Merge pull request 'Add an inward glow bleeding from the border over the window' (#11) from feature/inward-glow into develop

Reviewed-on: #11

.env

@@ -1 +1 @@
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.1.1
+PLUGIN_VERSION=0.1.2

CLAUDE.md

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ This builds and hot-reloads the plugin into a running Hyprland session in one st
 
 The script copies the built `.so` to a uniquely-suffixed filename (`hypr-chrome-<random>.so`) before loading it, and unloads/deletes prior copies. This works around Hyprland's plugin loader never fully `dlmunmap`ping a `.so` on unload — reloading the exact same path just re-serves the stale old mapping instead of the freshly built code.
 
+It also unloads whatever copy the user's own Hyprland config loads (grepped out of `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr` rather than hardcoded, since a home-manager-installed one lives at a `/nix/store` path that changes on every rebuild). That copy is a separate `dlopen` with its own decorations, so leaving it loaded draws two frames per window.
+
 Manual equivalent:
 
 ```sh
@@ -56,7 +58,9 @@ Config values live under `plugin:hyprchrome:*` and are declared in `src/GlobalSt
 - `enabled` (bool)
 - `extent` (int, px the border extends past the window edge)
 - `follow_hyprland_border_color` (bool) — when true (default), the border tracks Hyprland's own resolved active/inactive border color instead of `active_color`/`inactive_color`
-- `active_color` / `inactive_color` (ARGB) — used when `follow_hyprland_border_color` is false, or when Hyprland reports no border color at all
+- `active_color` / `inactive_color` (gradient — one or more colors + optional angle, same syntax as `general:col.active_border`) — used when `follow_hyprland_border_color` is false, or when Hyprland reports no border color at all
+- `glow_size` (int, px the border's color bleeds inward past the window edge, over the window itself — 0, the default, disables it)
+- `glow_strength` (float 0–1, peak opacity of that glow at the window edge, as a fraction of the border color's own alpha)
 - `titlebar_height` (int, px)
 - `titlebar_text_size` (int, px)
 - `titlebar_font` (string, passed to `cairo_select_font_face`)
@@ -77,15 +81,18 @@ Per-window decoration (`src/ChromeDecoration.hpp/.cpp`): implements `IHyprWindow
 - `draw()` doesn't render directly; it enqueues a `ChromePassElement` into Hyprland's render pass each frame.
 - `GetBorderTexture(...)` and `GetTitleTexture(...)` are the actual cairo/Pango rendering entry points, each memoizing against their own last-seen parameters (size, extent, chamfer, color, title text, font, etc.) so unchanged frames reuse the cached `Render::ITexture` instead of re-rendering.
 - `FullDecorationExtentGlobal()` computes the decoration's box in global logical coordinates, accounting for workspace animation offset and floating-window offset.
+- The inward glow (`glow_size`/`glow_strength`) is drawn by `DrawInwardGlow` into the hole the ring's even-odd fill leaves behind, so it lands on the window's own pixels (this decoration is `DECORATION_LAYER_OVER`, and the texture spans the whole window box, not just the ring). Its falloff is built from *overlapping* fills (one layer per px of depth, clamped to `kGlowMinLayers`/`kGlowMaxLayers`) — layer *i* covers the window edge inward to depth `glowPx * i / layers`, so a pixel `d` from the edge is painted by every layer deeper than `d`. The profile is stated explicitly (`strength * (1 - d/glowPx)^kGlowFalloffExponent` — fast off the edge, easing into a tail that reaches zero tangentially so there's no ring where it stops), and since each layer composites over every deeper one, a layer's own alpha is *not* its target: it's solved outermost-inward as `1 - a_j = (1 - T_j) / (1 - T_j+1)`. Changing the profile means changing `targetAt`, not the per-layer alphas. Abutting disjoint bands instead would leave an antialiasing seam at every shared edge; that's the reason for the overlap, don't "optimize" it away. Every layer's *outer* edge is the ring's inner boundary verbatim, chamfer vertices and all — filleting or otherwise altering it detaches the glow from the frame and opens a sliver of unpainted window at each corner. The corner softening lives entirely on the layers' *inner* edges, which are what the accumulated falloff's contours actually follow: each is inset by its own depth, filleted by `kGlowCornerSmoothing` × that depth (`AppendFilletedPolygon`, a quadratic Bezier through each vertex), and has its chamfer shrunk by `kChamferInsetShrink` × that depth. That last correction is not optional cosmetics — insetting a chamfered rect while holding its chamfer constant moves the 45° face in by `d·√2` rather than `d`, so without it the glow runs ~41% deeper at every corner than along the sides. The per-layer alpha is baked into the gradient pattern (`CreateGradientPattern`'s `alphaScale`) specifically so each layer can be a `cairo_fill` of its own band rather than a clip + `cairo_paint_with_alpha`, which would rasterize the clip's full extents — i.e. the whole window area — once per layer.
 
 Render-pass element (`src/ChromePassElement.hpp/.cpp`): an `EK_CUSTOM` pass element (`ChromePassElement::draw()`) that runs once per frame per window and:
 - Derives the corner chamfer live from the window's own `rounding()` (in device px, scaled by monitor scale) — so the border's cut corners track the window's rounding through config reloads, per-window rules, and animations.
-- When `follow_hyprland_border_color` is true, derives the fill color from the window's *own* resolved/animated `m_realBorderColor` (matching Hyprland's `general:col.active_border`/`col.inactive_border`, already focus-aware); otherwise (or if that gradient is empty) uses the plugin's own `active_color`/`inactive_color` config, picked by `g_pCompositor->isWindowActive(window)`. Gradients are collapsed to their first stop since the ring is a flat cairo fill, not a shader.
