Building fails on NixOS

[HomieDerPrakti]

System

OS: NixOS with Flakes enabled, nixpkgs unstable channel
Compositor: Niri 26.04

Steps to reproduce

Install skwd-wall with the flake according to README.

# flake.nix
inputs.skwd-wall.url = "github:liixini/skwd-wall";

# configuration.nix
imports = [ inputs.skwd-wall.nixosModules.defaultj ];
programs.skwd-wall.enable = true;

When running nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#hostname, the configuration successfully evaluates and starts building, but right at the end, it fails to compile skwd-daemon, see log:

 >    Compiling skwd-daemon v0.1.0 (/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/crates/daemon)
       > error: linking with `/nix/store/qd70v8g0561vm8m33kmnp79z00cgyi5n-gcc-wrapper-15.2.0/bin/cc` failed: exit status: 1
       >   |
       >   = note:  "/nix/store/qd70v8g0561vm8m33kmnp79z00cgyi5n-gcc-wrapper-15.2.0/bin/cc" "-m64" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/tar
get/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/deps/rustcJUkzwn/symbols.o" "<17 object files omitted>" "-Wl,--as-needed" "-Wl,-Bstatic" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aq
i8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/deps/{libtracing_appender-47df8503ac67aa9b,libsymlink-6c9f5d4b52767c9f,libnix-c89a8dd9
fa84865d,libtracing_subscriber-71d5ae6a2ac3b2cd,libsharded_slab-6c8c97939cd02ea6,libmatchers-a12229e07deb1c3c,libregex_automata-1281e4acab4a4d12,libre
gex_syntax-ae8845b9f0522096,libnu_ansi_term-a9e635e028556759,libthread_local-760a5b3061b00436,libtracing_log-a41e3e18d930896f,libimage-039f5eb71a0c105
b,libqoi-b445e0f7ce451b73,libmoxcms-48373ef8e356a206,libpxfm-6d037df2eeb00740,libimage_webp-1cc673b0c8fdf4d3,libtiff-2950c0d92bcdd357,libfax-784e56ac3
17e4e70,libpng-ae63ec78375294c0,libfdeflate-374e94e62d1e0e32,libexr-0ededdceac9fc436,libzune_inflate-a9d01b97f75f5c0c,libbit_field-06a05bdefdfb0d3e,li
blebe-a703d759c64b9fad,libhalf-aaf62d85b2b24a6a,libzune_jpeg-beb06f396c14f239,libzune_core-e71de49fc092d85c,libgif-d8cabea1102d76af,libcolor_quant-bb6
4949368ec12fe,libweezl-4fceb02326c403a6,libbyteorder_lite-338ec542313cd4da,libravif-25d7e1522ea27ac5,libloop9-c4c4e8d117194a32,libavif_serialize-78937
66dceebbcd7,libquick_error-00e8a1bd56b67f42,librgb-3ee6d66a9c2dd476,librav1e-3d0e1c6752a2b3c3,libprofiling-e1b2f1a0eb9464e2,libav_scenechange-a6e8174b
04b3453b,liby4m-1f20543bcb3cd0e7,libaligned-f27299c6077806ba,libas_slice-0568a8f5614cd4e2,libav1_grain-5ea77382ed7cf157,libnom-b027091629e8ac53,libnum
_rational-6e428e81ea11c9e9,libmaybe_rayon-18440c7a0a583242,librayon-7f348bc2d47b55a3,librayon_core-9fd7e4557c564076,libcrossbeam_deque-a8e4988a1000ce4
4,libcrossbeam_epoch-e3b7320325c44cfc,libv_frame-847b3ec38a98a39e,libaligned_vec-67c2a8c79388d1a7,libequator-41064bbd3e640ddd,libbitstream_io-8a88cc51
fdb5520c,libitertools-eebfbe9b9f876491,libeither-29bce6e55afd8ffb,libimgref-cceee306a02692e0,libnotify-4e4828fb17d16ffc,libmio-c453e88cb5c9bdf5,libcro
ssbeam_channel-865d1e8a27a2aefb,libfiletime-e832607bdd831aec,libwalkdir-c22dc099ee22bf6e,libsame_file-3749600a40f01e09,libinotify-3be908bf9940a4ce,lib
inotify_sys-d1bc398ba75558be,libmpris_server-a339e106249ddbb2,libzbus-0c796d75b85307fa,libasync_io-7eca738906db5e8f,libpolling-2889b4f255efcc4b,libblo
cking-6d19ee2d3f65dcd5,libpiper-011dff2e1ae08b4f,libasync_task-6322017853aa91b5,libhex-1e4cebaa47f2bf7c,libfutures_lite-15ccb3f848289a9d,libordered_st
