monitor functionality in PaperWM due to the characteristics of Gnome Shell. NIRI differs from PaperWM in its ability to bind windows to specific monitors without intersecting each other. It also supports Hidpi and can work on systems with multiple GPUs, including hybrid systems with both discrete and built-in GPUs.
In NIRI, virtual desktops are dynamically created (similar to GNOME) and stacked vertically, while the windows tape scrolls horizontally. Each monitor can display an independent set of virtual desktops. Users can switch between desktops using control gestures on the touchpad. When a monitor is turned off, the layout of virtual desktops is saved and transferred to the remaining monitor, and when the monitor is turned back on, the layout is restored to its original state.
NIRI also includes a built-in interface for creating screenshots and recording screenscasts, utilizing the XDG-DESKTOP-Portal-GNOME for access. It also supports launching X11 applications through the Xwayland DDX server. Configuration of NIRI is done through a configuration file, allowing users to modify basic environment parameters such as framework width, indentation, output modes, and window sizes. Changes