+- When `follow_hyprland_border_color` is true, derives the fill from the window's *own* resolved/animated `m_realBorderColor` (matching Hyprland's `general:col.active_border`/`col.inactive_border`, already focus-aware); otherwise (or if that gradient is empty) uses the plugin's own `active_color`/`inactive_color` config, picked by `g_pCompositor->isWindowActive(window)`. Either way it's snapshotted into a `ChromeGradient` (`src/ChromeGradient.hpp`) — stops + angle — and filled as a cairo linear gradient across the whole texture. Note the cross-focus *fade* (`m_realBorderColorPrevious` + `m_borderFadeAnimationProgress`, which Hyprland's shader lerps between two gradients) is not reproduced; the frame snaps to the new gradient.
 - Measures the window title (via `GetTitleTexture`, which itself goes through Hyprland's own Pango-based `IHyprRenderer::renderText`) to size the title bar plateau to fit the text (clamped between `MinTitleBarWidth`/`MaxTitleBarWidth`), then requests the border texture at that plateau width.
 - Emits the border texture plus (if there's a title) the title texture as child `CTexPassElement`s.
 
 Geometry math (`src/ChromeDecorationGeometry.hpp`): a pure, header-only value type (`ChromeDecorationGeometry`) that computes every coordinate used by the cairo path in `GetBorderTexture` — outer/inner chamfered boundaries, the title bar plateau's flat run and "dip" back down to the normal top edge, the left/right edge inset notch, etc. `ComputeBase(...)` computes everything except the title bar's own width (which depends on measured text and is filled in afterward via `WithTitleBarWidth(...)`). This is the file to read/edit when changing the border's shape — `ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture` just walks cairo path commands using these precomputed coordinates.
 
+Gradient handling (`src/ChromeGradient.hpp`): a pure, header-only snapshot of a border gradient (stops + angle) with two things the cairo fill needs. `SampleAt()` interpolates in **OkLab**, because that's where Hyprland's border shader interpolates (it uploads `m_colorsOkLabA`) — `GetBorderTexture` subdivides each segment into `kStopsPerSegment` sampled cairo stops so cairo's own sRGB lerp between them tracks that curve. `AxisFor()` converts the angle into a cairo linear-gradient axis, reproducing the shader's quadrant-folding formula (`progress = y·sin(a) + x·(1-sin(a))`, which is *not* a true rotation) rather than a rotated axis, so the frame's sweep stays in step with the window border it wraps.
+
 Below `kFullSpanThresholdPx` (250px window width), `fullSpan` mode kicks in: there isn't room for the plateau + its dip back to the normal edge height, so the entire top edge stays flat at the reserved title-bar height instead. This is why some cairo path logic in `GetBorderTexture` branches on `geo.fullSpan`.
 
 `Common.hpp` provides the `Config::Values::C*Value` type aliases (`IntValue`/`BoolValue`/`ColorValue`/`StringValue`) and `RGBAToARGB()` — Hyprland's raw color ints are AARRGGBB, but config default literals are written in the more familiar RRGGBBAA and converted at compile time.

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ hanging off the top-left corner. The frame's corners are chamfered by an
 amount inferred from the window's own border rounding, so the border peeking
 out around a rounded window's corners reads as a matching diagonal cut rather
 than a hard rectangular corner. Border color tracks Hyprland's own
-active/inactive border color live.
+active/inactive border color live, gradients included.
 
 ## Config
 
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ plugin {
         enabled = true                        # bool
         extent = 12                           # int, px the border extends past the window edge
         follow_hyprland_border_color = true   # bool, use Hyprland's own active/inactive border color instead of active_color/inactive_color below
-        active_color = 0xFFD063FF             # AARRGGBB, focused-window border color, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false
-        inactive_color = 0xFF6C6C6C           # AARRGGBB, unfocused-window border color, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false
+        active_color = 0xFFD063FF             # focused-window border color, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false
+        inactive_color = 0xFF6C6C6C           # unfocused-window border color, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false
         titlebar_height = 8                   # int, px height of the floating title bar
         titlebar_text_size = 12               # int, px font size of the title bar's text
         titlebar_font = sans-serif            # string, passed to cairo_select_font_face
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ plugin {
 }
 ```
 
+`active_color`/`inactive_color` take the same syntax as Hyprland's own
+`general:col.active_border` — a single color, or several plus an optional
+angle for a gradient:
+
+```
+active_color = rgba(ff0000ff) rgba(00ff00ff) 45deg
+```
+
 ## Installing
 
 ```sh
@@ -79,5 +87,8 @@ hyprctl plugin unload "$(pwd)/hypr-chrome.so"
 loader never fully unmaps a `.so` once `dlopen`'d, so reloading the same path
 just re-serves the old (possibly stale) mapping — the script works around
 this by copying each build to a uniquely-suffixed filename before loading it
-and cleaning up prior copies. It hardcodes an absolute checkout path at the
-top; check it matches your checkout before running it.
+and cleaning up prior copies. It also unloads any copy your own Hyprland
+config loads (found by grepping `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr` for a `hypr-chrome`
+`.so` path), since that one is a separate `dlopen` that would draw a second
+frame on every window. It hardcodes an absolute checkout path at the top;
+check it matches your checkout before running it.

buildAndLoad.sh

@@ -21,4 +21,19 @@ for old in hypr-chrome.so hypr-chrome-*.so; do
     [ "$old" = "hypr-chrome.so" ] || rm -f "$old"
 done
 
+# The session also loads the plugin declaratively from the personal Hyprland
+# config (home-manager's wayland.windowManager.hyprland.plugins, which lands
+# as a /nix/store/.../lib/libhypr-chrome.so). That copy is a separate dlopen
+# with its own decorations, so leaving it loaded means every window gets two
+# frames drawn on top of each other. Its store path changes on every rebuild,
+# so read it back out of the config instead of hardcoding it (-R to follow
+# home-manager's symlinks into the store).
