feat: "Start Steam silently" sub-option for the SteamOS conversion (silent) and Gaming on NVIDIA (nvsilent)

lib/backend.sh

@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ backend_status() {
         items+="${items:+,}{\"id\":$(json_str "$c"),\"label\":$(json_str "${LABEL[$c]%%:*}")"
         items+=",\"hint\":$(json_str "$( [[ "${LABEL[$c]}" == *:* ]] && echo "${LABEL[$c]#*: }")")"
         items+=",\"kind\":\"$kind\",\"parent\":$(json_str "$parent")"
+        items+=",\"needs\":$(json_str "$([[ "$c" == silent ]] && silent_needs_boot && echo boot)")"
         items+=",\"on\":$( [[ "$now" == 1 ]] && echo true || echo false)"
         items+=",\"wanted\":$( [[ "${WANTED[$c]:-0}" == 1 ]] && echo true || echo false)"
         items+=",\"update\":$(feature_outdated "$c" && echo true || echo false)"
@@ -154,7 +155,11 @@ backend_apply() {
         WANTED[boot]=0
     fi
     [[ "${WANTED[bigpicture]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[nvidia]=1
-    [[ "${WANTED[nvidia]:-0}" == 0 ]] && WANTED[bigpicture]=0
+    [[ "${WANTED[nvsilent]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[nvidia]=1
+    [[ "${WANTED[bigpicture]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[nvsilent]=0
+    [[ "${WANTED[nvidia]:-0}" == 0 ]] && { WANTED[bigpicture]=0; WANTED[nvsilent]=0; }
+    [[ "${WANTED[silent]:-0}" == 1 ]] && component_available gaming && WANTED[gaming]=1
+    [[ "${WANTED[gaming]:-0}" == 0 ]] && WANTED[silent]=0
     [[ "${WANTED[poweroff]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[machine]=1
     [[ "${WANTED[machine]:-0}" == 0 ]] && WANTED[poweroff]=0
     [[ "${WANTED[kpin]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[machine]=1
@@ -162,6 +167,7 @@ backend_apply() {
     # Retired: only ever removed.
     WANTED[hdmi]=0
     case "$boot" in desktop) WANTED[boot]=1; WANTED[gaming]=1 ;; gamescope) WANTED[boot]=0 ;; esac
+    silent_normalize
 
     REAPPLY=$reapply
     plan_changes

lib/menu.sh

@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 
 # Menu order. Components are turned on in this order and off in reverse;
 # gaming must come first (single user builds on it).
-COMPONENTS=(gaming boot nvidia bigpicture theme glyphs single launcher steamgame notify extended_controller_support vram cec machine poweroff kpin hdmi bios)
+COMPONENTS=(gaming boot silent nvidia bigpicture nvsilent theme glyphs single launcher steamgame notify extended_controller_support vram cec machine poweroff kpin hdmi bios)
 # One-off actions rather than on/off components: never preselected, never
 # re-applied, not listed as on or off.
 ACTIONS=(bios)
 # Sub-options, shown indented under their parent and only while it's ticked.
-declare -A PARENT=([boot]=gaming [bigpicture]=nvidia [steamgame]=launcher [poweroff]=machine [kpin]=machine [hdmi]=machine [bios]=machine)
+declare -A PARENT=([boot]=gaming [silent]=gaming [bigpicture]=nvidia [nvsilent]=nvidia [steamgame]=launcher [poweroff]=machine [kpin]=machine [hdmi]=machine [bios]=machine)
 # Never preselected on a first run: booting into the desktop is a choice,
 # gamescope is the default; HDMI-CEC is opt-in (it can wake the machine or
 # upset other devices on the TV, even on SteamOS), except on a Steam Machine,
 # which has CEC like on SteamOS. HDMI refresh boost needs someone at the
 # screen to confirm each step. Extended controller support builds kernel modules for
 # every installed kernel: opt-in.
-NO_PRESELECT=(boot cec kpin hdmi extended_controller_support)
+NO_PRESELECT=(boot nvsilent cec kpin hdmi extended_controller_support)
 # Feature versions: the Steamify version in which what a component's enable
 # sets up last changed; set it to the new VERSION whenever you change one.
 # Each successful run records it (state "features"); a component that's on
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ NO_PRESELECT=(boot cec kpin hdmi extended_controller_support)
 # FEATURE_BASELINE.
 FEATURE_BASELINE=2.1.0
 declare -A FEATURE_VERSION=(
-    [gaming]=2.9.0 [boot]=2.1.0 [nvidia]=2.10.0 [bigpicture]=2.10.0 [theme]=2.1.0 [glyphs]=2.1.0 [single]=2.1.0
+    [gaming]=2.9.0 [boot]=2.1.0 [silent]=2.1.0 [nvidia]=2.10.0 [bigpicture]=2.10.0 [nvsilent]=2.11.0 [theme]=2.1.0 [glyphs]=2.1.0 [single]=2.1.0
     [launcher]=2.1.0 [cec]=2.7.0 [machine]=2.9.0 [poweroff]=2.2.0 [vram]=2.3.0 [notify]=2.5.0 [steamgame]=2.5.1 [extended_controller_support]=2.10.0
     [kpin]=2.1.0 [hdmi]=2.1.0
 )
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ declare -A LABEL=(
     [gaming]="SteamOS conversion: boot into gaming mode, Steam on the desktop"
     [boot]="Boot into the desktop instead of gaming mode"
     [nvidia]="Gaming on NVIDIA: Steam on the desktop, started at login"
+    [silent]="Start Steam silently: in the tray at login on the desktop, no window"
+    [nvsilent]="Start Steam silently: in the tray at login, no window (untick: Steam's normal window)"
     [bigpicture]="Steam starts in Big Picture: the controller-friendly Steam (untick: Steam's normal window)"
     [theme]="Install SteamOS theme: Vapor look (cachyos-vapor)"
     [glyphs]="Install Steam Deck/Machine icons: Deck button icons in gaming mode"
@@ -57,9 +59,9 @@ component_available() {
     case "$1" in
         # gamescope's own session is broken on NVIDIA: the conversion is replaced by "Gaming on NVIDIA" there (shown
         # anyway when it's already on, so it can be turned off).
-        gaming|boot|glyphs) ! nvidia_present || gaming_status ;;
+        gaming|boot|silent|glyphs) ! nvidia_present || gaming_status ;;
         nvidia) nvidia_available ;;
-        bigpicture) bigpicture_available ;;
+        bigpicture|nvsilent) bigpicture_available ;;
         machine|poweroff) machine_available ;;
         vram) vram_available ;;
         # Steamify in the Steam library is for gaming mode's controller: not needed for Big Picture on the desktop (NVIDIA PCs;
@@ -79,10 +81,25 @@ boot_mode() {
     if [[ "$1" == 1 ]]; then echo desktop; else echo gamescope; fi
 }
 
