wayland::serve...hell_surface_t(3)

📦

version 1.0.1 · 10 versions

1.0.1 · ubuntu stonking (latest)
1.0.1-devman · nixos 26.05, nixpkgs unstable
1.0.0 · alpine 3.24
1.0.0 · ubuntu questing
1.0.1 · fedora 43
1.0.1 · fedora 44
1.0.0 · ubuntu noble
1.0.0 · debian bookworm
1.0.1 · ubuntu resolute
1.0.0 · debian trixie

🌸 NAME 🌸

wayland::server::shell_surface_t — desktop-style metadata interface.

🫶 bestie, this is a Wayland++ manual page. The header line is the classic wayland::server::shell_surface_t(3) situation — sometimes it gets all squished in terminal headers like wayland::serve...hell_surface_t(3), iykyk. 💅

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

Include this and you're in:

#include <wayland-server-protocol.hpp>

🌟 Public Member Functions 🌟

std::function< void(uint32_t)> & on_pong () — the hook for responding to a ping event. 🏓
std::function< void(seat_t, uint32_t)> & on_move () — starts an interactive move. 🕺
std::function< void(seat_t, uint32_t, shell_surface_resize)> & on_resize () — starts an interactive resize. 📐
std::function< void()> & on_set_toplevel () — makes the surface a toplevel surface. 👑
std::function< void(surface_t, int32_t, int32_t, shell_surface_transient)> & on_set_transient () — makes the surface a transient surface. 🦋
std::function< void(shell_surface_fullscreen_method, uint32_t, output_t)> & on_set_fullscreen () — makes the surface a fullscreen surface. 🌈
std::function< void(seat_t, uint32_t, surface_t, int32_t, int32_t, shell_surface_transient)> & on_set_popup () — makes the surface a popup surface. 🎈
std::function< void(output_t)> & on_set_maximized () — makes the surface a maximized surface. 🔥
std::function< void(std::string)> & on_set_title () — sets the surface title. 🏷️
std::function< void(std::string)> & on_set_class () — sets the surface class. 🎀
void ping (uint32_t serial, bool post=true) — pings the client. 📣
void configure (shell_surface_resize const &edges, int32_t width, int32_t height, bool post=true) — suggests a resize. 📏
void popup_done (bool post=true) — popup interaction is done. ✅
bool proxy_has_object () const — checks whether this wrapper actually wraps an object. 🔍
void post_no_memory () const — this one shows up with just its signature on the page, no extra description. 🫧
uint32_t get_id () const — signature only on the page. 🪪
client_t get_client () const — signature only on the page. 👥
unsigned int get_version () const — signature only on the page. 🔢
std::string get_class () — signature only on the page. 🎓

🎀 Static Public Attributes 🎀

static constexpr std::uint32_t ping_since_version = 1 — minimum protocol version required for the ping function. ⭐
static constexpr std::uint32_t configure_since_version = 1 — minimum protocol version required for the configure function. ⭐
static constexpr std::uint32_t popup_done_since_version = 1 — minimum protocol version required for the popup_done function. ⭐

💫 Detailed Description 💫

desktop-style metadata interface — yes, that’s the subtitle, and it is literally giving exactly what it says. 💅

An interface that may be implemented by a wl_surface, for implementations that provide a desktop-style user interface. 🖥️✨

It provides requests to treat surfaces like toplevel, fullscreen or popup windows, move, resize or maximize them, associate metadata like title and class, etc. 🪄

🚨 Important lifecycle tea: On the server side the object is automatically destroyed when the related wl_surface is destroyed. On the client side, wl_shell_surface_destroy() must be called before destroying the wl_surface object. Do not skip that, bestie. 😭

📌 Definition at line 1741 of file wayland-server-protocol.hpp.

💅 Member Function Documentation 💅

`void shell_surface_t::configure (shell_surface_resize const & edges, int32_t width, int32_t height, bool post = true)`

okay so this one's literally suggest resize — the configure event is the compositor being like "hey bestie, maybe resize ur surface?" 🦋

Parameters — gotta pass all of these:

edges — how the surface was resized
width — new width of the surface
height — new height of the surface

The configure event asks the client to resize its surface.

The size is a hint, in the sense that the client is free to ignore it if it doesn't resize, or pick a smaller size (to satisfy aspect ratio or resize in steps of NxM pixels). So like… it's giving suggestion, not demand. 💁

The edges parameter provides a hint about how the surface was resized. The client may use this information to decide how to adjust its content to the new size (e.g. a scrolling area might adjust its content position to leave the viewable content unmoved). lowkey clever ngl ✨

The client is free to dismiss all but the last configure event it received.