+HYPR_CONFIG_DIR="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/hypr"
+if [ -d "$HYPR_CONFIG_DIR" ]; then
+    for configured in $(grep -Rho '/[^[:space:]"'"'"']*hypr-chrome[^[:space:]"'"'"']*\.so' "$HYPR_CONFIG_DIR" 2>/dev/null | sort -u || true); do
+        [ "$configured" = "$DIR/$NEW_SO" ] && continue
+        hyprctl plugin unload "$configured" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    done
+fi
+
 hyprctl plugin load "$DIR/$NEW_SO"

src/ChromeConfig.hpp

@@ -13,8 +13,18 @@ struct ChromeConfig {
   // inactiveColor below.
   SP<BoolValue> followHyprlandBorderColor;
 
-  SP<ColorValue> activeColor;
-  SP<ColorValue> inactiveColor;
+  // Gradients (multiple stops + an optional angle), same syntax as
+  // Hyprland's general:col.active_border/col.inactive_border.
+  SP<GradientValue> activeColor;
+  SP<GradientValue> inactiveColor;
+
+  // How far the border's glow bleeds inward past the window edge, over the
+  // window's own pixels, in logical pixels. 0 disables the glow entirely.
+  SP<IntValue> glowSize;
+
+  // Peak opacity of that glow, at the window edge, as a fraction of the
+  // border color's own alpha.
+  SP<FloatValue> glowStrength;
 
   // Height of the title bar hanging off the floating top-border cutout, in
   // logical pixels.

src/ChromeDecoration.cpp

@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #include <cairo/cairo.h>
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <limits>
+#include <numbers>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace {
@@ -27,6 +30,217 @@ std::vector<size_t> Utf8CodepointStarts(const std::string& s) {
   starts.push_back(s.size());
   return starts;
 }
+
+// cairo interpolates between color stops linearly in (premultiplied) sRGB,
+// Hyprland's border shader interpolates in OkLab - so rather than handing
+// cairo the gradient's own stops, each segment between them is subdivided
+// into this many sampled sub-stops. cairo's straight lines between those then
+// track the OkLab curve closely enough to be indistinguishable from the
+// compositor's own border, and it only costs anything on a cache miss.
+constexpr int kStopsPerSegment = 8;
+
+// `alphaScale` multiplies every stop's own alpha - the glow layers below
+// reuse the border's gradient at a fraction of its opacity, and baking that
+// into the pattern lets them cairo_fill() (which only touches the filled
+// band) instead of clip+paint (which rasterizes the clip's whole extents).
+cairo_pattern_t* CreateGradientPattern(const ChromeGradient& gradient, double w, double h, double alphaScale = 1.0) {
+  const auto axis = gradient.AxisFor(w, h);
+  const auto pattern = cairo_pattern_create_linear(axis.x0, axis.y0, axis.x1, axis.y1);
+
+  // A single stop still needs two identical cairo stops to fill at all.
+  const int steps = std::max(1, (static_cast<int>(gradient.colors.size()) - 1) * kStopsPerSegment);
+  for (int i = 0; i <= steps; ++i) {
+    const double t = static_cast<double>(i) / steps;
+    const auto color = gradient.SampleAt(static_cast<float>(t));
+    cairo_pattern_add_color_stop_rgba(pattern, t, color.r, color.g, color.b, color.a * alphaScale);
+  }
+
+  return pattern;
+}
+
+struct Point {
+  double x = 0, y = 0;
+};
+
+// The corners of a chamfered rectangle spanning [x0,x1]x[y0,y1], cut by
+// `chamfer` (clamped to what the rect can fit) - eight points, or the plain
+// four if the chamfer rounds away to nothing. Empty if the rect has collapsed.
+std::vector<Point> ChamferedRectPoints(float x0, float y0, float x1, float y1, float chamfer) {
+  if (x1 <= x0 || y1 <= y0)
+    return {};
+
+  const float c = std::clamp(chamfer, 0.F, std::min(x1 - x0, y1 - y0) / 2.F);
+  if (c <= 0.F)
+    return {{x0, y0}, {x1, y0}, {x1, y1}, {x0, y1}};
+
+  return {{x0 + c, y0}, {x1 - c, y0}, {x1, y0 + c}, {x1, y1 - c},
+          {x1 - c, y1}, {x0 + c, y1}, {x0, y1 - c}, {x0, y0 + c}};
+}
+
+// Appends `pts` as a closed subpath, with every vertex rounded off by a
+// `smooth`-px fillet: the path leaves the incoming edge `smooth` px early and
+// rejoins the outgoing one `smooth` px late, bridged by a quadratic Bezier
+// through the vertex itself (written as the equivalent cubic, which is all
+// cairo takes). `smooth` is capped at half the shortest edge so two adjacent
+// fillets meet at that edge's midpoint at worst instead of overrunning each
+// other; at 0 this is just a polyline.
+void AppendFilletedPolygon(cairo_t* cr, const std::vector<Point>& pts, double smooth) {
+  const size_t n = pts.size();
+  if (n < 3)
+    return;
+
+  double maxSmooth = std::numeric_limits<double>::max();
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
+    const auto& a = pts[i];
+    const auto& b = pts[(i + 1) % n];
+    maxSmooth = std::min(maxSmooth, std::hypot(b.x - a.x, b.y - a.y) / 2.0);
+  }
+
+  const double s = std::clamp(smooth, 0.0, maxSmooth);
+  if (s <= 0.0) {
+    cairo_move_to(cr, pts[0].x, pts[0].y);
+    for (size_t i = 1; i < n; ++i)
+      cairo_line_to(cr, pts[i].x, pts[i].y);
+    cairo_close_path(cr);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // `s` px from `from` towards `to`.
+  const auto along = [](const Point& from, const Point& to, double d) {
+    const double dx = to.x - from.x, dy = to.y - from.y;
+    const double len = std::hypot(dx, dy);
+    return len > 0 ? Point{from.x + dx / len * d, from.y + dy / len * d} : from;
+  };
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
+    const auto& prev = pts[(i + n - 1) % n];
+    const auto& cur = pts[i];
+    const auto& next = pts[(i + 1) % n];
+
+    const auto in = along(cur, prev, s);
+    const auto out = along(cur, next, s);
+
+    if (i == 0)
+      cairo_move_to(cr, in.x, in.y);
+    else
+      cairo_line_to(cr, in.x, in.y);
+
+    cairo_curve_to(cr,
+      cur.x + (in.x - cur.x) / 3.0, cur.y + (in.y - cur.y) / 3.0,
+      cur.x + (out.x - cur.x) / 3.0, cur.y + (out.y - cur.y) / 3.0,
+      out.x, out.y);
+  }
+
+  cairo_close_path(cr);
+}
+
+// Appends a closed chamfered-rectangle subpath spanning [x0,x1]x[y0,y1], its
+// corners cut by `chamfer` and then optionally softened by a `smooth`-px
+// fillet. Returns false without touching the path if the rect has collapsed
+// to nothing.
+bool AppendChamferedRect(cairo_t* cr, float x0, float y0, float x1, float y1, float chamfer, float smooth = 0.F) {
+  const auto pts = ChamferedRectPoints(x0, y0, x1, y1, chamfer);
+  if (pts.empty())
+    return false;
+
+  AppendFilletedPolygon(cr, pts, smooth);
+  return true;
+}
+
+// How many overlapping layers the inward glow's falloff is built from - one
+// per px of depth, so the bands stay sub-pixel-ish either way, bounded so a
+// hairline glow doesn't waste fills and a huge one doesn't run away with them
+// (each layer is another band-shaped fill, only on a cache miss).
+constexpr int kGlowMinLayers = 16;
+constexpr int kGlowMaxLayers = 64;
+
+// Shape of the falloff: alpha at depth d is strength * (1 - d/glowPx)^this.
+// Above 1 the glow drops off steeply at the window edge and then eases out
+// into a long tail - and, because it reaches zero tangentially rather than
+// at an angle, without a visible ring where the tail finally stops.
+constexpr float kGlowFalloffExponent = 2.2F;
+
+// How much of its own depth each glow layer's inner edge is filleted by, so
+// the glow's contours round off the further in they go. Only the inner edges
+// get this - the outermost one has to stay the ring's inner boundary exactly,
+// chamfer vertices and all, or the corners open up a sliver of unpainted
+// window between the frame and the glow.
+constexpr float kGlowCornerSmoothing = 0.5F;
+
+// A chamfered rect inset by `d` only stays a constant `d` away from its
+// original on the straight edges: holding the chamfer itself constant pushes
+// the 45-degree face in by d*sqrt(2) rather than d, so the band would run
+// ~41% deeper at each corner than along the sides. Shrinking the chamfer by
+// this much per px of inset makes the offset properly parallel instead.
+constexpr float kChamferInsetShrink = 2.F - std::numbers::sqrt2_v<float>;
+
+// Bleeds the border color inward past the window edge - over the window's own
+// pixels, since this decoration renders on DECORATION_LAYER_OVER - fading out
+// over `glowPx` and peaking at `strength` (times the gradient's own alpha) at
+// the edge itself.
+//
+// Each layer covers the region from the window edge inward to a progressively
+// greater depth, so a pixel `d` from the edge is painted by every layer deeper
+// than `d`. Overlapping the layers rather than abutting disjoint bands is what
+// keeps the ramp free of the antialiasing seams their shared edges would
+// otherwise leave - the price being that a layer can't just be given the alpha
+// the profile calls for, since it composites on top of every deeper layer too.
+//
+// Band j (between depths j-1 and j) is covered by layers j..n, landing at
+// 1 - prod(1 - a_i) for i >= j. Walking outermost-inward, each layer's own
+// alpha then falls out of the profile directly:
+//
+//     1 - a_j = (1 - T_j) / (1 - T_j+1)
+//
+// with T_j the target alpha sampled at band j's midpoint, and T_n+1 = 0.
+void DrawInwardGlow(cairo_t* cr, const ChromeDecorationGeometry& geo, const ChromeGradient& gradient, float glowPx, float strength, int w, int h) {
+  if (glowPx < 1.F || strength <= 0.F || geo.innerW <= 0 || geo.innerH <= 0)
+    return;
+
+  const int layers = std::clamp(static_cast<int>(std::ceil(glowPx)), kGlowMinLayers, kGlowMaxLayers);
+  const double peak = std::clamp(strength, 0.F, 1.F);
+  const auto targetAt = [&](double depth) {
+    return peak * std::pow(1.0 - std::clamp(depth / glowPx, 0.0, 1.0), kGlowFalloffExponent);
+  };
+
+  cairo_save(cr);
+  cairo_set_fill_rule(cr, CAIRO_FILL_RULE_EVEN_ODD);
+
+  // Deepest (faintest) layer first, so each iteration already knows the
+  // accumulated target of everything that will composite under it.
+  double deeperTarget = 0.0;
+  for (int i = layers; i >= 1; --i) {
+    const float depth = glowPx * static_cast<float>(i) / layers;
+    // Sampled at the band's shallow (brighter) edge rather than its midpoint,
+    // so the innermost band lands on `strength` exactly instead of half a
+    // band short of it. The half-band brightness bias that trades for is a
+    // sub-pixel shift at these layer counts.
+    const double target = targetAt(glowPx * (static_cast<double>(i) - 1.0) / layers);
+
+    const auto pattern = CreateGradientPattern(gradient, w, h, 1.0 - (1.0 - target) / (1.0 - deeperTarget));
+    cairo_set_source(cr, pattern);
+    deeperTarget = target;
+
+    // Every layer's outer edge is the ring's inner boundary verbatim, so the
+    // glow always meets the frame exactly.
+    AppendChamferedRect(cr, geo.innerX0, geo.innerY0, geo.innerX1, geo.innerY1, geo.innerChamfer);
+    // Punches this layer's un-glowed middle back out - inset by `depth`, with
+    // the corner both parallel-corrected and rounded off in proportion to how
+    // deep it is. Since it's these edges that the accumulated falloff's
+    // contours follow, the glow reads as chamfered where it meets the frame
+    // and progressively rounder inward. On a window smaller than the glow is
+    // deep the middle collapses to nothing and the layer just covers all of
+    // it, which is the right answer anyway.
+    AppendChamferedRect(cr,
+      geo.innerX0 + depth, geo.innerY0 + depth, geo.innerX1 - depth, geo.innerY1 - depth,
+      geo.innerChamfer - depth * kChamferInsetShrink, depth * kGlowCornerSmoothing);
+    cairo_fill(cr);
+
+    cairo_pattern_destroy(pattern);
+  }
+
+  cairo_restore(cr);
+}
 }
 
 ChromeDecoration::ChromeDecoration(PHLWINDOW window) : IHyprWindowDecoration(window) {
@@ -91,13 +305,14 @@ uint64_t ChromeDecoration::getDecorationFlags() { return DECORATION_PART_OF_MAIN
 
 PHLWINDOW ChromeDecoration::GetOwner() { return windowRef.lock(); }
 
-SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx, float extentPx, float chamferPx, uint64_t colorValue, float titleBarHeightPx, float titleBarWidthPx) {
+SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx, float extentPx, float chamferPx, const ChromeGradient& gradient, float titleBarHeightPx, float titleBarWidthPx, float glowPx, float glowStrength) {
   if (sizePx.x < 1 || sizePx.y < 1)
     return nullptr;
 
   if (cachedTexture && cachedTexture->ok() && cachedTexSize == sizePx &&
-      cachedExtent == extentPx && cachedChamfer == chamferPx && cachedColorValue == colorValue &&
-      cachedTitleBarHeight == titleBarHeightPx && cachedTitleBarWidth == titleBarWidthPx)
+      cachedExtent == extentPx && cachedChamfer == chamferPx && cachedGradient == gradient &&
+      cachedTitleBarHeight == titleBarHeightPx && cachedTitleBarWidth == titleBarWidthPx &&
+      cachedGlowSize == glowPx && cachedGlowStrength == glowStrength)
     return cachedTexture;
 
   const int w = static_cast<int>(sizePx.x);
@@ -116,8 +331,6 @@ SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx,
   cairo_paint(cr);
   cairo_restore(cr);
 
-  const CHyprColor color{colorValue};
-
   cairo_set_fill_rule(cr, CAIRO_FILL_RULE_EVEN_ODD);
 
   // outer boundary, chamfered - the ring itself starts at geo.topPad, not 0,
@@ -170,34 +383,18 @@ SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx,
 
   // inner boundary (window edge), inset by extent, chamfered - punches the
   // hole out of the outer path via even-odd fill, leaving just the ring.
-  if (geo.innerW > 0 && geo.innerH > 0) {
+  AppendChamferedRect(cr, geo.innerX0, geo.innerY0, geo.innerX1, geo.innerY1, geo.innerChamfer);
 
-    cairo_move_to(cr, geo.innerX0 + geo.innerChamfer, geo.innerY0);
-
-    /* *** Top Edge *** */
-
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX1 - geo.innerChamfer, geo.innerY0);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX1, geo.innerY0 + geo.innerChamfer);
-
-    /* *** Right Edge *** */
-
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX1, geo.innerY1 - geo.innerChamfer);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX1 - geo.innerChamfer, geo.innerY1);
-
-    /* *** Bottom Edge *** */
-
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX0 + geo.innerChamfer, geo.innerY1);
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX0, geo.innerY1 - geo.innerChamfer);
-
-    /* *** Left Edge *** */
-
-    cairo_line_to(cr, geo.innerX0, geo.innerY0 + geo.innerChamfer);
-
-    cairo_close_path(cr);
-  }
-
-  cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, color.r, color.g, color.b, color.a);
+  // The gradient's axis spans the whole texture (frame + title bar), not just
+  // the ring, so opposite sides of the frame land at opposite ends of it the
+  // way Hyprland's own border does.
+  const auto pattern = CreateGradientPattern(gradient, w, h);
+  cairo_set_source(cr, pattern);
   cairo_fill(cr);
+  cairo_pattern_destroy(pattern);
+
+  // Drawn after the ring, into the hole the fill above just left behind.