ream-777a02eae7fef0cb,libasync_broadcast-5154dc568fc4a87e,libzbus_names-c4a2180504259b4c,libzvariant-ba897f74f7c7c59f,libenumflags2-d8917c2033bf4447,l
ibendi-36b367e48907469d,libzvariant_utils-0353ec118fee61d1,libwinnow-21dd2d19cf3bce8e,libsyn-477b41e4a5f608ef,libquote-84e44ca166d24620,libproc_macro2
-02abb282ac1bd77a,libunicode_ident-8b7def584ab25ca7}.rlib" "<sysroot>/lib/rustlib/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/{libproc_macro-*,librustc_literal_escap
er-*}.rlib" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/deps/{libasync_channel-46743446cb14bbfe,libevent_l
istener_strategy-7eadfd23ac1d5e6d,libevent_listener-2a88dd5b37161348,libparking-61b3959d3a69d45c,libconcurrent_queue-15d0dc58c449c666,libcrossbeam_uti
ls-97c88a156fc7088c,liblibrespot-24ea7169551f8426,liblibrespot_discovery-151a2e4999dbf42f,liblibmdns-50f50cbf898305db,libhostname-85a3a4845c4a4caa,lib
multimap-1e33494fc6dfe69a,libif_addrs-56dc301ac5f8ef8a,liblibrespot_connect-439e2f31f9b6788b,liblibrespot_playback-e50207d989567541,librand_distr-f2e3
f59afc740cc4,libsymphonia-8ce3bedf151f2abe,libsymphonia_format_ogg-43e9e2a672a33ad5,libsymphonia_codec_vorbis-4ee54c2310b8b4ea,libsymphonia_bundle_mp3
-ec3d5ebfad3ce1f8,libsymphonia_bundle_flac-a5dc115926bde67f,libsymphonia_utils_xiph-5c677ff0f6250917,libsymphonia_metadata-f937abb0bfe7766e,libencodin
g_rs-9d314ad472c318a9,libsymphonia_core-c6f20f7aeeb02d96,libbytemuck-6de7f9d3c5c9c08d,libbitflags-d6e145a16aa4a2e6,libarrayvec-9184af897df07fd9,libshe
ll_words-47570ca7e9935ab6,liblibpulse_simple_binding-3adadee796276f40,liblibpulse_simple_sys-a8aa3871d0835a50,liblibpulse_binding-0d5725bc1a2b49b5,lib
libpulse_sys-0a66fff9a2874589,liblibrespot_metadata-dc38f7568b825a6c,liblibrespot_audio-6aa1c2fb04efba78,libctr-a2642b836e40d6cf,libtempfile-a2e8a7420
a6420aa,libfastrand-9026ab09b805e49d,librustix-88e504b28a48b8e2,liblinux_raw_sys-ef00d949c747c327,liblibrespot_core-9e5287fb3f7dfe7b,libprotobuf_json_
mapping-cec9c2ed2d178465,libsysinfo-8659a4b21af023c5,libuuid-0387a535e312c929,libgetrandom-bff49e807408a3f3,libquick_xml-1ca90547bf7af524,libhyper_pro
xy2-adb69d5bb7f06570,libhyper_rustls-61f56500faeefaa5,librustls_native_certs-8b86270278c6e3c9,librustls_pemfile-f2c3550ad567f4fc,libopenssl_probe-73c7
faf7a2a9e417,libheaders-bdb9327530d49b3b,libmime-8a9ac67dac8f32cb,libheaders_core-6343ca8bfac86a15,libtokio_rustls-ecdee1ba2a515674,librustls-96db9a10
4417756e,libwebpki-90338b2096da755c,libgovernor-026a3e2896873f71,libfutures_timer-a47a38bdaec20be6,libnonzero_ext-42e1ba4945fe6c0d,libweb_time-82f70c0
3dd1e3fd0,libportable_atomic-51466591144cd53a,liblibrespot_oauth-1b4f9043b552a327,libopen-f33890491ad77e54,libpathdiff-8a65dddc9c697c74,libis_wsl-3e28
375d9aa28aaa,libis_docker-1511f5f9453af7b0,liboauth2-4ecbb3c76d6c51fb,libserde_path_to_error-625402d3a494657c,libchrono-18ebb898de011731,libiana_time_
zone-87bebc45f9469d20,libnum_bigint-941c9494d53827ac,libtokio_tungstenite-a3957685a3466dec,libtungstenite-770c12939932b599,libdata_encoding-e5ffe6d1c1
346b3f,libutf8-ae490d38d709a7e0,libflate2-b0bec1772c8046ef,libminiz_oxide-ccd352c8aa3a9235,libsimd_adler32-01d532f295bb2ee0,libcrc32fast-3912597f807bc
b00,libtokio_stream-4f6d064106a20e5e,librsa-e32c95115599e0c9,libpkcs1-ac9d1307d188874c,libpkcs8-aff8eff71968ea74,libspki-092e11cfe7a36805,libder-d0e22
