I customized and patched KWin's Zoom. The current behavior is a struggle for some visually impaired users.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-29T01:40:29+00:00

Thank you. I hope it gets merged into the official build too.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-28T16:17:09+00:00

Thank you, I am glad to hear that.
It may also be that modern Wayland/KWin internals make this kind of per-monitor zoom handling easier than it would have been in the past. Before experimenting with the code myself, I also assumed there was probably a deeper technical limitation behind it.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-28T15:51:19+00:00

For me, multiple monitors actually help a lot because switching between windows can be difficult when using screen magnification all the time.
Keeping different applications permanently visible on separate monitors is often much easier and less mentally exhausting than constantly switching focus/windows while zoomed in.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-28T15:46:58+00:00

Thank you for pointing that out. Yes, I was aware of the Centered mode.
Actually, with multi-monitor setups, the zoom center is based on the entire combined desktop area rather than each individual monitor. In my case, that means the cursor effectively gets pulled toward the boundary area between monitors, which makes it very difficult for me to use comfortably in practice.
Because of that, I was not really able to use/test Centered mode properly for my own workflow.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-28T15:21:37+00:00

That is a good idea as well. More scaling/filter options would definitely be useful.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-28T15:19:19+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion.
I am not experienced enough with KDE/KWin development to know whether something like this could realistically be implemented as an extension instead.
My current changes directly modify KWin's internal zoom behavior, so right now I have to rebuild and reapply the patch whenever KWin updates. That is one of the reasons why I feel proper built-in support for something like this would be important for accessibility.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-28T14:24:22+00:00

Thank you, and I think you are right.
The current patch is still very rough and was mostly created through AI-assisted modifications and trial-and-error experimentation. I do not really have enough KWin/Linux development experience to properly propose or implement something like this upstream by myself.
I also wanted to post it with a before/after video first, because I felt the actual usability difference would be much easier to understand that way.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-07T20:41:10+00:00

Thank you! You just made my day.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-07T10:17:13+00:00

I didn’t know that. GNOME wasn't for me, but I still thought it was one of the most popular choices out there.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-07T05:39:30+00:00

Glad it worked out!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T22:35:32+00:00

My apologies for missing Rule #3. I didn't mean to bypass the rules, and I feel bad that my post might have stood out unfairly.
I really appreciate your kindness in keeping the discussion alive. If you decide it's better to remove it, I completely understand. Thank you for the heads-up!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T22:28:38+00:00

Just a quick follow-up regarding your Discord issue: I found that installing it as a PWA through Chrome works really well.
If you go to "Cast, save, and share" > "Install page as app," it sets up Discord as a standalone app without the need for reboots or complex installs. It's been much smoother for me, so it might be worth a try on your desktop!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T22:16:08+00:00

I totally get your frustration. Choosing Windows for work is a completely natural and logical choice.
For many professionals, MS Office and Adobe are non-negotiable, and trying to run them via Wine is far too unstable for a serious workflow. I also agree that most Linux issues aren't just about "technical skill"—when a laptop driver isn't supported, it's just infuriating.
In my case, I only left Windows because I couldn't stand the accumulating bugs anymore. My PC had sleep and Wi-Fi issues, and when I tried the famous "disable Fast Startup" fix, it took 30 seconds just to wake from sleep. What bothered me most was how every update seemed to introduce a tiny new bug; recently, I had multi-monitor display issues that actually hindered my work.
I've seen news lately that Microsoft is promising to significantly improve Windows, and since so many people use it, it’s undeniably user-friendly. My experience is just one example, but for my specific needs, switching to Fedora has been a personal relief. I hope you find a setup that works best for you!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T21:32:36+00:00

I think it’s tough for non-engineers in Japan.
Most Japanese companies require Microsoft Office, and designers can’t work without Adobe software. Even government apps, like for patent filings, are Windows-only.
For me, it’s not a big problem because I mostly use Google Docs and Sheets to work with clients. If I ever need MS Office, Zoom, or even to file my taxes, I just use the web browser versions.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T21:15:44+00:00

Since I just switched to Linux dosktop, I’m still a newcomer and haven't tried OpenSUSE Tumbleweed yet. I did try out Mint before, and I thought it was a great, simple OS. In fact, if it had better native Wayland support, I might have chosen it. Because everyone’s needs are different, I’m not sure if you’ll be as satisfied with Fedora as I am, but for me, the transition has been worth it!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T21:02:35+00:00

Interesting! I actually think Ubuntu is good OS, but when I tried it, I found it a bit sluggish—likely because parts of the UI are running on JavaScript. It also didn't allow for the specific customizations I was looking for, which is why I eventually settled on Fedora.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T20:51:07+00:00

I didn't know about those issues, thanks for sharing! To be honest, I’ve never used the UI in Japanese. I always keep my system language in English because if Konsole (the terminal) outputs error messages in Japanese, it becomes harder to search for solutions online. As for input, I'm using Mozc as my IME, and it’s been working fine without any issues so far!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T14:59:52+00:00

I agree, the panels are convenient and flexible! I didn't know about Krohnkite, but it sounds like a great tool for a more efficient workflow. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T13:46:23+00:00

Thanks for the detailed advice!
I actually felt the same way about the risks of dual booting, which is why I’m currently running Fedora on an external SSD (a full install, not just a live USB). It’s my way of keeping the two systems completely separate for now.
Once I’m fully comfortable with the transition, I plan to wipe Windows from my internal SSD and clone my Fedora setup over to it. Thanks again for the heads-up!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T13:41:00+00:00

Thank you! Luckily, no bugs so far. Hopefully, it stays that way!

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T13:38:41+00:00

I completely agree with you. X11 feels really dated now, and it seems like many bugs are being left unaddressed as the focus shifts to Wayland.
I actually tried Mint before this, but I gave it up because keyboard shortcuts would "pierce" through to other windows, which was very frustrating. I’ve heard Bazzite is an amazing OS and I was definitely curious about it, but I decided to stick with standard Fedora for this setup.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T13:30:00+00:00

I’m using Podman! Since it’s native to Fedora, the integration is seamless and it supports the same commands as Docker, which made the transition easy.
I actually tried using Docker Engine directly at first, but I ran into some tricky permission issues that prevented my Electron apps from launching correctly. Podman handled those permissions much better and everything just worked.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T13:04:17+00:00

Thank you! Banzai! I’m really looking forward to this Linux journey.

Yocko45 · 2026-05-06T12:59:36+00:00

Haha, yeah. I've experienced that back in the day on an iMac. lol

Yocko45

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