Wayland-Protocols 1.32 has been published, featuring a package of protocols and extensions that enhance the functionality of the base protocol Wayland, allowing for the development of composite servers and user environments [source]. The protocols go through three phases of development, testing, and stabilization. Once a protocol completes the development stage, it is included in the set of Wayland-protocols and moved to the staging branch. After successful testing, it is then categorized as stable. Protocols in the staging category can already be used in composite servers and clients, while protocols in the unstable category are still under development and may undergo significant changes [source].
In the latest release, three protocols have been added to the staging category:
- ext-toplevel-list: This protocol enables obtaining information about surfaces placed at the top level, allowing for the organization of overlapping contents and the creation of custom panels and window switches [source].
- secret-Context-v1: This protocol facilitates the identification of clients using Sandbox insulation. Clients can register new connections to the composite server and attach security context to limit the accessible functionalities [source].
- cursor-shape-v1: This protocol provides an alternative way to configure the appearance of the cursor by transferring a series of cursor images, rather than binding it to a surface [source].
Moreover, the XDG-SHELL protocol now includes a new state for top-level surfaces: “Suspended.” This state is transmitted when the surface is out of sight of the user and can be utilized for energy consumption mechanisms, among other purposes [source].
The Wayland-Protocols package also includes stable protocols that ensure backward compatibility. These include the viewPorter protocol, which allows clients to perform scaling actions and crop edges of the server-side surface, and the Presentation-time protocol [source].