The width and height arguments specify the size of the window in surface-local coordinates.

Definition at line 2328 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::string wayland::server::resource_t::get_class () [inherited]`

Retrieve the interface name (class) of a resource object. 🎀

Returns — Interface name of the resource object.

`client_t wayland::server::resource_t::get_client () const [inherited]`

Get the associated client, bestie. 🫶

Returns — the client that owns the resource.

`uint32_t wayland::server::resource_t::get_id () const [inherited]`

Get the internal ID of the resource. 💅

Returns — the internal ID of the resource

`unsigned int wayland::server::resource_t::get_version () const [inherited]`

Get interface version. 🌸

Returns — Interface version this resource has been constructed with.

`std::function< void(seat_t, uint32_t)> & shell_surface_t::on_move ()`

start an interactive move 🚗✨

Parameters:

seat — seat whose pointer is used
serial — serial number of the implicit grab on the pointer

Start a pointer-driven move of the surface.

This request must be used in response to a button press event. The server may ignore move requests depending on the state of the surface (e.g. fullscreen or maximized). so like, don't expect it to always work, iykyk 😭

Definition at line 2269 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(uint32_t)> & shell_surface_t::on_pong ()`

respond to a ping event 🏓

Parameters:

serial — serial number of the ping event

A client must respond to a ping event with a pong request or the client may be deemed unresponsive. no cap, they will think ur ghosting them 💀

Definition at line 2263 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(seat_t, uint32_t, shell_surface_resize)> & shell_surface_t::on_resize ()`

start an interactive resize 🎀

Parameters:

seat — seat whose pointer is used
serial — serial number of the implicit grab on the pointer
edges — which edge or corner is being dragged

Start a pointer-driven resizing of the surface.

This request must be used in response to a button press event. The server may ignore resize requests depending on the state of the surface (e.g. fullscreen or maximized).

Definition at line 2275 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(std::string)> & shell_surface_t::on_set_class ()`

set surface class 👑

Parameters:

class_ — surface class

Set a class for the surface.

The surface class identifies the general class of applications to which the surface belongs. A common convention is to use the file name (or the full path if it is a non-standard location) of the application's .desktop file as the class. fr fr, that's the vibe 🦋

Definition at line 2317 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(shell_surface_fullscreen_method, uint32_t, output_t)> & shell_surface_t::on_set_fullscreen ()`

make the surface a fullscreen surface 🌈 (main character energy, literally taking up the whole screen)

Parameters:

method — method for resolving size conflict
framerate — framerate in mHz
output — output on which the surface is to be fullscreen

Map the surface as a fullscreen surface.

If an output parameter is given then the surface will be made fullscreen on that output. If the client does not specify the output then the compositor will apply its policy — usually choosing the output on which the surface has the biggest surface area.

The client may specify a method to resolve a size conflict between the output size and the surface size — this is provided through the method parameter.

The framerate parameter is used only when the method is set to "driver", to indicate the preferred framerate. A value of 0 indicates that the client does not care about framerate. The framerate is specified in mHz, that is framerate of 60000 is 60Hz.

A method of "scale" or "driver" implies a scaling operation of the surface, either via a direct scaling operation or a change of the output mode. This will override any kind of output scaling, so that mapping a surface with a buffer size equal to the mode can fill the screen independent of buffer_scale. 😤

A method of "fill" means we don't scale up the buffer, however any output scale is applied. This means that you may run into an edge case where the application maps a buffer with the same size of the output mode but buffer_scale 1 (thus making a surface larger than the output). In this case it is allowed to downscale the results to fit the screen.

The compositor must reply to this request with a configure event with the dimensions for the output on which the surface will be made fullscreen.

Definition at line 2293 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(output_t)> & shell_surface_t::on_set_maximized ()`

make the surface a maximized surface ✨

Parameters:

output — output on which the surface is to be maximized

Map the surface as a maximized surface.

If an output parameter is given then the surface will be maximized on that output. If the client does not specify the output then the compositor will apply its policy — usually choosing the output on which the surface has the biggest surface area.

The compositor will reply with a configure event telling the expected new surface size. The operation is completed on the next buffer attach to this surface. 🎀

A maximized surface typically fills the entire output it is bound to, except for desktop elements such as panels. This is the main difference between a maximized shell surface and a fullscreen shell surface.