1cfb2f87e7f,libpem_rfc7468-17c214ba2e3af692,libbase64ct-8d5d399c60dd2737,libsignature-20843bd8b59bc3a8,libnum_bigint_dig-ef2357852bd74ca6,liblibm-48c0
e31f7c71b444,libnum_iter-ba7c98101a5a14e2,libnum_integer-1262c5d63541c2a0,liblazy_static-e5723f0291c41d14,libspin-23f3db503208a47f,librand-8da75af81dd
b42ff,librand_chacha-e5814a6e4863343a,librand_core-755097efc66dfcba,libgetrandom-ea157e68cb17070c,libshannon-72de72ed356b744b,libnum_traits-57a158d544
5b78e8,libtime-e4bbf7bb4f237907,libtime_core-84d3008e08ab3001,libnum_conv-3c99de0a6d2b42d6,libderanged-6ee6790a09fba5f9,libpowerfmt-fea81625b351da4b,l
ibpriority_queue-8c8760139c89e853,libsha1-0c5e45f1b40c84b1,libpbkdf2-bb2ac968128ea6af,libhmac-c1a86e2e3c394c75,libthiserror-3474ca48d1451ff4,libbyteor
der-e06519226be1345e,liblibrespot_protocol-2da2c0df23550979,libprotobuf-eada4bc33582a477,libprotobuf_support-3d9f324694abca6c,libthiserror-a89f192dd80
18389,libaes-6e207a0f63a58d3b,libcipher-0c26ad291d81e0f0,libinout-702014d3d2b24fe8,librand-498a82d9e2d8bb82,librand_chacha-037982efff5fbb0a,libppv_lit
e86-6be8bfcdd800fb3d,libzerocopy-96d46779693e8ddc,librand_core-c94182568a6a7828,libsha2-637e593539d71b6e,libcpufeatures-efa9a353f7238046,libdigest-e7f
8a25a14e856be,libconst_oid-6007395e665dd2ca,libblock_buffer-306907003eb4f8c1,libcrypto_common-8106f581b82c11ee,libgeneric_array-0ad396361f59c503,libty
penum-c50ca6458cdb68ba,libreqwest-49ef67cd5911294f,libhyper_rustls-091bed6c3b5e0f57,libwebpki_roots-f830e47a721800d6,librustls_native_certs-d4febc3313
4b83c1,libopenssl_probe-09c722c123541e06,libtokio_rustls-d20ec038c5d537fc,librustls-741f873561788032,libsubtle-21fa75d9ef957c95,libwebpki-bb5342148764
2da3,libring-0dd48228312623fb,libgetrandom-c2649c8172aa9801,libuntrusted-8dd9146d0d9449fa,librustls_pki_types-e08994047aae36a8,libzeroize-a39963384bf6
8b08,libserde_urlencoded-2e6545dc94437c2b,libryu-11f80afe8d5cb79d,libtower_http-4464a6342cc9d2c6,libiri_string-20eb52c2f6b352a3,libtower-66ae2f3cf4793
21c,libtower_layer-555387b91de04c8f,libhyper_util-4286a9883231faf5,libbase64-05991bc6720cecfd,libipnet-f6a3f2cde45dc55c,libtower_service-479c5b8df1058
aea,libhyper-14ccba54c7a96870,libwant-b81fd662a9ac08c2,libtry_lock-bd4b30dd53a0c98f,libhttparse-f8dec063eea9cc3a,libh2-cb0326e44aac102f,libindexmap-4f
80dfe0d4d35766,libhashbrown-af88b6d12e93b5a2,libfnv-8fcceebe84960253,libtokio_util-cbfaa78d480927d3,libatomic_waker-b2deb89907b8219c,libhttpdate-20aeb
b328fd638a5,libfutures_channel-8ce63ff43771898a,libhttp_body_util-64c7a276297ff338,libhttp_body-6cfe0a09ac562257,libfutures_util-d587f36c6f59417c,libf
utures_io-00388ac019256080,libslab-2b949850917a8c62,libfutures_sink-dd1a71a5b4ad6065,libfutures_task-fc71c9db5eed08b2,liblog-1d9f3ec0d9cc6400,liburl-c
d94a9aad6f01f14,libidna-10aec0fd0badcbd3,libidna_adapter-ea763f6519bb6dcb,libicu_properties-b623f9771d27a4f5,libicu_properties_data-5db4a481bcec5418,l
ibicu_normalizer-fcb60fcf7c41def2,libicu_normalizer_data-e80caad58aab136f,libicu_collections-e7b707ab4de57940,libutf8_iter-43abdb006a782671,libpotenti
al_utf-d20c6e7943b2e2f6,libicu_provider-1ef45c240281750a,libicu_locale_core-3001689b6c183f43,libtinystr-3af81bdaf71f3b44,liblitemap-47754f507bd948f7,l
ibwriteable-7687784afe80b81a,libzerovec-467ce14bc328b9b7,libzerotrie-731222e5529d0d78,libyoke-bc315633dd853857,libstable_deref_trait-0fe9bcdf74f3418a,
libzerofrom-03b61b8f8464599e,libform_urlencoded-c1cc11c8d6f1862e,libpercent_encoding-44662145f02e996d,libhttp-dda118068494276a,libsync_wrapper-cb49f0f
