NanoShell v1.0 — Alpha 1

NanoShell is a custom Quickshell shell and Hyprland configuration layer with a polished desktop and a controller-first Arcade mode.

This is the first public-style v1 package and is still marked Alpha 1. The core desktop and Arcade flows are usable, but hardware combinations and edge cases will continue to be refined after release.

Highlights

• Glass/translucent NanoShell desktop for Hyprland.
• Halo application launcher, media controls, Quick Settings, wallpapers and running-app controls.
• Two-workspace desktop model with internal private Workspace 99 for Arcade game handoff.
• Controller-first Arcade with 2:3 portrait art, keyboard navigation and compact quick settings.
• PPSSPP, PCSX2, RPCS3, Eden and external launcher integration architecture.
• Launch/return shield and emergency controller return chord.
• Local per-game artwork overrides without accounts or API keys.
• Separate desktop and Arcade wallpapers.
• Display resolution/refresh selectors built from modes actually reported by Hyprland/your monitor.
• Settings diagnostics based on capabilities (browser/file manager/terminal/etc.), not one hard-coded app.

Install

On Arch/CachyOS, extract the release and run:

./install.sh

For an already configured system where you do not want NanoShell to install packages/services:

./install.sh --config-only

For a fresh Arch-style setup:

./install.sh --full

The installer merges NanoShell-managed files. It does not delete your whole ~/.config/nanoshell directory, wallpapers, ROM folders, custom game art or other user data.

Useful locations

~/.config/nanoshell/                     NanoShell
~/.config/nanoshell/wallpapers/          desktop wallpapers
~/.config/nanoshell/console-wallpapers/  Arcade wallpapers
~/.local/share/nanoshell/game-art/       custom 2:3 game portraits
~/.config/hypr/nanoshell/                Settings-managed Hyprland data

Arcade artwork

Open a game's Game Info → Change game art to replace its portrait locally. NanoShell keeps the discovered cover as fallback and stores overrides separately.

Emulator/content note

NanoShell does not bundle emulators, ROMs, BIOS files, launchers or commercial game content. Arcade detects and integrates supported software installed by the user.

Diagnostics

Use NanoShell Settings → Diagnostics first. Quickshell startup output is normally written to:

/tmp/nanoshell-start.log

See RELEASE-NOTES.md and PERFORMANCE-AUDIT.md for the v1 release gate details.