The details depend on the compositor implementation. (iykyk, every compositor does its own thing 💅)

Definition at line 2305 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(seat_t, uint32_t, surface_t, int32_t, int32_t, shell_surface_transient)> & shell_surface_t::on_set_popup ()`

make the surface a popup surface 🎈 (the little guy that pops up and grabs ur pointer)

Parameters:

seat — seat whose pointer is used
serial — serial number of the implicit grab on the pointer
parent — parent surface
x — surface-local x coordinate
y — surface-local y coordinate
flags — transient surface behavior

Map the surface as a popup.

A popup surface is a transient surface with an added pointer grab.

An existing implicit grab will be changed to owner-events mode, and the popup grab will continue after the implicit grab ends (i.e. releasing the mouse button does not cause the popup to be unmapped). 😳

The popup grab continues until the window is destroyed or a mouse button is pressed in any other client's window. A click in any of the client's surfaces is reported as normal, however, clicks in other clients' surfaces will be discarded and trigger the callback.

The x and y arguments specify the location of the upper left corner of the surface relative to the upper left corner of the parent surface, in surface-local coordinates.

Definition at line 2299 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(std::string)> & shell_surface_t::on_set_title ()`

set surface title 📝

Parameters:

title — surface title

Set a short title for the surface.

This string may be used to identify the surface in a task bar, window list, or other user interface elements provided by the compositor.

The string must be encoded in UTF-8. no exceptions bestie 💜

Definition at line 2311 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void()> & shell_surface_t::on_set_toplevel ()`

make the surface a toplevel surface 🌟

Map the surface as a toplevel surface.

A toplevel surface is not fullscreen, maximized or transient. that's it, that's the whole definition, she's simple like that 💅

Definition at line 2281 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`std::function< void(surface_t, int32_t, int32_t, shell_surface_transient)> & shell_surface_t::on_set_transient ()`

make the surface a transient surface 🦋

Parameters:

parent — parent surface
x — surface-local x coordinate
y — surface-local y coordinate
flags — transient surface behavior

Map the surface relative to an existing surface.

The x and y arguments specify the location of the upper left corner of the surface relative to the upper left corner of the parent surface, in surface-local coordinates.

The flags argument controls details of the transient behaviour.

Definition at line 2287 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`void shell_surface_t::ping (uint32_t serial, bool post = true)`

ping client 🏓✨

Parameters:

serial — serial number of the ping

Ping a client to check if it is receiving events and sending requests. A client is expected to reply with a pong request. like a vibe check but for socket liveness 😭

Definition at line 2323 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`void shell_surface_t::popup_done (bool post = true)`

popup interaction is done 🎈💀

The popup_done event is sent out when a popup grab is broken, that is, when the user clicks a surface that doesn't belong to the client owning the popup surface. rude but necessary tbh

Definition at line 2333 of file wayland-server-protocol.cpp.

`void wayland::server::resource_t::post_no_memory () const [inherited]`

Post "not enough memory" error to the client 😭

If the compositor has not enough memory to fulfill a certail request of the client, this function can be called to notify the client of this circumstance. (yes, "certail" — we're quoting the docs, don't come for me 🙈)

`bool wayland::server::resource_t::proxy_has_object () const [inherited]`

Check whether this wrapper actually wraps an object. 🕵️‍♀️

Returns — true if there is an underlying object, false if this wrapper is empty

🎀 Member Data Documentation 🎀

`std::uint32_t wayland::server::shell_surface_t::configure_since_version = 1`

[static], [constexpr]

Minimum protocol version required for the configure function. 🦋

Definition at line 2004 of file wayland-server-protocol.hpp.

`std::uint32_t wayland::server::shell_surface_t::ping_since_version = 1`

[static], [constexpr]

Minimum protocol version required for the ping function. 🏓

Definition at line 1974 of file wayland-server-protocol.hpp.

`std::uint32_t wayland::server::shell_surface_t::popup_done_since_version = 1`

[static], [constexpr]

Minimum protocol version required for the popup_done function. 🎈

Definition at line 2017 of file wayland-server-protocol.hpp.

👑 AUTHOR 👑

okay so nobody actually wrote this by hand bestie — it's literally generated automatically by Doxygen for Wayland++ from the source code. so the real author is Doxygen doing its little robot thing 🎀 and the source code itself is the main character here, periodt ✨

no cap, if you're looking for a human to @ about a typo, the code is the vibe, not the docs 💅

and that's a wrap on the whole page, bestie 🫶 go forth and slay your Wayland adventures 🌈

little sign-off footnote: this is Version 1.0.1, dated Fri Mar 27 2026, and it comes to you from Wayland++ by way of Doxygen — mwah 💖 🦋

📦 where this page comes from

ubuntu stonking: waylandpp-dev 1.0.1-2 · BSD-2-Clause
💖 girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017 on 2026-11-06: a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms