NixOS 24.05: Desktop Environment Updates and New Services

- Lomiri (formerly known as Unity8) desktop mode, using Mir 2.x to function as a Wayland compositor, is now available and can be installed with `services.desktopManager.lomiri.enable = true`. Note that some core applications, services and indicators have yet to be packaged, and some functions may remain incomplete, but the base experience should be there. - LXQt has been updated to 2.0, which is based on Qt 6 and features Wayland support for many applications. - MATE has been updated to 1.28. - To properly support panel plugins built with Wayland (in-process) support, we are introducing the `services.xserver.desktopManager.mate.extraPanelApplets` option, please use that for installing panel applets. - Similarly, please use the `services.xserver.desktopManager.mate.extraCajaExtensions` option for installing Caja extensions. - To use the Wayland session, enable `services.xserver.desktopManager.mate.enableWaylandSession`. This is opt-in for now as it is in early an stage and introduces a new set of Wayfire closures. Due to [known issues with LightDM](https://github.com/canonical/lightdm/issues/63), we suggest using SDDM as the display manager. - Plasma 6 is now available and can be installed with `services.desktopManager.plasma6.enable = true;`. Plasma 5 will likely be deprecated in the next release (24.11). Note that Plasma 6 runs as Wayland by default, and the X11 session needs to be explicitly selected if necessary. ## New Services {#sec-release-24.05-new-services}  - [Anki Sync Server](https://docs.ankiweb.net/sync-server.html), the official sync server built into recent versions of Anki. Available as [services.anki-sync-server](#opt-services.anki-sync-server.enable). The pre-existing `services.ankisyncd` has been marked deprecated and will be dropped after 24.05 due to lack of maintenance of the ankisyncd software. - [ALVR](https://github.com/alvr-org/alvr), a VR desktop streamer. Available as [programs.alvr](#opt-programs.alvr.enable). - [AppImage](https://appimage.org/), a tool to package desktop applications, now has a `binfmt` option to support running AppImages seamlessly on NixOS. Available as [programs.appimage.binfmt](#opt-programs.appimage.binfmt). - [armagetronad](https://wiki.armagetronad.org), a mid-2000s 3D lightcycle game widely played at iD Tech Camps. You can define multiple servers using `services.armagetronad.<server>.enable`. - [BenchExec](https://github.com/sosy-lab/benchexec), a framework for reliable benchmarking and resource measurement, available as [programs.benchexec](#opt-programs.benchexec.enable), as well as related programs [CPU Energy Meter](https://github.com/sosy-lab/cpu-energy-meter), available as [programs.cpu-energy-meter](#opt-programs.cpu-energy-meter.enable), and [PQoS Wrapper](https://gitlab.com/sosy-lab/software/pqos-wrapper), available as [programs.pqos-wrapper](#opt-programs.pqos-wrapper.enable). - [Bluemap](https://bluemap.bluecolored.de/), a 3D minecraft map renderer. Available as [services.bluemap](#opt-services.bluemap.enable). - [clatd](https://github.com/toreanderson/clatd), a CLAT / SIIT-DC Edge Relay implementation for Linux. - [Clevis](https://github.com/latchset/clevis), a pluggable framework for automated decryption, used to unlock encrypted devices in initrd. Available as [boot.initrd.clevis.enable](#opt-boot.initrd.clevis.enable). - [CommaFeed](https://github.com/Athou/commafeed), a Google Reader-inspired self-hosted RSS reader. Available as [services.commafeed](#opt-services.commafeed.enable). - [davis](https://github.com/tchapi/davis), a simple CardDav and CalDav server inspired by Baïkal. Available as [services.davis](#opt-services.davis.enable). - [db-rest](https://github.com/derhuerst/db-rest), a wrapper around Deutsche Bahn's internal API for public transport data. Available as [services.db-rest](#opt-services.db-rest.enable). - [dnsproxy](https://github.com/AdguardTeam/dnsproxy), a simple DNS proxy with DoH, DoT, DoQ and DNSCrypt support. Available as [services.dnsproxy](#opt-services.dnsproxy.enable).

This section highlights updates to desktop environments and introduces new services in NixOS 24.05. Lomiri (Unity8) is now available with Mir 2.x. LXQt has been updated to 2.0 with Qt 6 and Wayland support. MATE has been updated to 1.28, including new options for panel applets and Caja extensions, with opt-in Wayland session support. Plasma 6 is also available, with Plasma 5 likely to be deprecated in the next release. New services include Anki Sync Server, ALVR, AppImage with `binfmt` support, armagetronad, BenchExec and related tools, Bluemap, clatd, Clevis, CommaFeed, davis, db-rest, and dnsproxy.