+  DrawInwardGlow(cr, geo, gradient, glowPx, glowStrength, w, h);
 
   cairo_surface_flush(surface);
 
@@ -205,9 +402,11 @@ SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx,
   cachedTexSize = sizePx;
   cachedExtent = extentPx;
   cachedChamfer = chamferPx;
-  cachedColorValue = colorValue;
+  cachedGradient = gradient;
   cachedTitleBarHeight = titleBarHeightPx;
   cachedTitleBarWidth = titleBarWidthPx;
+  cachedGlowSize = glowPx;
+  cachedGlowStrength = glowStrength;
 
   cairo_destroy(cr);
   cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
@@ -215,18 +414,16 @@ SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx,
   return cachedTexture;
 }
 
-SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetTitleTexture(const std::string& title, float textSizePx, uint64_t colorValue, const std::string& fontFamily, int maxWidthPx, bool isActive) {
+SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetTitleTexture(const std::string& title, float textSizePx, float alpha, const std::string& fontFamily, int maxWidthPx, bool isActive) {
   if (title.empty())
     return nullptr;
 
   if (cachedTitleTex && cachedTitleTex->ok() && cachedTitleTexTitle == title &&
-      cachedTitleTexSize == textSizePx && cachedTitleTexColor == colorValue &&
+      cachedTitleTexSize == textSizePx && cachedTitleTexAlpha == alpha &&
       cachedTitleTexFont == fontFamily && cachedTitleTexMaxWidth == maxWidthPx &&
       cachedTitleTexActive == isActive)
     return cachedTitleTex;
 
-  const CHyprColor borderColor{colorValue};
-  const float alpha = static_cast<float>(borderColor.a);
   const CHyprColor textColor = isActive
     ? CHyprColor{0.F, 0.F, 0.F, alpha}
     : CHyprColor{0xEE / 255.F, 0xEE / 255.F, 0xEE / 255.F, alpha};
@@ -262,7 +459,7 @@ SP<Render::ITexture> ChromeDecoration::GetTitleTexture(const std::string& title,
   cachedTitleTex = tex;
   cachedTitleTexTitle = title;
   cachedTitleTexSize = textSizePx;
-  cachedTitleTexColor = colorValue;
+  cachedTitleTexAlpha = alpha;
   cachedTitleTexFont = fontFamily;
   cachedTitleTexMaxWidth = maxWidthPx;
   cachedTitleTexActive = isActive;

src/ChromeDecoration.hpp

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #define WLR_USE_UNSTABLE
 
 #include "Globals.hpp"
+#include "ChromeGradient.hpp"
 #include <hyprland/src/desktop/DesktopTypes.hpp>
 #include <hyprland/src/render/decorations/IHyprWindowDecoration.hpp>
 #include <hyprutils/math/Box.hpp>
@@ -42,17 +43,22 @@ public:
   // by `chamferPx`, plus a title bar of height `titleBarHeightPx` and width
   // `titleBarWidthPx` (already measured/clamped by the caller - see
   // ChromeDecorationGeometry) hanging off the floating top-border
-  // cutout. Cached and only regenerated when any of these change from the
-  // last call.
-  SP<Render::ITexture> GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx, float extentPx, float chamferPx, uint64_t colorValue, float titleBarHeightPx, float titleBarWidthPx);
+  // cutout. Filled with `gradient` swept across the whole texture along that
+  // gradient's own axis (a single-stop gradient is just a flat fill), plus -
+  // if `glowPx` is non-zero - that same gradient bled `glowPx` inward past
+  // the ring's inner boundary, over the window's own pixels, fading out from
+  // `glowStrength` of its alpha at the window edge. Cached and only
+  // regenerated when any of these change from the last call.
+  SP<Render::ITexture> GetBorderTexture(const Vector2D& sizePx, float extentPx, float chamferPx, const ChromeGradient& gradient, float titleBarHeightPx, float titleBarWidthPx, float glowPx, float glowStrength);
 
   // Returns a texture of `title` rendered via Hyprland's own text renderer
   // (Pango, through IHyprRenderer::renderText) at `textSizePx` using
   // `fontFamily`, truncated with a trailing "…" if it doesn't fit within
-  // `maxWidthPx` - black while `isActive`, 0xEEEEEEFF otherwise, both at the
-  // border color's own alpha. Cached and only regenerated when any of these
-  // change from the last call. Returns nullptr if `title` is empty.
-  SP<Render::ITexture> GetTitleTexture(const std::string& title, float textSizePx, uint64_t colorValue, const std::string& fontFamily, int maxWidthPx, bool isActive);
+  // `maxWidthPx` - black while `isActive`, 0xEEEEEE otherwise, both at
+  // `alpha` (the border's own alpha, so translucent borders keep translucent
+  // text). Cached and only regenerated when any of these change from the last
+  // call. Returns nullptr if `title` is empty.
+  SP<Render::ITexture> GetTitleTexture(const std::string& title, float textSizePx, float alpha, const std::string& fontFamily, int maxWidthPx, bool isActive);
 
   WP<ChromeDecoration> self;
 
@@ -64,14 +70,16 @@ private:
   Vector2D cachedTexSize = {-1, -1};
   float cachedExtent = -1.F;
   float cachedChamfer = -1.F;
-  uint64_t cachedColorValue = 0;
+  ChromeGradient cachedGradient;
   float cachedTitleBarHeight = -1.F;
   float cachedTitleBarWidth = -1.F;
+  float cachedGlowSize = -1.F;
+  float cachedGlowStrength = -1.F;
 
   SP<Render::ITexture> cachedTitleTex;
   std::string cachedTitleTexTitle;
   float cachedTitleTexSize = -1.F;
-  uint64_t cachedTitleTexColor = 0;
+  float cachedTitleTexAlpha = -1.F;
   std::string cachedTitleTexFont;
   int cachedTitleTexMaxWidth = -1;
   bool cachedTitleTexActive = false;

src/ChromeGradient.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <hyprland/src/config/shared/complex/ComplexDataTypes.hpp>
+#include <hyprland/src/helpers/Color.hpp>
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <numbers>
+#include <vector>
+
+// A snapshot of a border gradient: its color stops (evenly spaced along the
+// gradient's axis) plus that axis' angle in radians - the same shape as
+// Hyprland's own Config::CGradientValueData, copied out of the compositor's
+// live (animated) gradient so it can be compared against the parameters the
+// cached border texture was rendered with.
+//
+// A single-stop gradient is just a flat color, which is what both Hyprland's
+// shader and the cairo path below degrade to.
+struct ChromeGradient {
+  std::vector<CHyprColor> colors;
+  float angle = 0.F;
+
+  bool empty() const { return colors.empty(); }
+
+  bool operator==(const ChromeGradient& other) const {
+    return angle == other.angle && colors == other.colors;
+  }
+
+  static ChromeGradient From(const Config::CGradientValueData& data) {
+    return {.colors = data.m_colors, .angle = data.m_angle};
+  }
+
+  // Alpha of the first stop, used for content drawn *with* the border (the
+  // title text) so it fades along with a translucent border color.