+silent_needs_boot() {
+    # On a Steam Machine, silent start only makes sense when it boots into
+    # the desktop (gaming mode starts its own Steam): the option is hidden,
+    # and off, while "Boot into" is gaming mode.
+    machine_available
+}
+
+silent_normalize() {
+    silent_needs_boot && [[ "${WANTED[boot]:-0}" != 1 ]] && WANTED[silent]=0
+    return 0
+}
+
 menu_visible() {
     # Shown in the menu. A sub-option ("Boot into", the kernel pin) only
     # while its parent is ticked.
     component_available "$1" || return 1
+    # Silent start is hidden while Steam starts in Big Picture.
+    [[ "$1" == nvsilent && "${WANTED[bigpicture]:-0}" == 1 ]] && return 1
+    [[ "$1" == silent ]] && silent_needs_boot && [[ "${WANTED[boot]:-0}" != 1 ]] && return 1
     [[ -z "${PARENT[$1]:-}" || "${WANTED[${PARENT[$1]}]:-0}" == 1 ]]
 }
 
@@ -203,6 +220,7 @@ detect_components() {
         done
         machine_available && WANTED[cec]=1
     fi
+    silent_normalize
 }
 
 defaults_options() {
@@ -259,6 +277,7 @@ defaults_options() {
             WANTED[boot]=1 ;;
         gamescope) WANTED[boot]=0 ;;
     esac
+    silent_normalize
     return 0
 }
 
@@ -282,7 +301,7 @@ defaults_list() {
         [[ "$c" == cec ]] && machine_available && on=true
         items+="${items:+,}{\"id\":$(json_str "$c"),\"label\":$(json_str "${LABEL[$c]%%:*}")"
         items+=",\"hint\":$(json_str "$( [[ "${LABEL[$c]}" == *:* ]] && echo "${LABEL[$c]#*: }")")"
-        items+=",\"kind\":\"$kind\",\"parent\":$(json_str "${PARENT[$c]:-}"),\"on\":$on,\"selectable\":$sel}"
+        items+=",\"kind\":\"$kind\",\"parent\":$(json_str "${PARENT[$c]:-}"),\"needs\":$(json_str "$([[ "$c" == silent ]] && silent_needs_boot && echo boot)"),\"hideWhen\":$(json_str "$([[ "$c" == nvsilent ]] && echo bigpicture)"),\"on\":$on,\"selectable\":$sel}"
     done
     printf '[%s]\n' "$items"
 }
@@ -299,7 +318,13 @@ toggle_component() {
     if [[ "$c" == boot && "${WANTED[boot]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[gaming]=1; fi
     # Big Picture is opt-out: ticked along with "Gaming on NVIDIA".
     if [[ "$c" == nvidia ]]; then WANTED[bigpicture]=${WANTED[nvidia]}; fi
-    if [[ "$c" == bigpicture && "${WANTED[bigpicture]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[nvidia]=1; fi
+    if [[ "$c" == bigpicture && "${WANTED[bigpicture]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[nvidia]=1; WANTED[nvsilent]=0; fi
+    # Silent and Big Picture exclude each other.
+    if [[ "$c" == nvsilent && "${WANTED[nvsilent]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[nvidia]=1; WANTED[bigpicture]=0; fi
+    if [[ "$c" == nvidia && "${WANTED[nvidia]}" == 0 ]]; then WANTED[nvsilent]=0; fi
+    if [[ "$c" == gaming && "${WANTED[gaming]}" == 0 ]]; then WANTED[silent]=0; fi
+    if [[ "$c" == silent && "${WANTED[silent]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[gaming]=1; fi
+    silent_normalize
     # The power-off fix is opt-out: ticked along with Steam Machine support.
     if [[ "$c" == machine ]]; then WANTED[poweroff]=${WANTED[machine]}; fi
     if [[ "$c" == poweroff && "${WANTED[poweroff]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[machine]=1; fi

