Files
command-center/omp-docs/tools/niri/index.md
T
Frank b8584cd6a6 docs(niri): own the portable desk and the no-match defect
displays.md still described desk-2-portable as an EDID-pending skeleton
and left the PM1601 identity unnamed. record the second desk's rig,
its position math, and the law that a rig with no eligible profile runs
the previous desk's values rather than "unchanged" — the failure that
left the portable panels on 3440x1440@180 fallbacks for weeks.
2026-10-30 15:54:43 -07:00

4.3 KiB

Niri Wayland Compositor

Niri is a scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor. Windows are arranged in columns that scroll horizontally. It uses KDL-format configuration with an include-based modular structure.

Version: 26.04 (8ed0da4) Config: ~/.config/niri/config.kdl


Configuration Structure

~/.config/niri/
├── config.kdl          # Main entry, includes all modules
├── noctalia.kdl        # Generated by noctalia (theme colors)
└── cfg/
    ├── animation.kdl   # Spring and curve animations
    ├── autostart.kdl   # Startup applications (noctalia, handy --start-hidden)
    ├── display.kdl     # SYMLINK to the active desk-*.kdl profile (see displays)
    ├── desk-1-home.kdl      # Desk profile: home rig (EDID-keyed)
    ├── desk-2-portable.kdl  # Desk profile: portable rig (2x PM1601 portrait)
    ├── input.kdl       # Keyboard, touchpad, mouse
    ├── keybinds.kdl    # All key bindings
    ├── layout.kdl      # Gaps, column widths, struts
    ├── rules.kdl       # Window and layer rules
    ├── switch-events.kdl # Lid-close -> noctalia lock-and-suspend (blankpad)
    └── misc.kdl        # Environment, cursor, blur

Layout

Column-based scrollable tiling. Columns are cycled with Mod+Left/Right (or Mod+H/L). Windows within columns stack vertically.

Setting Value
Gaps 16px
Center focused column Never
Background Transparent (for Noctalia wallpaper)
Column presets 12.5%, 25%, 33%, 50%, 67%, 75%, 87.5% (Mod+R / Mod+Shift+R)

Input

Setting Value
Focus follows mouse Enabled
Workspace back-and-forth Enabled
Numlock Enabled on startup
Touchpad tap Enabled

Window Rules

Rule Match Effect
All windows — 20px corner radius, clipped
Steam (non-window) app-id="steam", exclude title Steam Open floating
Steam notifications app-id="steam", title notificationtoasts_* Floating, bottom-right
Noctalia wallpaper namespace noctalia-wallpaper* Place in backdrop
Noctalia settings app-id="dev.noctalia.Noctalia" Floating 1080x920
Noctalia layers namespace `^noctalia-(bar notification

Environment Variables

Variable Value Purpose
ELECTRON_OZONE_PLATFORM_HINT auto Electron Wayland support
QT_QPA_PLATFORM wayland Qt Wayland
QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME gtk3 Qt GTK theme
QT_WAYLAND_DISABLE_WINDOWDECORATION 1 Remove Qt CSD
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP niri Desktop identification
XDG_SESSION_TYPE wayland Session type

Animations

Animation Type Parameters
Workspace switch Spring damping-ratio=1.0 stiffness=1000
Window open Duration 200ms, ease-out-quad
Window close Duration 200ms, ease-out-cubic
Window movement Spring damping-ratio=1.0 stiffness=800
Window resize Spring damping-ratio=1.0 stiffness=1000

Concept Files

File Type Description
action-reference.md reference Curated reference of niri actions
default-bindings.md reference Default key bindings organized by category
key-bindings-syntax.md reference KDL configuration syntax for key bindings
tips.md howto Practical tips for working with niri
displays.md reference Desk-profile system: EDID-keyed outputs, hotplug auto-switch, portrait transforms, GPU notes
keybindings.md reference GENERATED keybinding cheat sheet (scripts/gen-keybinds.sh)
screenshots.md reference Screenshot bind matrix: flameshot vs niri-native, 2+ output limits, all-monitor capture

See Also