+  float FirstAlpha() const { return colors.empty() ? 1.F : static_cast<float>(colors.front().a); }
+
+  // Color at `t` (0..1) along the axis. Hyprland uploads its stops to the
+  // border shader already converted to OkLab and interpolates there, so
+  // interpolating in sRGB instead would visibly diverge (muddy midpoints) on
+  // anything but near-identical stops.
+  CHyprColor SampleAt(float t) const {
+    if (colors.empty())
+      return CHyprColor{0.F, 0.F, 0.F, 0.F};
+    if (colors.size() == 1)
+      return colors.front();
+
+    const float progress = std::clamp(t, 0.F, 1.F) * static_cast<float>(colors.size() - 1);
+    const size_t lower = std::min(static_cast<size_t>(std::floor(progress)), colors.size() - 2);
+    const float frac = progress - static_cast<float>(lower);
+
+    const auto a = colors[lower].asOkLab();
+    const auto b = colors[lower + 1].asOkLab();
+    const Hyprgraphics::CColor::SOkLab mixed{
+      .l = std::lerp(a.l, b.l, frac),
+      .a = std::lerp(a.a, b.a, frac),
+      .b = std::lerp(a.b, b.b, frac),
+    };
+    return CHyprColor{Hyprgraphics::CColor{mixed}, static_cast<float>(std::lerp(colors[lower].a, colors[lower + 1].a, frac))};
+  }
+
+  // Endpoints of the axis along which `t` runs 0 -> 1, in pixels within a
+  // `width` x `height` texture.
+  struct SAxis {
+    double x0 = 0, y0 = 0, x1 = 0, y1 = 0;
+  };
+
+  // Hyprland's border shader doesn't rotate its gradient axis; it folds the
+  // angle into the first quadrant (mirroring the coordinate instead) and then
+  // lerps between a purely horizontal and a purely vertical sweep by sin() of
+  // the folded angle:
+  //
+  //     progress = y * sin(a) + x * (1 - sin(a))     (x, y normalized 0..1)
+  //
+  // So 0deg sweeps left->right, 90deg top->bottom, and 45deg reaches the
+  // opposite corner - but the in-between angles are *not* a true rotation.
+  // Reproduce that function here rather than a rotated axis, so the frame's
+  // gradient stays in step with the window border it wraps. (The shader folds
+  // on literal 1.57/3.14/4.71 where this uses exact pi; that costs at most
+  // ~0.3% of the sweep near those boundaries, which isn't visible.)
+  //
+  // `progress` is affine in (x, y), so it maps onto a cairo linear gradient
+  // exactly: for progress = g . P + c (with g the per-pixel gradient vector),
+  // cairo's own t = (P - P0) . d / |d|^2 matches when d = g / |g|^2 and
+  // P0 = -c * d.
+  SAxis AxisFor(double width, double height) const {
+    static constexpr double TAU = 2.0 * std::numbers::pi;
+
+    double ang = std::fmod(static_cast<double>(angle), TAU);
+    if (ang < 0)
+      ang += TAU;
+
+    bool flipX = false, flipY = false;
+    double folded = ang;
+    if (ang > 1.5 * std::numbers::pi) {
+      flipY = true;
+      folded = TAU - ang;
+    } else if (ang > std::numbers::pi) {
+      flipX = flipY = true;
+      folded = ang - std::numbers::pi;
+    } else if (ang > 0.5 * std::numbers::pi) {
+      flipX = true;
+      folded = std::numbers::pi - ang;
+    }
+
+    const double sine = std::sin(folded);
+
+    // progress = xWeight * x + yWeight * y + offset, in normalized coords.
+    double xWeight = 1.0 - sine, yWeight = sine, offset = 0.0;
+    if (flipX) {
+      offset += xWeight;
+      xWeight = -xWeight;
+    }
+    if (flipY) {
+      offset += yWeight;
+      yWeight = -yWeight;
+    }
+
+    const double gx = xWeight / std::max(width, 1.0);
+    const double gy = yWeight / std::max(height, 1.0);
+    const double gLenSq = gx * gx + gy * gy;
+    if (gLenSq <= 0)
+      return {.x0 = 0, .y0 = 0, .x1 = std::max(width, 1.0), .y1 = 0};
+
+    const double dx = gx / gLenSq, dy = gy / gLenSq;
+    return {.x0 = -offset * dx, .y0 = -offset * dy, .x1 = -offset * dx + dx, .y1 = -offset * dy + dy};
+  }
+};

src/ChromePassElement.cpp

@@ -34,15 +34,18 @@ std::vector<UP<IPassElement>> ChromePassElement::draw() {
   const bool isActive = g_pCompositor->isWindowActive(window);
   // When follow_hyprland_border_color is set, track Hyprland's own
   // general:col.active_border / col.inactive_border (already resolved per
-  // focus state and animated by the compositor) - gradients are collapsed
-  // to their first stop, since the ring is a flat fill, not a shader.
+  // focus state and animated by the compositor), stops and angle included.
   // Otherwise (or if Hyprland reports no border color at all) fall back to
-  // our own active_color/inactive_color config.
-  const auto& borderGradient = window->m_realBorderColor;
-  const bool followHyprlandColor = PluginState->config.followHyprlandBorderColor->value() && !borderGradient.m_colors.empty();
-  const uint64_t colorValue = followHyprlandColor
-    ? static_cast<uint64_t>(borderGradient.m_colors.front().getAsHex())
-    : static_cast<uint64_t>(isActive ? PluginState->config.activeColor->value() : PluginState->config.inactiveColor->value());
+  // our own active_color/inactive_color config, which take the same
+  // gradient syntax.
