#1065346 ITP: way-shell -- Gnome inspired desktop shell for Wayland compositors/window managers

Package:
wnpp
Source:
wnpp
Submitter:
Birger Schacht
Date:
2026-06-10 18:17:02 UTC
Severity:
normal
#1065346#5
Date:
2024-03-03 09:36:43 UTC
From:
To:
* Package name    : way-shell
  Version         : no release yet
  Upstream Contact: Louis DeLosSantos
* URL             : https://github.com/ldelossa/way-shell/
* License         : GPL-2
  Programming Lang: C
  Description     : Gnome inspired desktop shell for Wayland compositors/window managers

A Gnome inspired desktop shell for Wayland compositors/window managers
written in C and Gtk4.

Way-Shell expects a Gnome-like environment to be available. This means
DBus must be running and the following services must be available:
Logind, NetworkManager, WirePlumber/Pipewire, PowerProfiles Daemon, UPower
#1065346#12
Date:
2026-06-09 19:11:05 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Birger,

do you still consider packaging this? I discovered this today and this
might be the combination of the flexibility of a tiling WM and the
comfort of a DE that I was looking for.
I quickly hacked together a debian package [1] as a first proof of
concept and am running way-shell right now. :)

Best regards,
Martin

[1]: <https://salsa.debian.org/mdosch/way-shell>
#1065346#17
Date:
2026-06-10 05:40:44 UTC
From:
To:
Hi,

I packaged and uploaded way-shell in 2025, but it got rejected because
it mixes GPL-2 and GPL-3 files which is not allowed:
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.en.html#AllCompatibility

(Most of the dbus interface files are simply copied from somewhere else
without documenting the source or license, I had to do a thorough search
to find out where they came from or how they are licensed. I've pushed
my package from back then to: https://salsa.debian.org/birger/way-shell)

I think quickshell is a nice alternative which is already in Debian.

cheers,
Birger
#1065346#22
Date:
2026-06-10 18:14:17 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Birger,

thank you very much for your fast reply.

That's a pity. :(

Thank you very much for that recommendation but unfortunately this seems
to come barebones and you need to configure it yourself while way-shell
provides a nice default set up.

https://github.com/noctalia-dev/noctalia seems to be a nicely
preconfigured quickshell but unfortunately it seems to not run with
quickshell in debian but needs it's own fork.

Seems I was too early excited of a sway with gnome comfort, but I won't
use way-shell if there is no chance for it to ever be in debian main.

Best regards,
Martin