lib/nvidia.sh

@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ nvidia_enable() {
         state_set nvidia installed_pkgs steam
     fi
     # Keeps what the Big Picture option set up; a first run starts Steam normally.
-    local unit_args=""; bigpicture_status && unit_args=-gamepadui
+    local unit_args=""
+    if bigpicture_status; then unit_args=-gamepadui; elif nvsilent_status; then unit_args=-silent; fi
     nvidia_write_unit "$unit_args" || return 1
     user_systemctl enable "$NVIDIA_UNIT" >/dev/null 2>&1 || { err "Enabling $NVIDIA_UNIT failed."; return 1; }
     nvidia_kernel_enable || return 1
@@ -96,6 +97,23 @@ bigpicture_disable() {
     nvidia_write_unit "" && ok "Steam starts in its normal window at your next login."
 }
 
+# Sub-option: Steam starts silently (tray only, no window). Big Picture and
+# a silent start exclude each other (the menus untick one when the other is
+# ticked); a first run with both gets Big Picture.
+nvsilent_status() { grep -qs -- '-silent' "$(nvidia_unit_file)"; }
+
+nvsilent_enable() {
+    [[ -f "$(nvidia_unit_file)" ]] || return 0
+    bigpicture_status && return 0
+    nvidia_write_unit -silent || return 1
+    ok "Steam starts silently at your next login."
+}
+
+nvsilent_disable() {
+    nvsilent_status || return 0
+    nvidia_write_unit "" && ok "Steam starts in its normal window at your next login."
+}
+
 # --- Kernel parameters and early modules (a supported card only)
 
 nvidia_supported() {

lib/steam-desktop.sh

@@ -5,35 +5,46 @@
 
 steam_enable() {
     info "Applying non-optional SteamOS environment & keyboard fixes..."
-    local steam_env_dir systemd_user_dir
+    local steam_env_dir
     steam_env_dir="$HOME/.config/environment.d"
     mkdir -p "$steam_env_dir"
 
     # 2. Prevent KDE Wayland from blocking the virtual keyboard overlay
     echo "KWIN_IM_SHOW_ALWAYS=1" > "$steam_env_dir/99-kde-virtual-keyboard.conf"
 
-    # 3. Setup robust background systemd service for Steam autostart on Desktop Mode
-    systemd_user_dir="$HOME/.config/systemd/user"
+    ok "Steam UI parameters and keyboard fix deployed successfully."
+}
+
+# Sub-option of the SteamOS conversion: Steam starts silently (in the tray,
+# no window) on the Plasma desktop.
+silent_status() {
+    [[ -f "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/steam-desktop-autostart.service" ]]
+}
+
+silent_enable() {
+    local systemd_user_dir="$HOME/.config/systemd/user"
     mkdir -p "$systemd_user_dir"
-
     service_file steam-desktop-autostart.service > "$systemd_user_dir/steam-desktop-autostart.service"
-
     # Clean out old .desktop shortcut so they don't fight
     rm -f "$HOME/.config/autostart/steam.desktop"
-
-    # Reload user systemd context and activate the background loop
     user_systemctl daemon-reload
     user_systemctl enable --now steam-desktop-autostart.service
+    ok "Steam starts silently on the desktop."
+}
 
-    ok "Steam UI parameters and keyboard autostart deployed successfully."
+silent_disable() {
+    user_systemctl disable --now steam-desktop-autostart.service 2>/dev/null
+    rm -f "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/steam-desktop-autostart.service"
+    user_systemctl daemon-reload
+    ok "Steam no longer starts by itself on the desktop."
 }
 
 steam_disable() {
-    info "Removing Steam desktop autostart..."
-    user_systemctl disable --now steam-desktop-autostart.service 2>/dev/null
-    rm -f "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/steam-desktop-autostart.service" \
-        "$HOME/.config/environment.d/99-kde-virtual-keyboard.conf"
-    user_systemctl daemon-reload
+    info "Removing Steam desktop settings..."
+    # The autostart unit is the `silent` option's: removed with it, and here
+    # too for when the conversion goes off by itself.
+    silent_status && silent_disable
+    rm -f "$HOME/.config/environment.d/99-kde-virtual-keyboard.conf"
     ok "Steam desktop settings removed (takes full effect at next login)."
 }