feat: --defaults --options <ids> (exactly these on) replaces --skip; steamify.sh --boot gamescope|desktop on its own switches where an installed conversion starts

AGENTS.md

@@ -279,9 +279,13 @@ gamescope and the Plasma desktop. Primary target: the Valve Steam Machine
   removes it so Plasma builds Vapor's layout at the first login. What needs
   that layout (single user's launcher) runs then, from a one-time autostart
   (`lib/first-login.sh`, `--first-login`) that also opens the app.
-  `--skip <id>,...` and `--boot gamescope|desktop` (2.7.0, `defaults_options`
+  `--options <id>,...` (exactly these on, the rest off; an item on brings its
-  in `lib/menu.sh`) change the preselection through `toggle_component`, so the
+  parent) and `--boot gamescope|desktop` (desktop only with `gaming`) (2.7.0,
-  menu's dependencies hold; the ISO's installer pages pass them.
+  `defaults_options` in `lib/menu.sh`); the ISO's installer page passes them.
+  Items this PC can't use are left off with a warning, not an error.
+  `steamify.sh --boot gamescope|desktop` on its own (2.7.0, for scripts) only
+  switches `boot` on an installed conversion: `WANTED` is `CURRENT` plus
+  that, so no updates or removals a normal run would pick.
 - `Relogin=true` means a gamescope that fails to start is relaunched in a
   tight loop; keep that in mind when changing session handling.
 

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ one per merged pull request.
 
 - `4f6e6fd` **feat: --defaults takes --skip <ids> and --boot gamescope|desktop, for the Steam Machine ISO's installer pages**
 - `5bf9da4` **fix: HDMI-CEC enables cec-audio-control.socket (the TV remote's volume keys); existing installs get it as an update**
-- **fix: the app's progress screen says "Boot into desktop", not "Boot into Boot into"**
+- `14aa7c0` **fix: the app's progress screen says "Boot into desktop", not "Boot into Boot into"**
+- **feat: --defaults --options <ids> (exactly these on) replaces --skip; steamify.sh --boot gamescope|desktop on its own switches where an installed conversion starts**
 
 ## 2.6.0 - 2026-09-27
 

README.md

@@ -125,6 +125,14 @@ steamos-session-select persistent  # start where you left off last time
 steamos-session-select oneshot     # always start in gaming mode (default)
 ```
 
+Where the PC starts after a restart can also be set from a script, once the
+SteamOS conversion is on (only that changes; `sudo` may ask for your password):
+
+```bash
+steamify.sh --boot desktop     # start in the desktop from the next boot on
+steamify.sh --boot gamescope   # start in gaming mode again (default)
+```
+
 ## Something wrong?
 
 Stuck on a black screen in gaming mode: press **Ctrl+Alt+F3**, log in, and run

TECHNICAL.md

@@ -420,6 +420,30 @@ steamos-session-select persistent  # remember the last-used session across reboo
 steamos-session-select oneshot     # always start in gamescope (default, like a Deck)
 ```
 
+`steamify.sh --boot gamescope|desktop` sets where the PC starts after a
+restart (the menu's Boot into row) from a script: it needs the SteamOS
+conversion and changes nothing else, not even the updates a normal run would
+apply. Exit code 1 without the conversion or with another value.
+
+## Install-time mode (`--defaults`)
+
+For an installer (the Steam Machine ISO), without a session or prompts
+(passwordless sudo required):
+
+```bash
+steamify.sh --defaults                                  # what the menu would preselect
+steamify.sh --defaults --options gaming,theme,cec,machine --boot desktop
+```
+
+`--options` turns on exactly the listed items (the menu's ids: `gaming`,
+`theme`, `glyphs`, `single`, `launcher`, `notify`, `vram`, `cec`, `machine`,
+`poweroff`), everything else off; an item that's on brings its parent
+(single user the conversion, the power-off fix Steam Machine support). An
+item this PC can't use (e.g. `vram` without a VRAM region) is left off with
+a warning. `--boot desktop` needs `gaming`. Unknown options, ids, `boot` or
+`bios` in the list: exit code 1 before anything changes. What needs a
+Plasma session waits for the first login (`lib/first-login.sh`).
+
 With `Relogin=true`, a gamescope session that fails to start is restarted
 immediately, which can turn into a loop - see
 [TROUBLESHOOTING.md](TROUBLESHOOTING.md) for the way out.

lib/menu.sh

@@ -180,32 +180,59 @@ detect_components() {
 }
 
 defaults_options() {
-    # defaults_options [--skip <id>[,<id>...]] [--boot gamescope|desktop]:
+    # defaults_options [--options <id>[,<id>...]] [--boot gamescope|desktop]:
-    # changes --defaults' preselection like unticking items in the menu
+    # what --defaults sets up, from the Steam Machine ISO's installer page.
-    # (the Steam Machine ISO's installer pages pass them). Returns 1 on an
+    # --options: exactly these items on, every other off (without it, the
-    # unknown option or id.
+    # menu's preselection). An item that's on brings its parent (single user
-    local c ids
+    # the conversion, like ticking it in the menu); one this PC can't use is
+    # left off with a warning. --boot desktop needs the conversion. Returns 1
+    # on an unknown option, item or value.
+    local c ids list=false boot=""
     while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+        # Both take a value: without one, shift 2 fails and never shifts, so
+        # the loop would spin forever.
+        [[ "$1" == --options || "$1" == --boot ]] && [[ $# -lt 2 ]] && { err "$1 needs a value"; return 1; }
         case "$1" in
-            --skip)
+            --options)
-                IFS=, read -ra ids <<< "${2:-}"
+                list=true
-                for c in "${ids[@]}"; do
+                IFS=, read -ra ids <<< "$2"
-                    [[ -n "${LABEL[$c]:-}" ]] || { err "Unknown item: $c"; return 1; }
-                    # Unticking through the menu's rules: e.g. skipping the
-                    # conversion also skips single user mode.
-                    [[ "${WANTED[$c]:-0}" == 1 ]] && toggle_component "$c"
-                done
                 shift 2 ;;
             --boot)
-                case "${2:-}" in
+                case "$2" in
-                    gamescope) [[ "${WANTED[boot]:-0}" == 1 ]] && toggle_component boot ;;
+                    gamescope|desktop) boot="$2" ;;
-                    desktop) [[ "${WANTED[boot]:-0}" == 0 && "${WANTED[gaming]:-0}" == 1 ]] && toggle_component boot ;;
                     *) err "--boot takes gamescope or desktop"; return 1 ;;
                 esac
                 shift 2 ;;
             *) err "Unknown option: $1"; return 1 ;;
         esac
     done
+    if [[ "$list" == true ]]; then
+        for c in "${ids[@]}"; do
+            [[ -n "$c" ]] || continue
+            [[ -n "${LABEL[$c]:-}" ]] || { err "Unknown item: $c"; return 1; }
+            [[ "$c" == boot ]] && { err "Where to start is --boot, not an item."; return 1; }
+            is_action "$c" && { err "$c can't be part of the install."; return 1; }
+        done
+        for c in "${COMPONENTS[@]}"; do WANTED[$c]=0; done
+        for c in "${ids[@]}"; do
+            [[ -n "$c" ]] || continue
+            if component_available "$c" && component_selectable "$c"; then
+                WANTED[$c]=1
+            else
+                warn "Leaving out ${LABEL[$c]%%:*}: not available on this PC."
+            fi
+        done
+        [[ "${WANTED[single]}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[gaming]=1
+        for c in "${COMPONENTS[@]}"; do
+            [[ "${WANTED[$c]}" == 1 && -n "${PARENT[$c]:-}" ]] && WANTED[${PARENT[$c]}]=1
+        done
+    fi
+    case "$boot" in
+        desktop)
+            [[ "${WANTED[gaming]}" == 1 ]] || { err "--boot desktop needs the SteamOS conversion (gaming)."; return 1; }
+            WANTED[boot]=1 ;;
+        gamescope) WANTED[boot]=0 ;;
+    esac
     return 0
 }
 

steamify.sh

@@ -28,11 +28,15 @@ require_root_helper
 
 BACKEND=false
 [[ "${1:-}" == --backend ]] && BACKEND=true
-# --defaults [--skip <id>,...] [--boot gamescope|desktop]: apply what the
+# --defaults [--options <id>,...] [--boot gamescope|desktop]: apply what the
-# menu would preselect (minus the skipped items), without the menu or any
+# menu would preselect (or exactly the listed items), without the menu or any
 # prompt (the Steam Machine ISO's first login runs this; sudo must not ask).
 DEFAULTS=false
 [[ "${1:-}" == --defaults ]] && DEFAULTS=true
+# --boot gamescope|desktop: only change where an installed conversion
+# starts, everything else stays as it is (for scripts; no menu).
+BOOT_ONLY=false
+[[ "${1:-}" == --boot ]] && BOOT_ONLY=true
 
 if [[ "$BACKEND" == false ]]; then
     echo -e "${c_bold}Steamify CachyOS${c_reset} v$VERSION"
@@ -139,6 +143,30 @@ if [[ "$DEFAULTS" == true ]]; then
     exit 0
 fi
 
+if [[ "$BOOT_ONLY" == true ]]; then
+    RESTART_FOR_LOGIN=false
+    REAPPLY=false
+    case "${2:-}" in
+        gamescope|desktop) ;;
+        *) err "--boot takes gamescope or desktop"; exit 1 ;;
+    esac
+    detect_components
+    [[ "${CURRENT[gaming]}" == 1 ]] || { err "--boot needs the SteamOS conversion; turn it on first."; exit 1; }
+    # What is on stays on, and nothing else changes: not the updates or
+    # removals a normal run would pick.
+    for c in "${COMPONENTS[@]}"; do WANTED[$c]=${CURRENT[$c]:-0}; done
+    WANTED[boot]=0; [[ "$2" == desktop ]] && WANTED[boot]=1
+    plan_changes
+    if [[ ${#TO_DISABLE[@]} -eq 0 && ${#TO_ENABLE[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+        ok "Already starting in $2."
+        exit 0
+    fi
+    apply_changes
+    [[ ${#FAILED[@]} -eq 0 ]] || { warn "These had problems (see above): ${FAILED[*]}"; exit 1; }
+    ok "Starts in $2 from the next boot on."
+    exit 0
+fi
+
 # Menu loop: after each run the menu comes back with the new state, until
 # the user quits; the restart question comes then, once, for everything.
 RESTART_FOR_LOGIN=false