Alright, getting somewhere! I think I've figured out a good code structure for the xray blur. It now correctly works even inside offscreens (opening animation, and when you drag a window targeting the tiling layout), and it should also work properly with the upcoming screen magnifier (that we have in pull requests).
Still not a single blur re-render in this entire video!
So yeah, I'm working on blur for niri. I'm doing "xray blur" first where the idea is that you only include background surfaces, so you pretty much never have to redo the blur—next to zero perf impact unless you have a video wallpaper or smth.
Turns out that it's quite tricky to do well, especially with our Overview. I'm like on my third refactor attempt now but I think I've got a good approach.
During this video there's no reblurring whatsoever, all just drawing cached static textures.
🤔 The Dank Case For Scrolling Window Managers // Tedium
｢ niri, an emerging window manager that is doing for sliding windows what Hyprland did for tiling. It is less than three years old (Hyprland is about four), but has quickly grown in popularity, doubling its GitHub star count in the past six months ｣
https://tedium.co/2026/01/29/niri-danklinux-scrolling-window-managers/
🤔 The Dank Case For Scrolling Window Managers // Tedium
｢ niri, an emerging window manager that is doing for sliding windows what Hyprland did for tiling. It is less than three years old (Hyprland is about four), but has quickly grown in popularity, doubling its GitHub star count in the past six months ｣
https://tedium.co/2026/01/29/niri-danklinux-scrolling-window-managers/
working on my new visual style
So yeah, I'm working on blur for niri. I'm doing "xray blur" first where the idea is that you only include background surfaces, so you pretty much never have to redo the blur—next to zero perf impact unless you have a video wallpaper or smth.
Turns out that it's quite tricky to do well, especially with our Overview. I'm like on my third refactor attempt now but I think I've got a good approach.
During this video there's no reblurring whatsoever, all just drawing cached static textures.
It took a while, but scrolling window managers are finally having a moment.
Today's @tedium talks about how the form has evolved from PaperWM to Niri, and how setups like DankMaterialShell might make it more approachable for folks sick of GNOME or KDE.
https://tedium.co/2026/01/29/niri-danklinux-scrolling-window-managers/
RE: https://writing.exchange/@ernie/115979322915207697
If you haven’t tried it yet, now’s your chance!!!
Also added niri msg action stop-cast to force-stop a PipeWire screencast
working on my new visual style
It took a while, but scrolling window managers are finally having a moment.
Today's @tedium talks about how the form has evolved from PaperWM to Niri, and how setups like DankMaterialShell might make it more approachable for folks sick of GNOME or KDE.
https://tedium.co/2026/01/29/niri-danklinux-scrolling-window-managers/
RE: https://writing.exchange/@ernie/115979322915207697
If you haven’t tried it yet, now’s your chance!!!
Also added niri msg action stop-cast to force-stop a PipeWire screencast
Trying out Niri + Noctalia shell, this is exactly what I've wanted from a desktop setup (scrollable column window manager with multiple workspaces and a clean, animated design) for awhile.
#Niri Noctalia
Niri is just so clever.
I have configured it to open new windows at 80% screen width, and to center the window if it can't fit at least two windows in the same screen.
As a result I have a horizontal workspace that reminds me I have more windows opened, but I can also have two columns visible on the same screen.
Today I'm releasing niri v25.11 with long-awaited config includes, Alt-Tab, true maximize, custom modes, and a bunch of other improvements! 
Enjoy the release notes :)
Congrats sternenseemann on the nixpkgs niri any% WR at 3 h 20 min
DankMaterialShell folks set up builds for Debian, Ubuntu and OpenSUSE, so now it's super easy to try niri & DMS on those systems.
I added Ubuntu commands to the niri quick start guide: https://yalter.github.io/niri/Getting-Started.html
Debian and OpenSUSE here: https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/home:AvengeMedia:danklinux
Congrats sternenseemann on the nixpkgs niri any% WR at 3 h 20 min
DankMaterialShell folks set up builds for Debian, Ubuntu and OpenSUSE, so now it's super easy to try niri & DMS on those systems.
I added Ubuntu commands to the niri quick start guide: https://yalter.github.io/niri/Getting-Started.html
Debian and OpenSUSE here: https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/home:AvengeMedia:danklinux
Today I'm releasing niri v25.11 with long-awaited config includes, Alt-Tab, true maximize, custom modes, and a bunch of other improvements! Enjoy the release notes :)
DankMaterialShell folks set up builds for Debian, Ubuntu and OpenSUSE, so now it's super easy to try niri & DMS on those systems.
I added Ubuntu commands to the niri quick start guide: https://yalter.github.io/niri/Getting-Started.html
Debian and OpenSUSE here: https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/home:AvengeMedia:danklinux
Took some fighting but I think I've managed to teach the new Alt-Tab to speak to the screen reader
I finished and merged the horizontal drag interaction tweak from a previous post. It's very handy but can also be annoying when you want to move windows across monitors, so on mouse I restricted it to headerbar dragging (so, not Mod+LMB and not in the overview).
On touch however, it works for both headerbar dragging, and for Mod+Touch, so you can now easily scroll the view around.
I also added the thing where you can touch with another finger to switch between floating and tiling.
Did some work on the TTY backend in niri over the past few days. Merged PR for DisplayLink dock support, added "panel orientation" property read, and, based on cosmic-comp code, implemented the necessary logic to avoid screen blanking. Finally, both at niri startup and when switching TTYs, your screen won't flicker, as long as resolution/refresh rate stay the same.
Even when the screen does blank, it'll go faster, as there's now just one modeset instead of two (clear then draw frame).
