Finalize the transition to Wayland and embrace the future of desktop
Open, Needs TriagePublic

Tokens
"Love" token, awarded by muvori."100" token, awarded by abrahams."Love" token, awarded by istomineugene."Like" token, awarded by markuss."Love" token, awarded by sgureev."Love" token, awarded by baberts."Love" token, awarded by alexde.
Assigned To
Authored By
fbampaloukas, Jun 12 2019

Description

Description

As technology and the needs of modern computer users advance, X server has been proven less and less capable to keep up. Problems like serious lack of security, monolithic complicated design and even roadblocks to proper implementation of new technologies like touch screens and VR. Wayland has been decided as the future of not only the linux desktop but potentially the smartphone and tablet form factor too.

I propose to make our goal to migrate the core of the plasma desktop and make X server an optional compile and runtime depedency. In that way not only we will be giving our users futures that a modern desktop should have, like tear free compositing and security by default, but it will also pave the way for more advance futures like VR, touchscreen support and more that simply aren't possible without Wayland.

What it will take

  • Fix major breakage that still occurs
  • Implement missing functionality
  • Make SDDM run in Wayland
  • Start and stop X in every session dynamically based on necessity

How we know we succeeded

  • More people choosing Wayland, more bug reports for it
  • Wayland session is the recommended Default
  • X server doesn't have to be installed to run pure Plasma with core applications

Relevant links

Link about full screen compositing benefits including video games:
https://blog.martin-graesslin.com/blog/2015/12/gaming-on-linux-move-to-next-generation/
by @alexeymin

The Security of Wayland:
https://blog.martin-graesslin.com/blog/2015/11/looking-at-the-security-of-plasmawayland/
by @alexeymin

Projects and Ideas that directly depend partly or completely on Wayland migration:
https://phabricator.kde.org/T11057
https://phabricator.kde.org/T11054

Red hat main developer of X server to stop supporting it:
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=X.Org-Maintenance-Mode-Quickly

I am willing to put work into this

I am interested

fbampaloukas updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 12 2019, 4:34 PM
ngraham updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 12 2019, 4:34 PM
ngraham added a subscriber: ngraham.
fbampaloukas updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 12 2019, 4:43 PM
meven updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 12 2019, 5:51 PM
meven added a subscriber: meven.
fbampaloukas updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 12 2019, 6:21 PM
davidedmundson added a subscriber: davidedmundson.
strobach updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 13 2019, 12:37 PM
strobach added a subscriber: strobach.
meven updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 14 2019, 8:47 AM
meven updated the task description. (Show Details)

T11054 should also be mentioned here, as input methods are also acting as a showstopper for certain users to even try out the Wayland.

lydia updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 15 2019, 7:18 AM

This is also somewhat of a prerequisite for T11057 I think.

alexeymin updated the task description. (Show Details)Jun 17 2019, 8:31 PM
alexeymin added a subscriber: alexeymin.
ervin added a subscriber: ervin.Jun 23 2019, 12:55 PM

Although, I can't wait to see us switching to Wayland. I think this is slightly too "focused on one tech" as a goal. I'd rather see a lot of Wayland influence in the T11054 and T11057 goals mentioned than having a Wayland goal on its own which would overlook input methods for instance (which is exactly what the people who already switched for good did AFAICT).

mart added a subscriber: mart.Jun 25 2019, 10:57 AM

This is also somewhat of a prerequisite for T11057 I think.

there are some touch related things that currently need wayland (and probably will keep requiring wayland)

  • virtual keybaord
  • auto screen rotation
  • runtime detection for transformable laptops
rempt added a subscriber: rempt.Jul 16 2019, 6:34 PM

And don't forget support for drawing tablets.

lydia added a subscriber: lydia.Jul 19 2019, 9:37 AM

Although, I can't wait to see us switching to Wayland. I think this is slightly too "focused on one tech" as a goal. I'd rather see a lot of Wayland influence in the T11054 and T11057 goals mentioned than having a Wayland goal on its own which would overlook input methods for instance (which is exactly what the people who already switched for good did AFAICT).

I agree with this. Can we find an angle for this goal that is not technology focused but expresses what will become better in the world? What is the underlying thing we want to make possible or achieve? What story would we be able to tell to get people excited?

Wayland by default would offer a better user experience. E.g. a tear free desktop, less power consumption, different refresh rates per screen, better possibilities to extend our desktop on mobile, better touch support and most important improved security. So yes, the goal as it is framed is focused on tech, but it can easily be reworded to focus on the advantages it gives us in comparison to X11.

lydia added a comment.Aug 3 2019, 3:44 PM

@fbampaloukas Are you or someone else going to adapt this proposal still based on the comments here before the vote?

lydia assigned this task to fbampaloukas.Aug 3 2019, 4:09 PM
fbampaloukas renamed this task from Wayland by Default to Wayland Migration.Aug 6 2019, 6:43 PM
fbampaloukas updated the task description. (Show Details)
fbampaloukas updated the task description. (Show Details)

@fbampaloukas Are you or someone else going to adapt this proposal still based on the comments here before the vote?

I have reworked it to make it more focused on the way that it was discussed here. It is ready to vote by me.

romangg updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 6 2019, 7:12 PM
romangg added a subscriber: romangg.
lydia added a comment.Aug 6 2019, 7:28 PM

Thank you :)

fbampaloukas updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 7 2019, 3:55 AM
lydia added a comment.Aug 13 2019, 8:48 PM

Quick reminder that there are two days left before the voting starts. Please make any changes you still want to make soon.

paulb added a subscriber: paulb.Aug 13 2019, 9:42 PM

Hey @fbampaloukas: I think the title of your goal could give a stronger impression if you stated explicitly what you want it to achieve. May I suggest Get KDE Working properly on Wayland Once and for All?

muvori added a subscriber: muvori.Aug 18 2019, 9:25 AM
alexde added a subscriber: alexde.Aug 19 2019, 2:05 PM
ndavis updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 22 2019, 11:34 PM
ndavis added a subscriber: ndavis.
mart updated the task description. (Show Details)Aug 23 2019, 10:59 AM
fbampaloukas renamed this task from Wayland Migration to Get KDE Working properly on Wayland Once and for All?.Aug 24 2019, 10:49 AM
fbampaloukas renamed this task from Get KDE Working properly on Wayland Once and for All? to Finalize the transition to Wayland and embrace the future of desktop.Aug 24 2019, 10:52 AM
lydia added a comment.Aug 24 2019, 3:39 PM

Vote invite were sent to everyone subscribed to the KDE community mailing list and everyone with a developer account. Any contributor who didn't receive one please subscribe to the mailing list to not miss future announcements and send me a quick email (lydia@kde.org) and I'll send you a vote invite.

Takuya added a subscriber: Takuya.Aug 26 2019, 3:30 PM

[spam comment removed by sysadmin]

I hope this will include adding wacom and graphic tablet support under wayland in the missing functionality list.

lydia added a comment.Sep 9 2019, 8:17 AM

Congratulations! This goal was selected as one of the three that we will concentrate on now. I sent you an email to coordinate the next steps.

lydia added a comment.Sep 9 2019, 8:29 AM

My email to you bounced, @fbampaloukas. Could you email me at lydia@kde.org please?

rempt removed a subscriber: rempt.Sep 9 2019, 10:23 AM
romangg updated the task description. (Show Details)Sep 11 2019, 11:53 AM
nisavid added a subscriber: nisavid.Nov 9 2019, 9:16 AM
bam added a subscriber: bam.Jul 15 2020, 4:54 PM