TL;DR
A community project called Win8DE recreates the Windows 8 user interface as a shell for Wayland compositors on Linux. It supplies a start menu, lock screen, wallpaper tool, and on-screen display components, and can be installed locally or systemwide.
What happened
A GitHub project named Win8DE packages a Windows 8–inspired shell for Wayland-based Linux compositors such as labwc and hyprland. The project implements a Start menu (invoked with Win8Start), full drag-and-drop tile management with multiple tile sizes, app search, and a power menu. It also includes a lock screen with slide animations, a simple wallpaper utility, and a settings app for changing wallpapers and accent colors for Start/Lock/Wall. Volume and brightness OSD functionality is split into a Win8OSD-server and Win8OSD-client, which should be autostarted. The repository offers build.sh to produce local binaries in build/bin and install.sh to deploy binaries into /usr/bin systemwide; an uninstall.sh is provided. The shell is intended to be used alongside existing Wayland compositor setups via separate config folders and a .desktop session entry, and the project is published under GPL-2.0 on GitHub.
Why it matters
- Brings a familiar Windows 8 visual and interaction model to Wayland-based Linux desktops without replacing the compositor.
- Modular design (Start, OSD, Wall, Lock, Settings) lets users enable only the components they want.
- Supports running as a separate session so existing compositor configs remain unchanged.
- Provides systemwide and local install options to suit different deployment or testing needs.
Key facts
- Win8DE is a shell designed for Wayland compositors like labwc and hyprland.
- Start menu features include Win8Start command, drag-and-drop tiles, multiple tile sizes, app search, and a power menu.
- OSD is split into Win8OSD-server and Win8OSD-client; client supports commands like –volup, –voldown, mute, dispup, dispdown.
- Lock screen mimics Windows 8 style with slide animations and single-click unlock behavior.
- Settings app can change wallpapers for Start, Lock, and Wall, plus accent and background colors.
- Local build: run ./build.sh to place binaries in build/bin; system install: ./install.sh moves binaries to /usr/bin; ./uninstall.sh removes them.
- Project repository is hosted on GitHub under GPL-2.0 license; it has 88 stars and two listed contributors.
- Primary source files and languages include QML, C++, C, Shell, and CMake according to the repository language breakdown.
- The project deliberately omits a charms menu.
What to watch next
- Compatibility with additional Wayland compositors beyond the examples given (labwc, hyprland) — not confirmed in the source
- Packaging and distribution in Linux distributions (prebuilt packages, repos) — not confirmed in the source
- Evolution of feature set and bug fixes via the repository's issue and pull request activity — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Wayland: A modern display protocol for Linux that handles communication between compositors and client applications.
- Compositor: A program that assembles window buffers and manages their placement, input, and visual composition on the screen.
- OSD: On-Screen Display: a UI overlay used to show transient information such as volume or brightness changes.
- Desktop shell: A user interface layer that provides system chrome, application launching, and session-level UI elements without being a full desktop environment.
Reader FAQ
What is Win8DE?
A Windows 8–style shell built to run on Wayland compositors; it provides Start, Lock, Wall, OSD and Settings components.
How do I install Win8DE?
Run ./build.sh to build local binaries into build/bin or ./install.sh to build and install binaries to /usr/bin; ./uninstall.sh removes installed binaries.
Can I use it without changing my current compositor config?
Yes. The project suggests using a separate configuration folder and creating a session .desktop entry so your existing config is not affected.
Does Win8DE provide the Windows charms menu?
No. The repository states it does not include a charms menu.
Does Win8DE support X11?
not confirmed in the source
Windows 8 revival on Linux. If you are one of who enjoyed the windows 8 and miss its fluid animations but have since moved to linux. And cant go back…
Sources
- Windows 8 Desktop Environment for Linux
- Windows 8 Start Menu Recreated as a Linux Launcher
- Custom Desktop Environment – Wayland support
- Lightweight Desktop Environment on Wayland
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