d57c5c495,libfutures_core-1cb1d4cfc45381dd,libanyhow-9aad27026802b7c5,libtokio-87c0ce899bd4efdf,libsignal_hook_registry-426c0873b0148906,liberrno-7611
700366a6307a,libsocket2-5e1f10e4343684e8,libbytes-bfd0790cb933a555,libmio-a038e7344dcca956,libparking_lot-4c0b1f4e4ad6a2c5,libparking_lot_core-5706fd5
d3ec15102,liblibc-e2b6367fb71f0db3,libcfg_if-2e8d2ab4a6be5549,liblock_api-1da9018ef1f98b9e,libscopeguard-7625454c19867b7c,libskwd_proto-0bc03b05eabf87
07,libserde_json-11f3cd3071455c5b,libmemchr-cd7849f67da457b1,libitoa-710a5c72180f0f7f,libzmij-19e907d459b49df4,librusqlite-5924929215e00da0,libbitflag
s-9a21a7a916d8ce96,libsmallvec-cf71c114cab3dd0e,libhashlink-de0eaef1d3a3aa81,libhashbrown-4b88b740353355ae,libequivalent-ba94dc652a333fda,liballocator
_api2-dd627117e9b05dde,libfoldhash-674cebec666d326f,liblibsqlite3_sys-f33a7e9e18f210d6,libfallible_streaming_iterator-668506977d3d9661,libfallible_ite
rator-cc428c64acd393a7,libtracing-6a53b1d9e7091ebe,libpin_project_lite-f3e60567345c1512,libtracing_core-f0adbfc7e7dff579,libonce_cell-94cf097cfd6038c8
,libserde-6cfcf4c102663c9b,libserde_core-3e891352a4d25f90}.rlib" "<sysroot>/lib/rustlib/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/{libstd-*,libpanic_unwind-*,libob
ject-*,libmemchr-*,libaddr2line-*,libgimli-*,libcfg_if-*,librustc_demangle-*,libstd_detect-*,libhashbrown-*,librustc_std_workspace_alloc-*,libminiz_ox
ide-*,libadler2-*,libunwind-*,liblibc-*,librustc_std_workspace_core-*,liballoc-*,libcore-*,libcompiler_builtins-*}.rlib" "-Wl,-Bdynamic" "-l:libpulse-
simple.so.0" "-l:libpulse.so.0" "-lgcc_s" "-lutil" "-lrt" "-lpthread" "-lm" "-ldl" "-lc" "-L" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/target/x
86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/deps/rustcJUkzwn/raw-dylibs" "-Wl,--eh-frame-hdr" "-Wl,-z,noexecstack" "-L" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-s
ource/target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/build/ring-aeb2afa845d18bec/out" "-L" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/target/x86_64-unkn
own-linux-gnu/release/build/libsqlite3-sys-9a7544eb83fb7ff8/out" "-L" "<sysroot>/lib/rustlib/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/lib" "-o" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1
aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/deps/skwd_daemon-907950fab1d93de8" "-Wl,--gc-sections" "-pie" "-Wl,-z,relro,-z,now" 
"-Wl,-O1" "-nodefaultlibs" "/build/n91cidrhxadim1aqi8jckbvak9lfg4d0-source/target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/deps/skwd_daemon_audit_data.o" "-Wl
,--undefined=AUDITABLE_VERSION_INFO"
       >   = note: some arguments are omitted. use `--verbose` to show all linker arguments
       >   = note: /nix/store/p2vkw5s89ff1fs2d2rxqxiqil9s0jpcm-binutils-2.46/bin/ld.bfd: cannot find -l:libpulse-simple.so.0: No such file or director
y
       >           /nix/store/p2vkw5s89ff1fs2d2rxqxiqil9s0jpcm-binutils-2.46/bin/ld.bfd: cannot find -l:libpulse.so.0: No such file or directory
       >           collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
       >
       >
       > error: could not compile `skwd-daemon` (bin "skwd-daemon") due to 1 previous error
       For full logs, run:
         nix log /nix/store/0zijc99pkz051afd1a2wkrngy9x1x85h-skwd-daemon-unstable.drv
error: Cannot build '/nix/store/6b5d2rq16in7f3g8al4jk9yvx1ip83v9-skwd-wall-unstable.drv'.

