🖥️ DEsk: A Skeuomorphic Wayland Experience for Linux

Welcome to DEsk (v0.1.2 BETA), a unique desktop environment where the digital interface mimics the physical world. The name is a play on "Desktop Environment" and a literal "desk," a moniker suggested by the Reddit community.

DeskWM $\rightarrow$ DEsk

Philosophy: DEsk embraces realistic skeuomorphism reminiscent of iOS 6. Instead of abstract icons, every element is rendered to look like a tangible object, complete with simulated materials, lighting, shadows, and signs of wear.

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🛠️ Installation Guide

To get started, download the most recent release from the GitHub Releases page or clone the repository directly. Once the files are unpacked, execute the script corresponding to your distribution:

OS Compatibility Matrix

Execution

Run the following command with root privileges (example for Ubuntu):

sudo sh scripts/install_ubuntu.sh

Optional Flags:

• --yes: Automatically accept all suggested default settings.
• --no-apps: Install the core environment without the recommended software suite.

Post-Installation Checklist:

• Run installation script
• Log out of current session
• Select DEsk from the login manager
• Wait for the initial room render (GPU accelerated)

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📖 The Desktop Ecosystem

In DEsk, nothing is a mere symbol. The interface is a physical space.

The Workspace Layout

The environment is structured as a physical room. Here is how the components interact:

📄 Window Management

Every application window is presented as a cream-colored sheet of paper featuring realistic fiber textures, physical thickness, and dog-eared corners.

• Interactions: Hover over a corner to "lift" the paper and reveal options on the back:
  • Fold: Minimizes the window (it is folded like a letter and placed on the desk).
  • Unfold / Refold: Maximize and restore the window.
  • Discard: Closes the window (it is crumpled into a ball and tossed away).

📚 The Bookshelf & Drawer

• The Drawer: Acts as the dock. It stores your active apps and folded windows. It also contains a screwdriver used to access Shell Settings.
• The Bookshelf: This is your app launcher (accessible via Super+A or the ALL APPS plate).
  • Apps are organized into ring binders.
  • Pulling a sheet from a binder opens the app on the desk.
  • Index Book: An A-Z directory of all programs with thumb tabs and an IBus-compatible search bar.

⚙️ The Control Panel (Super+C)

Integrated into the back of the desk is a "valve-era" machine featuring:

• Analog Hardware: Real meters, a physical volume knob, and levers for Bluetooth and Network toggles.
• Lighting: Faders for both the room's ambient lamp and the laptop screen backlight (via logind).
• Power: A physical key to unlock power buttons.
• System Tray: Represented as paper slips that can be scrolled through using the mouse wheel.

📅 Desk Accessories

• Calendar: A notebook for scheduling. To-dos are handled by peeling off notes and sticking them to specific dates.
• Memo Pad: A wire-bound notepad that supports IBus input.
• Clock: Displays time with small second-indicators. It features two lamps that illuminate only when the microphone or camera is active.

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🌅 The Lock Screen & Atmosphere

The lock screen is a door featuring dynamic environmental lighting.

1. Time of Day: The sun's position and the porch lamp's status are calculated based on your city's timezone.
2. Weather Integration: By providing latitude and longitude to open-meteo.com, the door reflects real-time weather:
   • Rain: Darkens the bricks and streaks the lamp.
   • Snow: Accumulates on flat surfaces.
   • Other: Fog and lightning are also simulated.
3. Easter Eggs: Certain dates (like your birthday, if set in Shell Settings) trigger unique visual changes on the door and clock.

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💻 Technical Specifications

The visual fidelity is achieved through advanced rendering techniques. We can represent the room composition as: $\text{Room} = \sum (\text{Desk} + \text{Shelf} + \text{Console} + \text{PostBox})$

• Rendering: The room is ray-traced using GLES 3 on the GPU. A CPU-based tracer serves as a fallback.
• Optimization: The scene is cached based on the specific screen resolution.
• Boot Sequence: Upon login, the room starts in darkness; the lamp fades in while a glowing red clock counts down the rendering progress.
• Multi-Monitor Support: The primary desk sits on one screen, while additional monitors extend the desk's wooden boards to provide more space for paper windows.

Developer Note: DEsk is used daily by the author and has undergone rigorous checks (refer to docs/ARCHITECTURE.md, section 9). However, as this is the first public release, please expect some rough edges.

Feedback: Report bugs or suggest features via Discord.