development.md

Development

Local Build

cmake -S . -B build
cmake --build build

Direct Compiler Path

install.sh can compile without CMake when the target has a C++ compiler, wayland-scanner, xdg-shell.xml, libpng, and libwayland-client.

Run In A Wayland Session

ZEROSHELL_APPLICATIONS_DIR=./applications ./build/zero-shell-wayland

Do not run ZeroShell with sudo.

Useful Overrides

Variable	Meaning
ZEROSHELL_APPLICATIONS_DIR	App desktop-entry directory.
ZEROSHELL_APPLAUNCH_DIR	APPLaunch data root.
ZERO_SHELL_WAYLAND_DEBUG	Extra Wayland key/debug logging.

Coding Rules

• Keep app-specific labels and launch behavior in desktop entries.
• Keep OS/session/input/polkit behavior in cardputer-zero-os.
• Keep tasks based on compositor windows, not child PIDs.
• Prefer adding small protocol integrations over adding app-name special cases.