165 lines
6.8 KiB
Markdown
165 lines
6.8 KiB
Markdown
# Super Alt S - Gaming Mode for KDE Plasma
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Switch between KDE Plasma desktop and Steam Big Picture Gaming Mode with a keyboard shortcut. Built for Arch Linux and CachyOS.
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**Super+Alt+S** to enter Gaming Mode. **Super+Alt+R** to return to desktop.
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## What it does
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This installer sets up a full console-like gaming experience on your KDE Plasma desktop by configuring:
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- **Gamescope session** using ChimeraOS packages (`gamescope-session-git`, `gamescope-session-steam-git`)
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- **Steam Big Picture** running in a dedicated Wayland session via gamescope
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- **One-key switching** between KDE Plasma and Gaming Mode via SDDM session management
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- **GPU auto-detection** for NVIDIA, AMD dGPU, and AMD APU systems
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- **Performance mode** with CPU governor, GPU power management, and kernel tuning
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- **NetworkManager integration** so Steam has network access even if your desktop uses iwd/systemd-networkd
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- **External drive auto-mounting** for Steam libraries on secondary drives
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- **Shader cache optimisation** for reduced stuttering
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- **Installation verification** to confirm everything is set up correctly
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## Requirements
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- **Arch Linux** or **CachyOS** (or any Arch-based distro with KDE Plasma)
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- **KDE Plasma 6** (Wayland)
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- **SDDM** display manager
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- **AMD or NVIDIA GPU** (Intel-only is not supported)
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- **Steam** (installed during setup if missing)
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- **AUR helper** (yay or paru) for ChimeraOS session packages
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## Install
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```bash
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git clone https://git.no-signal.uk/nosignal/super-alt-s.git
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cd super-alt-s
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chmod +x super-alt-s.sh
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./super-alt-s.sh
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```
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The installer is interactive and will walk you through each step, asking before making changes.
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## Usage
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| Action | Shortcut |
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|---|---|
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| Enter Gaming Mode | **Super+Alt+S** (from KDE Plasma) |
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| Return to Desktop | **Super+Alt+R** (from Gaming Mode) |
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| Return to Desktop (fallback) | Steam > Power > Exit to Desktop |
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## What gets installed
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### Packages (via pacman + AUR)
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- Steam and all required 32-bit libraries
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- GPU-specific Vulkan drivers (NVIDIA or AMD)
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- gamescope, mangohud, gamemode, proton-ge-custom-bin
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- gamescope-session-git + gamescope-session-steam-git (ChimeraOS AUR packages)
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- python-evdev (for keybind monitoring)
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### Scripts
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| File | Purpose |
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|---|---|
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| `/usr/local/bin/switch-to-gaming` | Switches from KDE to Gaming Mode |
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| `/usr/local/bin/switch-to-desktop` | Switches from Gaming Mode to KDE |
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| `/usr/local/bin/gamescope-session-nm-wrapper` | Session wrapper with NetworkManager + performance mode |
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| `/usr/local/bin/gaming-keybind-monitor` | Python daemon monitoring Super+Alt+R in Gaming Mode |
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| `/usr/local/bin/gaming-session-switch` | Updates SDDM config for session switching |
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| `/usr/local/bin/gamescope-nm-start` | Starts NetworkManager for gaming session |
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| `/usr/local/bin/gamescope-nm-stop` | Stops NetworkManager and restores iwd |
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| `/usr/local/bin/steam-library-mount` | Auto-mounts external drives with Steam libraries |
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| `/usr/lib/os-session-select` | Handles Steam's "Exit to Desktop" menu option |
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### System config
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| File | Purpose |
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| `/etc/sddm.conf.d/zz-gaming-session.conf` | SDDM autologin session switching |
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| `/etc/sudoers.d/gaming-session-switch` | Passwordless sudo for session switching |
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| `/etc/sudoers.d/gaming-mode-sysctl` | Passwordless sudo for performance tuning |
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| `/etc/udev/rules.d/99-gaming-performance.rules` | CPU/GPU sysfs permissions |
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| `/etc/security/limits.d/99-gaming-memlock.conf` | Memory lock limits for esync |