I believe this started happening after the backend Rust rewrite. I am not sure if something is misconfigured on my part.

[liixini]

Hi @HomieDerPrakti,

I have updated the flake for Nix and tested it in a VM successfully, so you should be able to simply rebuild with the additions as per the readme :)

[HomieDerPrakti]

Hi @liixini

Thank you for the quick update! Now it successfully builds, but I seem to have a strange issue, where skwd wall toggle does not bring up the gui. I just get this output in the terminal:

{
    "toggled": true,
    "visible": true
}

I saw another issue that looked similar, but I already start skwd-daemon in my compositor config

[liixini]

that's weird.

can you run it manually for a better log? e.g.
qs -p . in the directory skwd-wall is installed to, with the daemon running :)

this should output some logs that I'd like to see so I can figure out what is specifically wrong on nixos for you - especially considering it is working just fine in my VM.

[HomieDerPrakti]

When I run qs -p . in the directory in the nix store (/nix/store/qx2bmwky64nqycb868fss0pxbd0rwj1m-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall), it opens the gui just fine, but with the skwd wall toggle command it fails. I tested this both on my Desktop and on my Laptop, both running NixOS and Niri. Here's the log of skwd-daemon when running skwd wall toggle twice:

2026-05-14T15:40:55.163263Z  INFO skwd_daemon: daemon starting; logs at ~/.cache/skwd/skwd.log log_dir=/home/julian/.cache/skwd
2026-05-14T15:40:55.191053Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: listening on /run/user/1000/skwd/daemon.sock
2026-05-14T15:40:55.191179Z  INFO skwd_daemon::config: config loaded from /home/julian/.config/skwd-wall/config.json
2026-05-14T15:40:55.191200Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::bootstrap: bootstrap: already done, skipping
2026-05-14T15:40:55.193954Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: music: MPRIS server started at org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.skwd-music
2026-05-14T15:40:55.207753Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: launching music: quickshell -p /usr/share/skwd-music/shell.qml
2026-05-14T15:40:55.217949Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: launching host: quickshell -p /usr/share/skwd/skwd-daemon/host/shell.qml
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218588Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::watcher: watching /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218645Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: initial directory scan complete, starting cache rebuild
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218866Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [config] watching /home/julian/.config/skwd-wall
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218865Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: scanning static dir: /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218918Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache:   found 0 static wallpapers
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218927Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: scanning video dir: /home/julian/videowalls
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218941Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache:   found 0 videos
2026-05-14T15:40:55.218947Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: scan complete: 0 total items found
2026-05-14T15:40:55.219042Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: cache rebuild: 0 items to process, 0 unchanged
2026-05-14T15:40:55.219089Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: no wallpaper to restore: no saved state
2026-05-14T15:41:02.000502Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T15:41:02.010962Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: launching wall-ui: quickshell -p /nix/store/qx2bmwky64nqycb868fss0pxbd0rwj1m-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall/shell.qml
2026-05-14T15:41:02.011504Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [server] forwarding event to client: {"event":"skwd.wall.toggle","data":{"visible":true}}
2026-05-14T15:41:02.011580Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client disconnected
2026-05-14T15:41:02.533107Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T15:41:06.427928Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T15:41:06.428087Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: killing wall-ui process
2026-05-14T15:41:06.428252Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [server] forwarding event to client: {"event":"skwd.wall.toggle","data":{"visible":false}}
2026-05-14T15:41:06.428258Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [server] forwarding event to client: {"event":"skwd.wall.toggle","data":{"visible":false}}

[HomieDerPrakti]

this is the log of qs -p . :

