Port Extensions to GNOME Shell 49

Metadata

TIP

There were no relevant changes to metadata.json in GNOME 49.

Extension

TIP

There were no relevant changes to extension.js in GNOME 49.

Preferences

TIP

There were no relevant changes to prefs.js in GNOME 49.

GNOME Shell

Accessibility Toggles

GNOME Shell 49 added some new quick toggles to the ui/status/accessibility.js:

• HighContrastToggle
• MagnifierToggle
• LargeTextToggle
• ScreenReaderToggle
• ScreenKeyboardToggle
• VisualBellToggle
• StickyKeysToggle
• SlowKeysToggle
• BounceKeysToggle
• MouseKeysToggle

For this version, they are only used in the GDM accessibility menu, but they will eventually find their way into quick settings in GNOME Shell 50.

Since the accessibility button moved to bottom of GDM, a11y was removed from the right side of GDM panel.

Also the accessibility indicator icon name renamed from org.gnome.Settings-accessibility-symbolic to accessibility-menu-symbolic.

Brightness Manager

GNOME Shell 49 includes the new /misc/brightnessManager.js file for monitor brightness management which was previously handled in gnome-settings-daemon.

The main instances of the brightness manager can be accessed with Main.brightnessManager. The Quick settings brightness slider in ui/status/brightness.js was adjusted accordingly and a org.gnome.Shell.Brightness D-Bus interface was added in ui/shellDBus.js.

Do Not Disturb Toggle

The DoNotDisturbSwitch class in ui/calendar.js has been removed. Its functionality has been replaced by the new DoNotDisturbToggle quick settings toggle button, which you can now find in ui/status/doNotDisturb.js.

Also, message indicator in date menu, now only uses message-indicator-symbolic icon name when it is visible.

WorkspaceSwitcherPopup

There's a new MonitorWorkspaceSwitcherPopup class, in ui/workspaceSwitcherPopup.js. The WorkspaceSwitcherPopup now uses this new class to create workspace switcher popups for all or primary monitors.

As a result of this change, the _redisplay() method in WorkspaceSwitcherPopup has been renamed to _redisplayAllPopups().

Meta.Rectangle

Since GNOME Shell 45, Meta.Rectangle was deprecated. GNOME Shell 49 removed Meta.Rectangle, and if you are still using it, it should be replaced with Mtk.Rectangle.

Screenshot Notification

Screenshot now uses its own notification source. You can get the source with ui/screenshot.js/getScreenshotNotificationSource().

App Menu Button

GNOME Shell 49 removes the AppMenuButton from js/ui/panel.js. This button was unused since GNOME Shell 45. So if your extension still relies on that code, you'll need to implement or copy it.

CaptivePortalHandler

CaptivePortalHandler._portalHelperDone() method in ui/status/network.js renamed to _portalHelperStatusChanged() and it's getting called when the StatusChanged signal is getting emitted from portal helper.

OsdWindowManager

To show the OSD on any combination of monitors, OsdWindowManager in ui/osdWindow.js now uses three show methods:

• show()
• showOne()
• showAll()

You can use showOne() method if you still want to use the monitor index.

ScreenShield

To adapt Meta.CursorTracker changes, ScreenShield class in ui/screenShield.js added a new _hidePointer() method to hide the pointer.

NotificationsBox players

GNOME Shell 49 added the ability to quickly pause or resume media in unlock dialog. To do that, NotificationsBox class in ui/unlockDialog.js added two methods: _addPlayer() and _removePlayer(). Added players are stored in _players property.

Debugging

Since X11 is disabled by default, the nested mode is no longer available.

To get a nested shell instance you can use development kit:

dbus-run-session -- gnome-shell --devkit

GJS

Meta

Meta.WaylandClient

Meta.WaylandClient was redesigned and now exists for all wayland clients. The previous use case of spawning a subprocess as a wayland client can be achieved using Meta.WaylandClient.new_subprocess. Previous Meta.WaylandClient functionality can be achieved via Meta.WaylandClient.owns_window and new API exposed on Meta.Window.

Meta.LogicalMonitor and Meta.Monitor

Meta.LogicalMonitor and Meta.Monitor have been added. Their use is rather limited at the moment but they are compatible with monitor related functions on Meta.Display via Meta.LogicalMonitor.get_number. The monitor related functions on Meta.Display will get phased out in future releases. They can be accessed via meta.MonitorManager.get_logical_monitors, meta.MonitorManager.get_monitors, Meta.LogicalMonitor.get_monitors and Meta.Backend.get_current_logical_monitor.

Meta.Backlight

Meta.Backlight has been added. The backlights can be accessed via Meta.Monitor.get_backlight and replace the backlight handling previously done in gnome-settings-daemon. See the GNOME Shell section for the abstraction over the backlights.

Meta.Window

Meta.Window removes the Meta.MaximizeFlags from the parameters for maximize() and unmaximize(). Also get_maximized() is removed and you can use is_maximized() instead. To maximize or unmaximize the window horizontally or vertically, you can call new methods set_maximize_flags() and set_unmaximize_flags().

Meta.Window.set_type, Meta.Window.hide_from_window_list and Meta.Window.show_in_window_list were added which replaces functionality previously existing on Meta.WaylandClient.

Meta.CursorTracker

Meta.CursorTracker.set_pointer_visible() method has been replaced by inhibit_cursor_visibility() and uninhibit_cursor_visibility().

Extension Tools

gnome-extensions added the upload command to ease the upload process to EGO:

gnome-extensions upload --accept-tos

You can then enter your EGO username and password. If you are using it in CI, you can use the --user, --password or --password-file options.

Please take measures to avoid exposing your password. Using the password in a command option risks exposing it in logs, the environment or the filesystem.

You can read more about the upload command in the manual (man gnome-extensions).