GZML Shell – A Familiar Home for Noctalia v4 Users

GZML Shell – A Familiar Home for Noctalia v4 Users

With Noctalia V5 moving toward a C++-based architecture, I know there are still plenty of users who enjoy the Quickshell based experience that V4 provided. That's one of the reasons I started building GZML Shell.

GZML Shell began as a personal project and experiment, but it has grown into a standalone shell based on the Noctalia V4 foundation while adding new features, bug fixes, and quality of life improvements along the way.

Some highlights include:

• Video playback support for the lock screen

• Improved profile handling and synchronization options

• Support for both bundled and user installed plugins

• Compatibility layers for existing Noctalia plugins

• Cleaner separation between shell files and user configuration

• Numerous backend fixes and usability improvements

One feature I specifically wanted to keep was an easy migration path. If you're coming from Noctalia V4, you can simply copy your existing settings, profiles, and configuration files into the appropriate GZML Shell config directory after install and continue using your setup with minimal hassle.

The goal isn't to replace Noctalia or compete with the V5 effort it's simply to provide an option for users who prefer the Quickshell workflow and want a smoother transition without rebuilding everything from scratch.

The project is fully open source, and all code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, or contribute to.

If you'd like to test it out, provide feedback, report bugs, or follow development, check out the GitHub repository: