Merge pull request #74 from theupriser/feature/silent-steam-start

feat: Start Steam silently in desktop mode (opt-in), Steam Deck icons under the conversion, installer fixes

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ one per merged pull request.
 
 ## 2.11.0 - 2026-10-01
 
+- `5da1833` **feat: "Start Steam silently" sub-option: under the SteamOS conversion (`silent`, opt-in now: it was always on before; an existing one is moved from its systemd unit to the autostart entry by the "update") and under Gaming on NVIDIA (`nvsilent`, opt-in, not together with Big Picture); the SteamOS one is called "Start Steam silently in desktop mode" and is always shown, also on a Steam Machine; it is Steam's own autostart entry (`~/.config/autostart/steam.desktop`), so Steam's setting "Run Steam when my computer starts" follows it**
+- **fix: the Steam Machine's serial number step no longer fails inside the ISO's installer (`/sys` is read-only in its chroot; the tmpfiles.d file applies at the next boot anyway), which made `machine` report an error and the install log end with `exit: 1`**
+- **feat: `STEAMIFY_NO_DOWNLOAD` (the ISO's `steamify.nodownload` kernel parameter): the installed system's first login runs the Steamify bundle of the ISO instead of downloading the newest release (to test an unreleased Steamify)**
+- **fix: the SteamOS theme no longer leaves a blank Discover pin in the taskbar (Plasma's default taskbar pins Discover, which CachyOS doesn't install); the taskbar gets CachyOS's own pins (System Settings, files, browser), also on the ISO's first login**
+- **feat: "Steam Deck/Machine icons" (`glyphs`) is a sub-option of the SteamOS conversion, like "Start Steam silently in desktop mode": it only changes gaming mode**
+
 ## 2.10.0 - 2026-10-01
 
 - `d6db4f6` **feat: "Gaming on NVIDIA" (nvidia) replaces the SteamOS conversion on PCs with an NVIDIA GPU, where gamescope's gaming mode shows a corrupted picture (NVIDIA bug 5240452): Steam is installed when missing and starts at login on the Plasma desktop; the sub-option "Steam starts in Big Picture" (bigpicture) starts it in Big Picture, unticked in its normal window, on an empty Plasma session so windows of the last session don't cover it. On a supported card (RTX 20 series or newer) it also sets the NVIDIA kernel parameters and early modules. The conversion and its options are hidden there unless already on**

TECHNICAL.md

@@ -108,9 +108,11 @@ tools write to the conf.d fragment into the base config.
   (never `zz-steamos-autologin.conf`, which CachyOS's tools own), and
   installs `/usr/local/bin/sync-steamos-session.sh` plus
   `sync-steamos-session.path`/`.service`;
-- `KWIN_IM_SHOW_ALWAYS=1` for the virtual keyboard and a
+- `KWIN_IM_SHOW_ALWAYS=1` for the virtual keyboard; the sub-option `silent`
-  `steam-desktop-autostart` systemd user service that starts Steam silently
+  ("Start Steam silently in desktop mode", opt-in, always shown) writes
-  in Plasma only;
+  `~/.config/autostart/steam.desktop` (the system steam.desktop with `-silent` in its Exec line). That is the
+  file Steam's own setting "Run Steam when my computer starts" creates and removes, so the setting shows it. An older
+  `steam-desktop-autostart` user unit is removed;
 - the **Return to Gaming Mode** shortcut; on plasma-login-manager with a
   narrow sudoers rule (`/etc/sudoers.d/gamescope-session-switch`) so it can
   restart the login manager without a password prompt.
@@ -124,7 +126,8 @@ The conversion also sets what Steam's System settings show, see
 
 **Steam Deck/Machine icons:** `STEAM_GAMEPADUI_ARGS="-gamepadui -steamos3"`
 in `~/.config/environment.d/` (and gamescope-session's own environment
-file), which makes Steam show Steam Deck button glyphs in gaming mode.
+file), which makes Steam show Steam Deck button glyphs in gaming mode. It is a sub-option of the SteamOS conversion (`gaming`):
+it does nothing without gaming mode, ticking it ticks the conversion and turning the conversion off turns it off.
 
 ## SteamOS desktop look
 
@@ -242,7 +245,8 @@ Steam at login): it installs `steam` when missing (recorded in state `nvidia`, r
 unit `steamify-steam-autostart.service` (`services/`, `ExecStart=/usr/bin/steam @ARGS@`, Plasma only). Its sub-option
 `bigpicture` ("Steam starts in Big Picture", ticked along with it) rewrites the unit with `-gamepadui` and sets
 `ksmserverrc [General] loginMode=emptySession` (`kset`, undone with `krevert bigpicture`), so windows of the last session
-(Discord, a browser) aren't restored on top of Big Picture; unticked, Steam starts in its normal window. The PC always boots into the desktop: there is no gamescope session. Takes effect at the next
+(Discord, a browser) aren't restored on top of Big Picture; unticked, Steam starts in its normal window. The opt-in sub-option `nvsilent` ("Start Steam silently") rewrites the unit with `-silent`
+(tray only); it and `bigpicture` exclude each other. The PC always boots into the desktop: there is no gamescope session. Takes effect at the next
 login.
 
 On a supported card (RTX 20 series or newer: not on chwd's legacy lists `/var/lib/chwd/ids/nvidia-*.ids`, the VRAM booster's
@@ -343,8 +347,7 @@ desktop through its desktop layout (A = Enter, B = Esc, Y = Space, X =
 Steam's keyboard), in gaming mode as a gamepad.
 
 Steam reads the list only at startup and writes it back on exit, so Steam is
-closed (`steam -shutdown`) for the edit and started again (through
+closed (`steam -shutdown`) for the edit and started again (`steam -silent`). That's refused in gaming
-`steam-desktop-autostart.service` when it's there). That's refused in gaming
 mode and when Steamify itself was started from Steam (`SteamGameId`), since
 closing Steam would end it. An entry for the start script that's already
 there (added by hand, or with the path from before 2.5.0) is updated, not
@@ -489,7 +492,8 @@ In the home folder, everything is under `steamify`:
 | `~/.local/share/steamify/bin/` | The shortcut's start scripts (`run-app`, `run-wizard`) and `steamify-notifier` |
 | `~/.local/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/steamify.svg` | The shortcut's icon |
 | `~/.local/share/applications/steamify-*.desktop` | The launcher entries |
-| `~/.config/systemd/user/` | `steamify-update-check.*`, `steam-desktop-autostart.service` |
+| `~/.config/autostart/steam.desktop` | the `silent` option (Steam's "Run Steam when my computer starts") |
+| `~/.config/systemd/user/` | `steamify-update-check.*` |
 
 System-wide: `/usr/local/lib/steamify/` (kernel headers script),
 `/usr/src/steamify-*` (DKMS modules), `/var/cache/steamify/kernel` (the old
@@ -535,7 +539,9 @@ steamify.sh --defaults --list                           # what --defaults can se
 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`).
+Plasma session waits for the first login (`lib/first-login.sh`). The same step (and the online theme path) replaces Plasma's default taskbar pins, which include Discover
+(not installed on CachyOS: a blank icon), by CachyOS's own (`taskbar_drop_discover` in `lib/vapor-theme.sh`; skipped when Discover is
+installed or the taskbar already has its own `launchers`).
 
 With `Relogin=true`, a gamescope session that fails to start is restarted
 immediately, which can turn into a loop - see

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 "$parent")"
+        items+=",\"needs\":\"\""
         items+=",\"on\":$( [[ "$now" == 1 ]] && echo true || echo false)"
         items+=",\"wanted\":$( [[ "${WANTED[$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 || "${WANTED[glyphs]:-0}" == 1 ]] && component_available gaming && WANTED[gaming]=1
+    [[ "${WANTED[gaming]:-0}" == 0 ]] && { WANTED[silent]=0; WANTED[glyphs]=0; }
     [[ "${WANTED[poweroff]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[machine]=1
     [[ "${WANTED[machine]:-0}" == 0 ]] && WANTED[poweroff]=0
     [[ "${WANTED[kpin]:-0}" == 1 ]] && WANTED[machine]=1

lib/first-login.sh

@@ -7,13 +7,25 @@
 
 FIRST_LOGIN_ENTRY="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/autostart/steamify-first-login.desktop"
 FIRST_LOGIN_SCRIPT="$STEAMIFY_BIN/first-login"
+FIRST_LOGIN_BUNDLE="$STEAMIFY_BIN/first-login-steamify.sh"
 
 first_login_schedule() {
+    # The newest release's Steamify runs at the first login. STEAMIFY_NO_DOWNLOAD (the ISO was started with
+    # steamify.nodownload, to test an unreleased Steamify): this very bundle runs instead.
+    # (Only a single-file bundle can be copied; SCRIPT_DIR doesn't exist in one.)
+    local run self="${BASH_SOURCE[0]:-}"
+    if [[ -n "${STEAMIFY_NO_DOWNLOAD:-}" && -f "$self" ]] && grep -q '^# Single-file build' "$self"; then
+        install_executable "$FIRST_LOGIN_BUNDLE" 755 < "$self"
+        run="bash \"$FIRST_LOGIN_BUNDLE\" --first-login; rm -f \"$FIRST_LOGIN_BUNDLE\""
+    else
+        run="curl -fsSL --max-time 30 \"$WIZARD_URL\" | bash -s -- --first-login"
+    fi
     install_executable "$FIRST_LOGIN_SCRIPT" 755 << EOF2
 #!/bin/bash
 # Installed by Steamify CachyOS: runs once, at the first desktop login.
 set -o pipefail
-curl -fsSL --max-time 30 "$WIZARD_URL" | bash -s -- --first-login
+mkdir -p ~/.cache
+{ $run; } > ~/.cache/steamify-first-login.log 2>&1
 rm -f "$FIRST_LOGIN_ENTRY" "\$0"
 [[ -x "$WIZARD_APP_LAUNCHER" ]] && exec "$WIZARD_APP_LAUNCHER"
 EOF2
@@ -31,10 +43,9 @@ first_login_run() {
         [[ -n "$(plasma_applets org.kde.plasma.kickoff)" ]] && break
         sleep 2
     done
-    if single_status; then
+    stop_plasmashell_for_edit
-        stop_plasmashell_for_edit
+    taskbar_drop_discover
-        single_launcher
+    single_status && single_launcher
-        restart_plasmashell_if_stopped
+    restart_plasmashell_if_stopped
-    fi
     return 0
 }

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 glyphs nvidia bigpicture nvsilent theme 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 [glyphs]=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 silent 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]=2.11.0 [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 desktop mode: 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;
@@ -83,6 +85,8 @@ 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
     [[ -z "${PARENT[$1]:-}" || "${WANTED[${PARENT[$1]}]:-0}" == 1 ]]
 }
 
@@ -282,7 +286,7 @@ 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[$c]:-}"),\"needs\":\"\",\"hideWhen\":$(json_str "$([[ "$c" == nvsilent ]] && echo bigpicture)"),\"on\":$on,\"selectable\":$sel}"
     done
     printf '[%s]\n' "$items"
 }
@@ -299,7 +303,13 @@ toggle_component() {
     if [[ "$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 && "${WANTED[gaming]}" == 0 ]]; then WANTED[silent]=0; WANTED[glyphs]=0; fi
+    if [[ "$c" == silent && "${WANTED[silent]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[gaming]=1; fi
+    if [[ "$c" == glyphs && "${WANTED[glyphs]}" == 1 ]]; then WANTED[gaming]=1; fi
     # The power-off fix is opt-out: ticked along with Steam Machine support.
     if [[ "$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 +5,63 @@
 
 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
+    ok "Steam UI parameters and keyboard fix deployed successfully."
-    systemd_user_dir="$HOME/.config/systemd/user"
+}
-    mkdir -p "$systemd_user_dir"
 
-    service_file steam-desktop-autostart.service > "$systemd_user_dir/steam-desktop-autostart.service"
+# Sub-option of the SteamOS conversion: Steam starts silently (in the tray,
+# no window) on the Plasma desktop. It is Steam's own autostart entry, the file
+# Steam's setting "Run Steam when my computer starts" creates and removes, so
+# that setting shows what Steamify did (and the other way around). Steam's copy
+# is the system steam.desktop; ours has -silent in its Exec line.
+STEAM_AUTOSTART="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/autostart/steam.desktop"
+STEAM_SYSTEM_DESKTOP=/usr/share/applications/steam.desktop
 
-    # Clean out old .desktop shortcut so they don't fight
+silent_status() {
-    rm -f "$HOME/.config/autostart/steam.desktop"
+    # The old systemd unit counts as on too (until it is migrated by an update of this option).
+    grep -qs '^Exec=.*-silent' "$STEAM_AUTOSTART" ||
+        [[ -f "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/steam-desktop-autostart.service" ]]
+}
 
-    # Reload user systemd context and activate the background loop
+silent_old_unit_remove() {
+    # Before 2.11.0 the option was a systemd user unit: it would start Steam a second time.
+    local unit="$HOME/.config/systemd/user/steam-desktop-autostart.service"
+    [[ -f "$unit" ]] || return 0
+    user_systemctl disable --now steam-desktop-autostart.service 2>/dev/null
+    rm -f "$unit"
     user_systemctl daemon-reload
-    user_systemctl enable --now steam-desktop-autostart.service
+}
 
-    ok "Steam UI parameters and keyboard autostart deployed successfully."
+silent_enable() {
+    silent_old_unit_remove
+    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$STEAM_AUTOSTART")"
+    if [[ -f "$STEAM_SYSTEM_DESKTOP" ]]; then
+        sed 's|^Exec=/usr/bin/steam %U$|Exec=/usr/bin/steam -silent %U|' "$STEAM_SYSTEM_DESKTOP" > "$STEAM_AUTOSTART"
+    fi
+    silent_status || printf '%s\n' '[Desktop Entry]' 'Name=Steam' 'Exec=/usr/bin/steam -silent %U' \
+        'Icon=steam' 'Terminal=false' 'Type=Application' 'Categories=Network;FileTransfer;Game;' > "$STEAM_AUTOSTART"
+    ok "Steam starts silently on the desktop from the next login."
+}
+
+silent_disable() {
+    silent_old_unit_remove
+    silent_status && rm -f "$STEAM_AUTOSTART"
+    ok "Steam no longer starts by itself on the desktop."
 }
 
 steam_disable() {
-    info "Removing Steam desktop autostart..."
+    info "Removing Steam desktop settings..."
-    user_systemctl disable --now steam-desktop-autostart.service 2>/dev/null
+    # The autostart entry is the `silent` option's: removed with it, and here
-    rm -f "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/steam-desktop-autostart.service" \
+    # too for when the conversion goes off by itself.
-        "$HOME/.config/environment.d/99-kde-virtual-keyboard.conf"
+    silent_status && silent_disable
-    user_systemctl daemon-reload
+    silent_old_unit_remove
+    rm -f "$HOME/.config/environment.d/99-kde-virtual-keyboard.conf"
     ok "Steam desktop settings removed (takes full effect at next login)."
 }
 

lib/steam-game.sh

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ steamgame_steam_busy() {
 
 steamgame_edit() {
     # steamgame_edit <function>: runs it with Steam closed, then starts Steam
-    # again if it was running (through our autostart unit when that's there).
+    # again if it was running (silently, in the tray).
     local was_running=false i
     if pgrep -x steam >/dev/null; then
         steamgame_steam_busy && return 1
@@ -72,11 +72,7 @@ steamgame_edit() {
     fi
     "$1"; local rc=$?
     if [[ "$was_running" == true ]]; then
-        if user_systemctl is-enabled -q steam-desktop-autostart.service 2>/dev/null; then
+        systemd-run --user --collect -q steam -silent >/dev/null 2>&1
-            user_systemctl start steam-desktop-autostart.service
-        else
-            systemd-run --user --collect -q steam -silent >/dev/null 2>&1
-        fi
         info "Steam is starting again."
     fi
     return "$rc"

lib/steam-machine.sh

@@ -407,9 +407,12 @@ wifi_backend_disable() {
 
 serial_enable() {
     printf '%s\n' "# Written by Steamify: Steam shows the serial number, like on SteamOS." \
-        'z /sys/class/dmi/id/product_serial 0444 - - -' | sudo tee "$SERIAL_TMPFILES" > /dev/null &&
+        'z /sys/class/dmi/id/product_serial 0444 - - -' | sudo tee "$SERIAL_TMPFILES" > /dev/null ||
-        sudo systemd-tmpfiles --create "$SERIAL_TMPFILES" ||
         { err "Making the serial number readable for Steam failed."; return 1; }
+    # The file applies at every boot; now too, unless /sys is read-only (the ISO's installer runs in a chroot).
+    sudo systemd-tmpfiles --create "$SERIAL_TMPFILES" 2>/dev/null ||
+        info "The serial number becomes readable for Steam at the next boot."
+    return 0
 }
 
 serial_disable() {

lib/vapor-theme.sh

@@ -106,17 +106,32 @@ theme_enable() {
     # SteamOS panel, launcher icon and wallpaper. It needs plasmashell up.
     lookandfeeltool -a "$VAPOR_LOOKANDFEEL" --resetLayout >/dev/null 2>&1 ||
         { err "lookandfeeltool failed."; return 1; }
-    # The new layout has a new launcher, without single user's settings.
+    # The new layout has a new launcher, without single user's settings, and the default taskbar pins.
-    if single_status; then
+    sleep 3
-        sleep 3
+    stop_plasmashell_for_edit
-        stop_plasmashell_for_edit
+    taskbar_drop_discover
-        single_launcher
+    single_status && single_launcher
-        restart_plasmashell_if_stopped
+    restart_plasmashell_if_stopped
-    fi
     extras_enable || warn "SteamOS desktop extras not installed (see above); the theme itself is on."
     ok "Vapor theme active."
 }
 
