Remove border when window is the only one on screen

[Schweber]

I'd like the focus-ring and border to go away when there is only one window visible on screen (no matter the matter the reason: maximized, the only window at all etc.).

[YaLTeR]

Hm, I guess there could be a window rule matcher about the column being maximized, but I'm not sure this behavior in general is necessarily good. You could instead try fullscreening?

[Schweber]

I could but then it would also cover the status bar (e.g. waybar). I find borders useful to differentiate between multiple windows and seeing which one has focus. But if only one window is on screen, the border is distracting and annoying to me.

hyprland has this option no_gaps_when_only which i'm looking to replicate in niri. This way, the status bar stays visible while the window takes up all the space and no border is drawn.

[Dimev]

hyprland's option here is nice.
I think it could also be implemented as a "gaps-when-maximized" option?

[zefr0x]

Hyprland removed this option in the latest version.

Window rules and workspace rules are flexible to the point that it cloud be done using them:
https://wiki.hyprland.org/0.45.0/Configuring/Workspace-Rules/#smart-gaps

[Schweber]

Sure but how you do it in niri right now?

[zefr0x]

Sure but how you do it in niri right now?

i don't

[Dimev]

How hard is it to add extra window rules?
I might take a look at contributing one for a maximized column.

[YaLTeR]

It's not hard to add extra window rules, but it may be hard to implement the specific logic that some window rule needs. It's a bit unclear what exactly the design should be for this discussion. A window rule for a sole window on a workspace is easy. For maximized active window shouldn't be hard, though there's an edge case of what should happen if the window refuses to expand to the full size (i.e. if you try to maximize a fixed size dialog). Should the rule still apply or not? If yes then it's simple, if not then you can get into all sorts of edge cases.

[Dimev]

Yeah that would make sense, probably wouldn't want the borders to be removed if it doesn't maximize.

I'd also like it to be able to disable gaps. Essentially just a fullscreen without also hiding the bar.