Making variety work with Active blur KDE Plasma wallpaper plugin

[Sean]

Hello fellow Garudites / Garudans (not sure what we are called). I recently migrated to Garuda after the amazing Erik Dubois stepped down from my previous Arch distro, Arco Linux.

I was attracted to Garuda after trying it out and seeing the high level of passion put into your default configs, user-level helper apps, and the sick look of Dr460nized. As soon as I saw that you had contributed with the legendary EliverLara on the theming, I had a good feeling.

Anyway, one of the things I can’t live without is the variety wallpaper changer, which does not work by default on Garuda (at least not on Dr460nized). I finally decided to see if I could find out why, and am happy to say it was not too difficult to figure out (spoiler alert - it’s the active blur plugin).

I submitted a PR to variety, but while I am waiting on that to get reviewed I thought I would post here in case someone else was suffering without their wallpaper fetcher / changer. The changes needed to make variety work with active blur can be seen here.

Also, after going through the Garuda wiki I noticed some minor things, so if any of the mods could give me rights to contribute I would appreciate it.

And of course here is my garuda-inxi if it is helpful.

System:
Kernel: 6.18.2-zen2-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
root=UUID=36f55943-52b4-46ba-a4f4-6ddfd201231e rw rootflags=subvol=@
quiet loglevel=3
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.5.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.21.0
wm: kwin_wayland tools: xscreensaver,xscreensaver-systemd vt: 1 dm: SDDM
Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: MEG X570 ACE (MS-7C35) v: 1.0
serial: <superuser required> uuid: <superuser required> Firmware: UEFI
vendor: American Megatrends LLC. v: 1.M0 date: 06/28/2023
CPU:
Info: model: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 3+ gen: 3
level: v3 note: check built: 2022 process: TSMC n6 (7nm) family: 0x19 (25)
model-id: 0x21 (33) stepping: 0 microcode: 0xA20102E
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 1 cores: 16 threads: 32 tpc: 2
smt: enabled cache: L1: 1024 KiB desc: d-16x32 KiB; i-16x32 KiB L2: 8 MiB
desc: 16x512 KiB L3: 64 MiB desc: 2x32 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 3577 min/max: 582/5086 boost: enabled scaling:
driver: amd-pstate-epp governor: powersave cores: 1: 3577 2: 3577 3: 3577
4: 3577 5: 3577 6: 3577 7: 3577 8: 3577 9: 3577 10: 3577 11: 3577 12: 3577
13: 3577 14: 3577 15: 3577 16: 3577 17: 3577 18: 3577 19: 3577 20: 3577
21: 3577 22: 3577 23: 3577 24: 3577 25: 3577 26: 3577 27: 3577 28: 3577
29: 3577 30: 3577 31: 3577 32: 3577 bogomips: 217588
Flags-basic: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a
ssse3 svm
Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 31 [Radeon RX 7900 XT/7900
XTX/7900 GRE/7900M] vendor: XFX driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-3
code: Navi-3x process: TSMC n5 (5nm) built: 2022+ pcie: gen: 4
speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3,
Writeback-1 bus-ID: 2f:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:744c class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 5-2:3
chip-ID: 046d:0892 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.21 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.9
compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: modesetting
alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 model: LG (GoldStar) TV SSCR2 serial: <filter>
built: 2022 res: mode: 4096x2160 hz: 120 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 61 gamma: 1.2
size: 1600x900mm (62.99x35.43") diag: 1836mm (72.3") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 3840x2160 min: 720x400
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi
device: 1 drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi
wayland: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi
API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 25.3.2-arch1.1
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (radeonsi
navi31 LLVM 21.1.6 DRM 3.64 6.18.2-zen2-1-zen) device-ID: 1002:744c
memory: 19.53 GiB unified: no display-ID: :1.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.335 layers: 14 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: AMD
Radeon RX 7900 XT (RADV NAVI31) driver: mesa radv v: 25.3.2-arch1.1
device-ID: 1002:744c surfaces: N/A device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
(LLVM 21.1.6 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 25.3.2-arch1.1 (LLVM
21.1.6) device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: N/A
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: corectrl wl: wayland-info
x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 31 HDMI/DP Audio
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 2f:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:ab30 class-ID: 0403
Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Starship/Matisse HD Audio
vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4
speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 31:00.4 chip-ID: 1022:1487 class-ID: 0403
Device-3: Cambridge Silicon Radio B10PRO
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s
lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-6:3 chip-ID: 0a12:1004 class-ID: 0300
Device-4: Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 5-2:3
chip-ID: 046d:0892 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
API: ALSA v: k6.18.2-zen2-1-zen status: kernel-api with: aoss
type: oss-emulator tools: N/A
Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.9 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: igb
v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 26:00.0
chip-ID: 8086:1539 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp38s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169
v: kernel pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: d000 bus-ID: 27:00.0
chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp39s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Device-3: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 28:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2723 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlo1 state: down mac: <filter>
Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-4:2 chip-ID: 8087:0029
class-ID: e001
Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 5.2
lmp-v: 11 status: discoverable: no pairing: no class-ID: 6c0104
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 3.64 TiB used: 1.73 TiB (47.5%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Sabrent model: Rocket 4.0 Plus
size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: RKT4P1.2 temp: 41.9 C
scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:4 vendor: Seagate
model: WDS200T1X0E-00AFY0 size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B
logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
fw-rev: 614600WD temp: 48.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / raw-size: 1.34 TiB size: 1.34 TiB (100.00%) used: 203.44 GiB (14.8%)
fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
used: 15.6 MiB (5.2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.34 TiB size: 1.34 TiB (100.00%)
used: 203.44 GiB (14.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.34 TiB size: 1.34 TiB (100.00%)
used: 203.44 GiB (14.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.34 TiB size: 1.34 TiB (100.00%)
used: 203.44 GiB (14.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
Swap:
Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 125.7 GiB used: 21.2 MiB (0.0%)
priority: 100 comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842
dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 60.5 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 64.0 C
mem: 65.0 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A gpu: amdgpu fan: 519
Info:
Memory: total: 128 GiB note: est. available: 125.7 GiB
used: 18.73 GiB (14.9%)
Processes: 817 Power: uptime: 9h 50m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 50.27 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 259 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1871 libs: 500 tools: octopi,pacseek,paru,yay
Compilers: gcc: 15.2.1 Shell: Bash v: 5.3.9 default: fish v: 4.2.1
running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.40
Garuda (2.11.1-1):
System install date:     2025-12-09
Garuda release:          251103
Last full system update: 2025-12-27 ↻
Is partially upgraded:   No
Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut garuda-hardware-profile-standard
Windows dual boot:       No/Undetected
Failed units:
--- System Health Check Report ---
25/26 checks run in 0.66 seconds ⌛
Powered by garuda-health 🦅