+taskbar_drop_discover() {
+    # Plasma's default taskbar pins Discover, which CachyOS doesn't install: the pin shows as a
+    # blank icon. Pin what CachyOS's own layout pins (/etc/skel) instead. Not when Discover is
+    # installed, and only on a taskbar that still has the default pins (no launchers key).
+    # Edit only while plasmashell is stopped.
+    [[ -e /usr/share/applications/org.kde.discover.desktop ]] && return 0
+    local applet grp
+    for applet in $(plasma_applets org.kde.plasma.icontasks); do
+        grp="Containments|${applet%%:*}|Applets|${applet#*:}|Configuration|General"
+        [[ -n "$(kreadconfig6 --file plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc --group Containments --group "${applet%%:*}" \
+            --group Applets --group "${applet#*:}" --group Configuration --group General --key launchers)" ]] && continue
+        kset theme plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc "$grp" launchers \
+            'applications:systemsettings.desktop,preferred://filemanager,preferred://browser'
+    done
+}
+
 theme_disable() {
     extras_disable
     info "Restoring the previous desktop look and layout..."

services/README.md

@@ -12,6 +12,5 @@ in the shell code.
 | `steamify-boot-desktop.service` | `lib/boot-session.sh` (Boot into: desktop) | Sets the Plasma session before the login manager starts |
 | `sync-steamos-session.path`, `.service` | `lib/login-manager.sh` (SteamOS conversion, plasma-login-manager) | The sync bridge: copies Steam's session choice into `plasmalogin.conf` |
 | `steamify-steam-autostart.service` | `lib/nvidia.sh` (Gaming on NVIDIA) | Steam at login on the Plasma desktop, normal or in Big Picture (user unit) |
-| `steam-desktop-autostart.service` | `lib/steam-desktop.sh` (SteamOS conversion) | Steam in the background on the Plasma desktop (user unit) |
 | `ensure-kernel-headers.service` | `lib/steam-machine.sh` (Steam Machine support) | Installs missing kernel headers at boot, so DKMS builds for every kernel |
 | `steamify-update-check.service`, `.timer` | `lib/update-notifier.sh` (Update notifications) | The daily and login check for a new release (user units) |

services/steam-desktop-autostart.service

@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-[Unit]
-Description=Steam Background Autostart for Virtual Keyboard
-After=graphical-session.target
-PartOf=graphical-session.target
-
-[Service]
-Type=simple
-# Only in the Plasma desktop session; gamescope-session starts its own Steam.
-ExecCondition=/bin/sh -c '[ "$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP" = KDE ]'
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/steam -silent
-Restart=on-failure
-RestartSec=5
-
-[Install]
-WantedBy=graphical-session.target

ui/qml/AppState.qml

@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ Item {
 
     readonly property var status: backend.status || ({})
     readonly property var items: status.items || []
-    readonly property var rows: items.filter(function (i) { return !i.parent || want[i.parent]; })
+    // Hidden: Big Picture excludes a silent start.
+    function hidden(i) { return i.id === "nvsilent" && want.bigpicture; }
+    readonly property var rows: items.filter(function (i) { return (!i.parent || want[i.parent]) && !hidden(i); })
     readonly property var bios: status.bios || null
 