No running instances for "/nix/store/qx2bmwky64nqycb868fss0pxbd0rwj1m-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall/shell.qml"
  INFO: Launching config: "/nix/store/qx2bmwky64nqycb868fss0pxbd0rwj1m-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall/shell.qml"
  INFO: Shell ID: "98c1e93db0ce21c0c4b50052148b0bcb" Path ID "98c1e93db0ce21c0c4b50052148b0bcb"
  INFO: Saving logs to "/run/user/1000/quickshell/by-id/vqy8la1ft/log.qslog"
 DEBUG qml: Configuration Loaded
  INFO: Configuration Loaded
 DEBUG qml: Bootstrap already ran, skipping
 DEBUG qml: Config: generated matugen config with 14 integrations
  WARN scene: QML FileView at @qml/Colors.qml[11:33]: Read of /home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/colors.json failed: File does not exist.
  WARN qt.qml.propertyCache.append: Member enabled of the object SettingsSlider_QMLTYPE_157 overrides a member of the base object. Consider renaming it or adding final or override specifier
  WARN qt.qml.propertyCache.append: Member enabled of the object ShaderPicker_QMLTYPE_160 overrides a member of the base object. Consider renaming it or adding final or override specifier
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onVisibleChanged visible= false count= 0 model= set contentX= 0 width= 0 height= 0 contentWidth= -1
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onCountChanged count= 0 visible= false contentX= 0 contentWidth= -1
 DEBUG qml: DaemonClient: connected
 DEBUG qml: [BIND] _isSlice= true isHexMode= false isGridMode= false isMosaicMode= false cardVisible= false showing= true
 DEBUG qml: [BIND] slice: count= 0 currentIndex= -1 posIdx= 0 visible= false width= 1020 height= 385
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] startCacheCheck called, DaemonClient.ready=true
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] _loadFromDaemon called, DaemonClient.ready=true
  WARN scene: QML FileView at @qml/wallpaper/SteamWorkshopService.qml[77:33]: Read of /home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/steam-dl-status.json failed: File does not exist.
 DEBUG qml: [TIMER] posIdx= 0 count= 0 visible= false contentX= -210 width= 1020 height= 385 contentWidth= 420
 DEBUG qml: [TIMER] after position: contentX= -210
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] listWallpapers returned 0 items
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] built 0 model items from 0 daemon rows
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] _rebuildPopularTags: tagsDb has 0 entries, built 0 popular tags
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onVisibleChanged visible= true count= 0 model= set contentX= -210 width= 1020 height= 385 contentWidth= 420
 DEBUG qml: wallpaper-selector timing: ready in 396 ms (items: 0) (rss: 3.9 MB, pss: 1.3 MB, vss: 8.0 MB)
 DEBUG qml: wallpaper-selector timing: ready in 396 ms (items: 0) (rss: 3.9 MB, pss: 1.3 MB, vss: 8.0 MB)
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onVisibleChanged visible= false count= 0 model= set contentX= -210 width= 1020 height= 385 contentWidth= 420
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onCountChanged count= 0 visible= false contentX= -210 contentWidth= 420
``

[HomieDerPrakti]

Also when running the gui manually (via quickshell -p /nix/store/qx2bmwky64nqycb868fss0pxbd0rwj1m-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall/shell.qml), it is unable to display the thumbnails

Probably related to this error:

  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[423:13]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven-rdwjj7.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage* at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[245:9]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven-rdwjj7.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[423:13]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven_o5ky29.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage* at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[245:9]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven_o5ky29.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[423:13]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven-rdwjj7.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage* at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[245:9]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven-rdwjj7.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[423:13]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven_o5ky29.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format
  WARN scene: QML QQuickImage* at @qml/wallpaper/SliceDelegate.qml[245:9]: Error decoding: file:///home/julian/.cache/skwd-wall/wallpaper/thumbs/wallhaven_o5ky29.jpg.webp: Unsupported image format

This is a separate issue though from what I understand

[liixini]

Hi,

Thanks for the excellent bug reporting :D

Two issues as far as I can tell:

1. The host (shared QML shell for all skwd-* softwares) wasn't wired in the flake, it is now.
2. My VM is on KDE Plasma, so I could probably resolve Qt Imageformats, but I have wired in the plugins as well now.

So should be as simple as to update again and restart the daemon if running.

[HomieDerPrakti]

Hi,
Thank you very much for the quick fix! I will test it shortly.

[HomieDerPrakti]

Hi,
Sadly, it seems like both issues still persist. I have tried starting skwd-daemon with systemctl instead of in the compositor config, but the same behaviour still persists. As well as the thumbnails still are not displaying correctly.