--- INFO ---
- A reboot is pending (update applied since last reboot)

✅ System health check passed. No issues found.

[tbg]

Hi there @Sean, and welcome to the Garuda community.

@Sean

Hello fellow Garudites / Garudans (not sure what we are called). I

The name for Garuda devotees was discussed many moons ago when the distro was first introduced. The concensus term that was agreed upon was “Garudians”.

@Sean

spoiler alert - it’s the active blur plugin

Ya, that plugin has been responsible for many bug reports recently.

@Sean

Also, after going through the Garuda wiki I noticed some minor things, so if any of the mods could give me rights to contribute I would appreciate it.

I don’t think I can grant you that access @Sean. Perhaps another team member with more access to the Wiki may feel inclined to grant you r/w privs. Generally, we prefer granting read/write access only to users that have been community members for a while. That said, one of the Garuda higher ups may feel you are a responsible enough candidate for full access to the Wiki.

Thank you for your great compliments toward Garuda, and your eagerness to help out with the Wiki.

Oh BTW, a garuda-inxi output is only required with technical assistance requests, (but it’s the thought that counts).

Again @Sean, welcome to the Garuda forum.

Edit:

I just noticed your personal forum avatar, and if that is truly you, then we may not be able to accept you as a forum member. You appear to be far too young and good looking to become a Garuda user. Generally Garuda users are expected to have grey neck beards and have started their computing career on punch cards.

[Sean]

Thanks @tbg for the warm welcome! I do have to admit my computing career was after punch cards had been retired. But I am starting to get some grey in there. To give you an idea of my age, my computing career started with me programming BASIC on a green-screen Apple IIe that had the 5.25 floppy drive. I still remember my first program, a simple version of 20 Questions.

[tbg]

@Sean

my computing career started with me programming BASIC on a green-screen Apple IIe that had the 5.25 floppy drive

Using 5.25 floppies gives you street cred, so you’re cool.