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| `/etc/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/10-gaming-latency.conf` | Low-latency audio |
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| `/etc/environment.d/99-shader-cache.conf` | Shader cache sizes |
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| `/etc/polkit-1/rules.d/50-gamescope-networkmanager.rules` | NM access for wheel group |
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| `/etc/polkit-1/rules.d/50-udisks-gaming.rules` | Drive mount access for wheel group |
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### User config
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| File | Purpose |
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| `~/.config/environment.d/gamescope-session-plus.conf` | Resolution, refresh rate, GPU settings |
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| `~/.config/kglobalshortcutsrc` | Super+Alt+S shortcut registration |
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## GPU support
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### NVIDIA
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- Auto-detects NVIDIA GPU and installs required drivers/utils
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- Checks and configures `nvidia-drm.modeset=1` kernel parameter (supports GRUB, systemd-boot, and Limine)
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- Sets up GBM backend and Vulkan adapter
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- NVIDIA gamescope wrapper with `--force-composition` if supported
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- Caps resolution at 2560x1440 for gamescope compatibility
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- Performance mode includes persistence mode, max power limit, and runtime suspend disable
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### AMD (dGPU)
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- Installs Vulkan RADEON drivers
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- Enables adaptive sync and HDR
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- Distinguishes between discrete GPUs and integrated APUs using PCI device identification
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### AMD APU
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- Supported as a fallback when no discrete GPU is found
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- Same session setup with APU-specific display detection
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## Verify installation
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Run verification without reinstalling:
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```bash
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./super-alt-s.sh --verify
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```
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This checks all files, permissions, packages, user groups, and service status.
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## Options
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```
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./super-alt-s.sh # Full install
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./super-alt-s.sh --verify # Verification only
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./super-alt-s.sh --version # Show version
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./super-alt-s.sh --help # Show help
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```
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## How it works
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1. **KDE to Gaming Mode (Super+Alt+S):** The `switch-to-gaming` script updates SDDM's session config to `gamescope-session-steam-nm`, kills any existing gamescope, and restarts SDDM. SDDM auto-logs in to the gaming session.
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2. **Gaming session startup:** The `gamescope-session-nm-wrapper` enables performance mode (CPU governor, GPU power), starts NetworkManager, launches the Steam library drive monitor, starts the keybind monitor, then hands off to ChimeraOS's `gamescope-session-plus` which launches gamescope with Steam.
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3. **Gaming Mode to KDE (Super+Alt+R):** The `gaming-keybind-monitor` Python daemon detects the key combo via evdev and calls `switch-to-desktop`, which shuts down Steam, kills gamescope, updates SDDM config back to KDE Plasma, and restarts SDDM.
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4. **Cleanup on exit:** Performance mode is restored to balanced, NetworkManager is stopped (iwd restarted if needed), drive monitor and keybind monitor are killed.
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## Troubleshooting
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### No network in Gaming Mode
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- Check NetworkManager is installed: `pacman -S networkmanager`
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- Test manually: `sudo systemctl start NetworkManager && nmcli general`
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- Check logs: `journalctl -u NetworkManager -n 50`
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### Shortcut not working in KDE
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- Log out and back in after install
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- Or set manually: System Settings > Shortcuts > search "Gaming Mode"
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### Super+Alt+R not working in Gaming Mode
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- Ensure you're in the `input` group: `groups | grep input`
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- Check python-evdev: `python3 -c "import evdev"`
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- Check input devices: `ls /dev/input/event*`
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### NVIDIA: black screen or no display
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- Verify kernel parameter: `cat /proc/cmdline | grep nvidia-drm.modeset`
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- Reboot if you just added the parameter
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- Check DRM cards: `ls /sys/class/drm/card*/device/driver -la`
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## License
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MIT
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