Niri Ipc

Community

viralcode

niri-ipc

Control the Niri Wayland compositor on Linux via its IPC (`niri msg --json` / $NIRI_SOCKET). Use when you need to query Niri state (outputs/workspaces/windows/focused window) or perform actions (focus/move/close windows, switch workspaces, spawn commands, reload config) from an OpenClaw agent running on a Niri session.

Overview

Publisher	viralcode
Repository	`openwhale`
Skill name	`niri-ipc`
Stars	65
Forks	11
Bundled files	5
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
5 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by viralcode on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Niri Ipc AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/viralcode/openwhale.git /tmp/openwhale
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/openwhale/skills/niri-ipc .claude/skills/niri-ipc

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Niri Ipc in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Niri Ipc on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Niri Ipc is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Niri IPC

Use Niri IPC through the niri msg CLI (preferred) or by writing JSON requests to $NIRI_SOCKET.

This skill assumes:

You are on Linux with Niri running.
$NIRI_SOCKET is set (usually true inside the Niri session).

Quick start (recommended)

Use the bundled helper script (wrapper around niri msg --json):

bash
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py version
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py outputs
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py workspaces
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py windows
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py focused-window

Deeper control

1) High-level helpers (window matching)

Use scripts/niri_ctl.py when you want to refer to windows by title/app_id substring instead of ids:

bash
# List windows (optionally filtered)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py list-windows --query firefox

# Focus a window by substring match
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py focus firefox

# Close a matched window (focus then close)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py close firefox

# Move a matched window to a workspace (by index or by name)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py move-to-workspace firefox 3
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py move-to-workspace firefox web

# Focus a workspace by index or name
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py focus-workspace 2
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_ctl.py focus-workspace web

2) Full IPC access (raw socket)

Use scripts/niri_socket.py to talk to $NIRI_SOCKET directly (newline-delimited JSON):

bash
# Send a simple request (JSON string)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_socket.py raw '"FocusedWindow"'

# Batch requests: one JSON request per line on stdin
printf '%s\n' '"FocusedWindow"' '"Workspaces"' | ./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_socket.py stdin

# Event stream (prints JSON events until interrupted)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri_socket.py event-stream

Actions

Pass through Niri actions:

bash
# Focus workspace by index
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action focus-workspace 2

# Move focused window to workspace
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action move-window-to-workspace 3

# Focus a window by id
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action focus-window 123

# Close focused window
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action close-window

# Reload niri config
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action load-config-file

# Spawn (no shell)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action spawn -- alacritty

# Spawn through shell
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py action spawn-sh -- 'notify-send hello'

Output configuration

Use niri msg output ... via the wrapper:

bash
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py output --help

Working directly with `niri msg`

If you don’t want the helper script, call Niri directly:

bash
niri msg --json windows
niri msg --json action focus-workspace 2

Tip: if niri msg parsing errors happen after upgrades, restart the compositor (new niri msg against old compositor is a common mismatch).

Event stream

For status bars/daemons: Niri can stream events.

bash
# Raw JSON event lines (runs until interrupted)
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py event-stream

# Just a few lines for a quick test
./skills/niri-ipc/scripts/niri.py event-stream --lines 5

Troubleshooting

If commands fail with “NIRI_SOCKET is not set”: run inside your Niri session, or export the socket path.
If you need the socket protocol details, read: ./skills/niri-ipc/references/ipc.md.
If your goal is complex automation (pick the right window by title/app_id, etc.), first query windows, then act by window id.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Niri Ipc AI skill do?

Why use Niri Ipc on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Niri Ipc is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Niri Ipc in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/viralcode/openwhale/tree/main/skills/niri-ipc. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Niri Ipc?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Niri Ipc?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Niri Ipc with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Niri Ipc AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by viralcode. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Niri IPC

Quick start (recommended)

Deeper control

1) High-level helpers (window matching)

2) Full IPC access (raw socket)

Actions

Output configuration

Working directly with niri msg

Event stream

Troubleshooting

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

Set up your own AI workspace now

Working directly with `niri msg`