└─[$] skwd-daemon                                                                                                               [19:58:34]
2026-05-14T17:58:37.133443Z  INFO skwd_daemon: daemon starting; logs at ~/.cache/skwd/skwd.log log_dir=/home/julian/.cache/skwd
2026-05-14T17:58:37.162287Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: listening on /run/user/1000/skwd/daemon.sock
2026-05-14T17:58:37.162337Z  INFO skwd_daemon::config: config loaded from /home/julian/.config/skwd-wall/config.json
2026-05-14T17:58:37.162347Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::bootstrap: bootstrap: already done, skipping
2026-05-14T17:58:37.163879Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: music: MPRIS server started at org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.skwd-music
2026-05-14T17:58:37.183595Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: launching music: quickshell -p /usr/share/skwd-music/shell.qml
2026-05-14T17:58:37.198875Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: launching host: quickshell -p /nix/store/yb9p5mg9dfdr2vw755zhjjv5hfw9i207-skwd-daemon-unstable/share/skwd/skwd-daemon/host/shell.qml
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199372Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::watcher: watching /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199398Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::watcher: watching /home/julian/videowalls
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199435Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: initial directory scan complete, starting cache rebuild
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199491Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [config] watching /home/julian/.config/skwd-wall
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199631Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: scanning static dir: /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199727Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache:   found 24 static wallpapers
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199733Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: scanning video dir: /home/julian/videowalls
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199779Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache:   found 0 videos
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199784Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: scan complete: 24 total items found
2026-05-14T17:58:37.199895Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::cache: cache rebuild: 0 items to process, 24 unchanged
2026-05-14T17:58:37.232873Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: generated matugen config with 12 integrations
2026-05-14T17:58:37.233487Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T17:58:37.252648Z  INFO skwd_paper_still: starting skwd-paper-still file=/home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers/wallhaven-wy1lyr.jpg output=*
2026-05-14T17:58:37.341013Z  INFO skwd_paper_still::image_paper: image decoded w=3840 h=2160 fill_mode=Fill
2026-05-14T17:58:37.341277Z  INFO skwd_paper_still::image_paper: created layer surface (image mode) output=DP-2
2026-05-14T17:58:37.341288Z  INFO skwd_paper_still::image_paper: created layer surface (image mode) output=HDMI-A-1
2026-05-14T17:58:37.566092Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: matugen completed for /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers/wallhaven-wy1lyr.jpg
2026-05-14T17:58:37.566120Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: running reload: pkill -USR1 kitty
2026-05-14T17:58:37.578716Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: running reload: pkill -USR1 ghostty
2026-05-14T17:58:37.587997Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T17:58:37.588083Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client disconnected
2026-05-14T17:58:37.588108Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: steady image: spawned pid=Some(8321) output=*
2026-05-14T17:58:37.588119Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: apply_static: skwd-paper-still + bottom-layer transition
2026-05-14T17:58:37.591398Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: applied static wallpaper total_ms=391 lock_wait_ms=0
2026-05-14T17:58:37.591414Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: auto-restored wallpaper: /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers/wallhaven-wy1lyr.jpg
2026-05-14T17:58:37.595010Z  WARN skwd_daemon::wall::apply: command failed (exit status: 1): pkill -USR1 ghostty
2026-05-14T17:58:37.595030Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: running reload: sh '/home/julian/.config/skwd-wall/scripts/reload-niri.sh'
2026-05-14T17:58:37.602978Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: running reload: sh '/home/julian/.config/skwd-wall/scripts/reload-kde.sh'
2026-05-14T17:58:37.607163Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: running reload: sh '/home/julian/.config/skwd-wall/scripts/reload-spicetify.sh'
2026-05-14T17:58:37.611176Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: running reload: sh '/home/julian/.config/skwd-wall/scripts/reload-omp.sh'
2026-05-14T17:58:37.623862Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: post-apply tasks done for static: /home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers/wallhaven-wy1lyr.jpg
2026-05-14T17:58:41.014075Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T17:58:41.036425Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: launching wall-ui: quickshell -p /nix/store/9m9zg224dcgphylly65iig4f0ya9g9i8-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall/shell.qml
2026-05-14T17:58:41.037188Z  INFO skwd_daemon::wall::apply: wall.show: GL persist prewarmed pid=Some(8372)
2026-05-14T17:58:41.037246Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [server] forwarding event to client: {"event":"skwd.wall.toggle","data":{"visible":true}}
2026-05-14T17:58:41.037260Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: [server] event filtered out (no matching sub): {"event":"skwd.wall.toggle","data":{"visible":true}}
2026-05-14T17:58:41.037387Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client disconnected
2026-05-14T17:58:41.054382Z  INFO skwd_paper: starting skwd-paper file=/home/julian/Pictures/Wallpapers/wallhaven-wy1lyr.jpg output=* mode="image"
2026-05-14T17:58:41.054398Z  INFO skwd_paper::transition_paper: random transition shader chosen picked="circle-crop"
2026-05-14T17:58:41.156827Z  INFO skwd_paper::transition_paper: transition: images decoded old_w=3840 old_h=2160 new_w=3840 new_h=2160 thumbs_count=0 shader="random" duration_ms=1
2026-05-14T17:58:41.157077Z  INFO skwd_paper::transition_paper: persist: command received (latest-wins) to=
2026-05-14T17:58:41.474693Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T17:58:41.571405Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client connected
2026-05-14T17:58:41.571485Z  INFO skwd_daemon::server: client disconnected