     signal passwordRequested()
@@ -76,10 +78,14 @@ Item {
         w[id] = !w[id];
         // The same rules as the terminal menu (toggle_component).
         var hasGaming = items.some(function (i) { return i.id === "gaming"; });
-        if (id === "gaming" && !w.gaming) w.single = false;
+        if (id === "gaming" && !w.gaming) { w.single = false; w.silent = false; w.glyphs = false; }
         if (id === "single" && w.single && hasGaming) w.gaming = true;
         if (id === "nvidia") w.bigpicture = w.nvidia;
-        if (id === "bigpicture" && w.bigpicture) w.nvidia = true;
+        if (id === "bigpicture" && w.bigpicture) { w.nvidia = true; w.nvsilent = false; }
+        if (id === "nvsilent" && w.nvsilent) { w.nvidia = true; w.bigpicture = false; }
+        if (id === "nvidia" && !w.nvidia) w.nvsilent = false;
+        if (id === "silent" && w.silent) w.gaming = true;
+        if (id === "glyphs" && w.glyphs) w.gaming = true;
         if (id === "machine") w.poweroff = w.machine;
         if (id === "poweroff" && w.poweroff) w.machine = true;
         if (id === "machine" && !w.machine) w.kpin = false;
@@ -93,6 +99,7 @@ Item {
         for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
             var it = items[i];
             if (it.kind !== "toggle") continue;
+            if (hidden(it)) { if (it.on) p.push({ id: it.id, action: "off" }); continue; }
             if (it.parent && !want[it.parent]) { if (it.on) p.push({ id: it.id, action: "off" }); continue; }
             if (want[it.id] && !it.on) p.push({ id: it.id, action: "on", isNew: !!it["new"] });
             else if (!want[it.id] && it.on) p.push({ id: it.id, action: "off" });
@@ -109,7 +116,7 @@ Item {
     function wantedIds() {
         var ids = [];
         for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++)
-            if (items[i].kind === "toggle" && want[items[i].id] && (!items[i].parent || want[items[i].parent])) ids.push(items[i].id);
+            if (items[i].kind === "toggle" && want[items[i].id] && !hidden(items[i]) && (!items[i].parent || want[items[i].parent])) ids.push(items[i].id);
         return ids;
     }
 

ui/qml/Texts.qml

@@ -6,16 +6,22 @@ QtObject {
     readonly property var items: ({
         gaming: { label: "SteamOS conversion", hint: "Boot into gaming mode, Steam on the desktop",
                   body: "Boots straight into gaming mode. Switch to Desktop in Steam works, and Return to Gaming Mode on the desktop brings you back.",
-                  changes: ["Autologin into gamescope", "Return to Gaming Mode shortcut", "Steam starts silently on the desktop"] },
+                  changes: ["Autologin into gamescope", "Return to Gaming Mode shortcut"] },
         boot: { label: "Boot into", hint: "Where the PC starts",
                 body: "Where the PC starts after a restart. Switching back and forth works the same either way.",
                 changes: ["Desktop: the Plasma session is set before login", "Gaming: the SteamOS default"] },
+        silent: { label: "Start Steam silently in desktop mode", hint: "In the tray at login on the desktop, no window",
+                  body: "Steam starts by itself when you log in to the Plasma desktop, in the tray without a window. Gaming mode starts its own Steam.",
+                  changes: ["Steam is started with -silent (a systemd user service, desktop only)", "Off: the service is removed again"] },
         nvidia: { label: "Gaming on NVIDIA", hint: "Steam on the desktop, started at login",
                   body: "gamescope's own gaming mode shows a corrupted picture on NVIDIA graphics cards (an open NVIDIA driver bug), so it isn't offered here. This puts Steam on the Plasma desktop instead and starts it when you log in.",
                   changes: ["Steam is installed when it's missing", "Steam starts at login (a systemd user service)", "Off: the service is removed again; Steam is only removed if Steamify installed it"] },
         bigpicture: { label: "Steam starts in Big Picture", hint: "The controller-friendly Steam, or the normal window",
                       body: "Steam opens in Big Picture at login, which works well with a controller on the TV. Untick it for Steam's normal window.",
                       changes: ["Steam is started with -gamepadui", "Plasma starts with an empty session, so old windows don't cover Big Picture", "Off: Steam starts in its normal window"] },
+        nvsilent: { label: "Start Steam silently", hint: "In the tray at login, no window",
+                    body: "Steam starts in the tray at login without a window. Not together with Big Picture: ticking one unticks the other.",
+                    changes: ["Steam is started with -silent", "Off: Steam starts in its normal window"] },
         theme: { label: "SteamOS theme", hint: "Vapor look for the desktop, Add to Steam",
                  body: "The Vapor look of SteamOS for the desktop, with its panel, launcher icon and wallpaper.",
                  changes: ["cachyos-vapor global theme", "Add to Steam in right-click menus", "Nested Desktop, Steam keyboard window rule"] },