+  const auto& hyprlandBorder = window->m_realBorderColor;
+  const bool followHyprlandColor = PluginState->config.followHyprlandBorderColor->value() && !hyprlandBorder.m_colors.empty();
+  const auto gradient = ChromeGradient::From(followHyprlandColor
+    ? hyprlandBorder
+    : (isActive ? PluginState->config.activeColor->value() : PluginState->config.inactiveColor->value()));
+  const float borderAlpha = gradient.FirstAlpha();
+  const float glowPx = static_cast<float>(PluginState->config.glowSize->value()) * monitor->m_scale;
+  const float glowStrength = static_cast<float>(PluginState->config.glowStrength->value());
   const float titleBarHeightPx = static_cast<float>(PluginState->config.titlebarHeight->value()) * monitor->m_scale;
   const float textSizePx = static_cast<float>(PluginState->config.titlebarTextSize->value()) * monitor->m_scale;
   const std::string fontFamily = PluginState->config.titlebarFont->value();
@@ -58,7 +61,7 @@ std::vector<UP<IPassElement>> ChromePassElement::draw() {
   const int measureMaxWidthPx = static_cast<int>(baseGeo.MaxTitleBarWidth() - baseGeo.barX0 - titlePadding * 2.F);
 
   const auto titleTex = measureMaxWidthPx > 0
-    ? data.decoration->GetTitleTexture(window->m_title, textSizePx, colorValue, fontFamily, measureMaxWidthPx, isActive)
+    ? data.decoration->GetTitleTexture(window->m_title, textSizePx, borderAlpha, fontFamily, measureMaxWidthPx, isActive)
     : nullptr;
   const float texW = (titleTex && titleTex->ok()) ? static_cast<float>(titleTex->m_size.x) : 0.F;
 
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ std::vector<UP<IPassElement>> ChromePassElement::draw() {
   // with title length - otherwise every title change would needlessly
   // regenerate an identical border texture.
   const float borderTitleBarWidthPx = geo.fullSpan ? geo.MaxTitleBarWidth() : geo.titleBarWidth;
-  const auto tex = data.decoration->GetBorderTexture({box.w, box.h}, extentPx, chamferPx, colorValue, titleBarHeightPx, borderTitleBarWidthPx);
+  const auto tex = data.decoration->GetBorderTexture({box.w, box.h}, extentPx, chamferPx, gradient, titleBarHeightPx, borderTitleBarWidthPx, glowPx, glowStrength);
   if (!tex || !tex->ok())
     return {};
 

src/Common.hpp

@@ -4,15 +4,27 @@
 
 #include <hyprland/src/config/values/types/BoolValue.hpp>
 #include <hyprland/src/config/values/types/ColorValue.hpp>
+#include <hyprland/src/config/values/types/FloatValue.hpp>
+#include <hyprland/src/config/values/types/GradientValue.hpp>
 #include <hyprland/src/config/values/types/IntValue.hpp>
 #include <hyprland/src/config/values/types/StringValue.hpp>
 #include <hyprland/src/plugins/PluginAPI.hpp>
 
 using IntValue = Config::Values::CIntValue;
+using FloatValue = Config::Values::CFloatValue;
 using BoolValue = Config::Values::CBoolValue;
 using ColorValue = Config::Values::CColorValue;
+// Accepts the same syntax as Hyprland's own general:col.* values - a single
+// color, or several plus an optional trailing angle ("... 45deg").
+using GradientValue = Config::Values::CGradientValue;
 using StringValue = Config::Values::CStringValue;
 
+// The trailing options argument of the *Value constructors (min/max/...).
+// makeShared forwards its arguments through a template parameter, which a
+// bare braced-init-list can't be deduced from - these have to be named.
+using IntValueOptions = Config::Values::SIntValueOptions;
+using FloatValueOptions = Config::Values::SFloatValueOptions;
+
 // Hyprland's raw color ints (and CHyprColor(uint64_t)) are AARRGGBB, but
 // literals are easier to read/write as the more common RRGGBBAA. Convert so
 // config defaults can be written in that order.

src/GlobalState.hpp

@@ -25,14 +25,24 @@ struct GlobalState {
           "plugin:hyprchrome:follow_hyprland_border_color",
           "Whether the border tracks Hyprland's own active/inactive border color instead of active_color/inactive_color",
           true),
-        .activeColor = makeShared<ColorValue>(
+        .activeColor = makeShared<GradientValue>(
           "plugin:hyprchrome:active_color",
-          "Color of the border on the focused window, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false",
-          RGBAToARGB(0xFFD063FF)),
-        .inactiveColor = makeShared<ColorValue>(
+          "Color (or gradient) of the border on the focused window, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false",
+          CHyprColor{RGBAToARGB(0xFFD063FF)}),
+        .inactiveColor = makeShared<GradientValue>(
           "plugin:hyprchrome:inactive_color",
-          "Color of the border on unfocused windows, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false",
-          RGBAToARGB(0x6C6C6CFF)),
+          "Color (or gradient) of the border on unfocused windows, used when follow_hyprland_border_color is false",
+          CHyprColor{RGBAToARGB(0x6C6C6CFF)}),
+        .glowSize = makeShared<IntValue>(
+          "plugin:hyprchrome:glow_size",
+          "How far the border's glow bleeds inward over the window, in pixels (0 disables it)",
+          0,
+          IntValueOptions{.min = 0}),
+        .glowStrength = makeShared<FloatValue>(
+          "plugin:hyprchrome:glow_strength",
+          "Peak opacity of the inward glow at the window edge, 0-1",
+          0.35F,
+          FloatValueOptions{.min = 0.F, .max = 1.F}),
         .titlebarHeight = makeShared<IntValue>(
           "plugin:hyprchrome:titlebar_height",
           "Height of the title bar hanging off the floating top-border cutout, in pixels",
@@ -52,6 +62,8 @@ struct GlobalState {
     HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.followHyprlandBorderColor);
     HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.activeColor);
     HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.inactiveColor);
+    HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.glowSize);
+    HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.glowStrength);
     HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.titlebarHeight);
     HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.titlebarTextSize);
     HyprlandAPI::addConfigValueV2(plugin, config.titlebarFont);