└─[$] skwd wall toggle                                                                                                          [19:57:52]
{
  "toggled": true,
  "visible": false
}
┌─[julian@nixos] - [~] - [375]
└─[$] skwd wall toggle                                                                                                          [19:58:20]
{
  "toggled": true,
  "visible": true
}
``

[liixini]

Alright! I will set up a fresh Niri VM tomorrow after work to troubleshoot this in an environment that simulates yours.

[HomieDerPrakti]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your work.

[liixini]

Hello again,

I have a probable candidate for resolving the issue out now, so if you update the package things should be better if you try skwd wall toggle after updating and restarting the daemon.

I also increased diagnostic logging by a metric ton, so if it doesn't please include ~/.cache/skwd/wall-ui.log and skwd.log in the same directory.

[HomieDerPrakti]

Hi @liixini

  INFO: Launching config: "/nix/store/adri38dg9awr3i6nkhb7nc973fz440ih-skwd-wall-unstable/share/skwd-wall/shell.qml"
  INFO: Shell ID: "f7c88ebff577f69855cb8518d4d77012" Path ID "f7c88ebff577f69855cb8518d4d77012"
  INFO: Saving logs to "/run/user/1000/quickshell/by-id/cfu3ric5ft/log.qslog"
  WARN qt.qpa.wayland: EGL not available
 DEBUG qml: Configuration Loaded
  INFO: Configuration Loaded
 DEBUG qml: Config: generated matugen config with 13 integrations
 DEBUG qml: Colors: Loaded colors successfully
  WARN qt.qpa.services: Failed to register with host portal QDBusError("org.freedesktop.portal.Error.Failed", "Could not register app ID: App info not found for 'org.quickshell'")
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onVisibleChanged visible= false count= 0 model= set contentX= 0 width= 0 height= 0 contentWidth= -1
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onCountChanged count= 0 visible= false contentX= 0 contentWidth= -1
 DEBUG qml: DaemonClient: connected
 DEBUG qml: [BIND] _isSlice= true isHexMode= false isGridMode= false isMosaicMode= false cardVisible= false showing= true
 DEBUG qml: [BIND] slice: count= 0 currentIndex= -1 posIdx= 0 visible= false width= 2079 height= 545
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] startCacheCheck called, DaemonClient.ready=true
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] _loadFromDaemon called, DaemonClient.ready=true
 DEBUG qml: [TIMER] posIdx= 0 count= 0 visible= false contentX= -577.5 width= 2079 height= 545 contentWidth= 1155
 DEBUG qml: [TIMER] after position: contentX= -577.5
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] listWallpapers returned 23 items
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] built 23 model items from 23 daemon rows
 DEBUG qml: [WSS] _rebuildPopularTags: tagsDb has 0 entries, built 0 popular tags
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onVisibleChanged visible= true count= 23 model= set contentX= -577.5 width= 2079 height= 545 contentWidth= 1155
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onCountChanged count= 23 visible= true contentX= -577.5 contentWidth= 1155
 DEBUG qml: [TIMER] posIdx= 0 count= 23 visible= true contentX= -577.5 width= 2079 height= 545 contentWidth= 4732
 DEBUG qml: [TIMER] after position: contentX= -577.5
 DEBUG qml: wallpaper-selector timing: ready in 416 ms (items: 23) (rss: 3.9 MB, pss: 1.3 MB, vss: 8.0 MB)
  WARN: QRhiGles2: Failed to create temporary context
  WARN: QRhiGles2: Failed to create context
  WARN: Failed to create RHI (backend 2)
 ERROR: Failed to create graphics context for qs::wayland::layershell::WlrLayershell(0x77898b87a480): "Failed to initialize graphics backend for OpenGL."
 DEBUG qml: [SLICE] onVisibleChanged visible= false count= 23 model= set contentX= -577.5 width= 2079 height= 545 contentWidth= 4732
 DEBUG qml: wallpaper-selector timing: ready in 416 ms (items: 23) (rss: 3.9 MB, pss: 1.3 MB, vss: 8.0 MB)

Hmmm that is weird. I may have OpenGL somehow misconfigured... but weirdly when I run the qml manually, the ui opens (thumbnails still missing). Might be a problem on my side after all...