From f8f6f6e20db7eaa0800b16f698907cfffab5f93e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Guido Cella <guido@guidocella.xyz>
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:22:31 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] =?UTF-8?q?hide=20the=20mouse=20cursor=20if=20it=20isn?=
 =?UTF-8?q?=E2=80=99t=20being=20used?=
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---
 config.def.h |  2 ++
 dwl.c        | 36 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 2 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 13c5322..45c3c76 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ LIBINPUT_CONFIG_TAP_MAP_LMR -- 1/2/3 finger tap maps to left/middle/right
 */
 static const enum libinput_config_tap_button_map button_map = LIBINPUT_CONFIG_TAP_MAP_LRM;
 
+static const int cursor_timeout = 5;
+
 /* If you want to use the windows key for MODKEY, use WLR_MODIFIER_LOGO */
 #define MODKEY WLR_MODIFIER_ALT
 
diff --git a/dwl.c b/dwl.c
index f7bda0b..aabaa0d 100644
--- a/dwl.c
+++ b/dwl.c
@@ -308,6 +308,8 @@ static void focusstack(const Arg *arg);
 static Client *focustop(Monitor *m);
 static void fullscreennotify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data);
 static void gpureset(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data);
+static void handlecursoractivity(void);
+static int hidecursor(void *data);
 static void handlesig(int signo);
 static void incnmaster(const Arg *arg);
 static void inputdevice(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data);
@@ -411,6 +413,8 @@ static struct wlr_pointer_constraint_v1 *active_constraint;
 
 static struct wlr_cursor *cursor;
 static struct wlr_xcursor_manager *cursor_mgr;
+static struct wl_event_source *hide_source;
+static bool cursor_hidden = false;
 
 static struct wlr_scene_rect *root_bg;
 static struct wlr_session_lock_manager_v1 *session_lock_mgr;
@@ -671,6 +675,8 @@ axisnotify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	wlr_seat_pointer_notify_axis(seat,
 			event->time_msec, event->orientation, event->delta,
 			event->delta_discrete, event->source, event->relative_direction);
+
+	handlecursoractivity();
 }
 
 void
@@ -684,6 +690,7 @@ buttonpress(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	const Button *b;
 
 	wlr_idle_notifier_v1_notify_activity(idle_notifier, seat);
+	handlecursoractivity();
 
 	switch (event->state) {
 	case WL_POINTER_BUTTON_STATE_PRESSED:
@@ -1662,6 +1669,28 @@ handlesig(int signo)
 		quit(NULL);
 }
 
+void
+handlecursoractivity(void)
+{
+	wl_event_source_timer_update(hide_source, cursor_timeout * 1000);
+
+	if (!cursor_hidden)
+		return;
+
+	cursor_hidden = false;
+
+	wlr_seat_pointer_clear_focus(seat);
+	motionnotify(0, NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+}
+
+int
+hidecursor(void *data)
+{
+	wlr_cursor_unset_image(cursor);
+	cursor_hidden = true;
+	return 1;
+}
+
 void
 incnmaster(const Arg *arg)
 {
@@ -2032,6 +2061,7 @@ motionnotify(uint32_t time, struct wlr_input_device *device, double dx, double d
 
 		wlr_cursor_move(cursor, device, dx, dy);
 		wlr_idle_notifier_v1_notify_activity(idle_notifier, seat);
+		handlecursoractivity();
 
 		/* Update selmon (even while dragging a window) */
 		if (sloppyfocus)
@@ -2066,7 +2096,7 @@ motionnotify(uint32_t time, struct wlr_input_device *device, double dx, double d
 	/* If there's no client surface under the cursor, set the cursor image to a
 	 * default. This is what makes the cursor image appear when you move it
 	 * off of a client or over its border. */
-	if (!surface && !seat->drag)
+	if (!surface && !seat->drag && !cursor_hidden)
 		wlr_cursor_set_xcursor(cursor, cursor_mgr, "default");
 
 	pointerfocus(c, l, surface, sx, sy, time);
@@ -2429,6 +2459,7 @@ run(char *startup_cmd)
 	 * monitor when displayed here */
 	wlr_cursor_warp_closest(cursor, NULL, cursor->x, cursor->y);
 	wlr_cursor_set_xcursor(cursor, cursor_mgr, "default");
+	handlecursoractivity();
 
 	/* Run the Wayland event loop. This does not return until you exit the
 	 * compositor. Starting the backend rigged up all of the necessary event
@@ -2768,6 +2799,8 @@ setup(void)
 	cursor_shape_mgr = wlr_cursor_shape_manager_v1_create(dpy, 1);
 	wl_signal_add(&cursor_shape_mgr->events.request_set_shape, &request_set_cursor_shape);
 
+	hide_source = wl_event_loop_add_timer(event_loop, hidecursor, cursor);
+
 	/*
 	 * Configures a seat, which is a single "seat" at which a user sits and
 	 * operates the computer. This conceptually includes up to one keyboard,
@@ -3185,6 +3218,7 @@ virtualpointer(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	if (event->suggested_output)
 		wlr_cursor_map_input_to_output(cursor, device, event->suggested_output);
 	wlr_seat_set_capabilities(seat, seat->capabilities | WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_POINTER);
+	handlecursoractivity();
 }
 
 Monitor *
-- 
2.55.0