DankMaterialShell has become Dux Shell with the release of version 2.0, codenamed “Heisenberg.” The major update introduces a redesigned desktop interface, a standalone file manager, customizable dashboard plugins, a more flexible dock, and expanded integration with Wayland compositors.
The project’s parent organization has also changed its name from Dank Linux to Dux Labs. Despite the rebranding, the familiar DMS abbreviation and dms command remain in use, helping existing users recognize the project while its broader desktop software suite moves under a unified identity.
What Is Dux Shell?
Dux Shell is a customizable desktop shell built with Quickshell and Go for Linux systems using Wayland compositors. It brings desktop functions such as application launching, system panels, notifications, system controls, media widgets, and lock-screen features into a unified interface.
It is designed to work with environments including Hyprland, Niri, Sway, MangoWC, labwc, and other supported Wayland compositors. Rather than replacing the Linux kernel or acting as a complete Linux distribution, it provides the graphical desktop layer that users interact with during everyday work.
The 2.0 release marks a significant expansion of the project. What began as a desktop shell now sits within a broader collection of applications and utilities maintained by Dux Labs.
Why DankMaterialShell Was Renamed Dux Shell
According to the project’s developers, the software suite has grown beyond a single shell. It now includes additional desktop tools, supporting services, and a community-developed plugin ecosystem. The new Dux name provides a shared identity for these related projects.
| Previous name | New name or status |
|---|---|
| Dank Linux | Dux Labs |
| DankMaterialShell | Dux Shell |
| DankGreeter | Dux Greeter |
| DankSearch | Dux Search |
| DankGOP | Dux GOP |
| DankCalendar | Dux Calendar |
| New in version 2.0 | Dux Files |
The rebrand does not mean every existing command has changed. The shell continues to use the dms command, while related utilities retain their existing binary names for compatibility. Package maintainers should nevertheless review the release notes because repository locations, some package names, and desktop application identifiers have changed.
A Redesigned Interface With Material 3 Expressive
One of the most visible changes in Dux Shell 2.0 is its updated interface, which adopts Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language. The redesign touches Settings, Control Center, Dash, and shared interface components.
Settings
Reorganized navigation, grouped options, dedicated settings pages, and more consistent controls make configuration easier to explore.
Control Center
Updated layouts and visual styling bring system controls into a more consistent desktop experience.
Dash
The dashboard gains a more flexible overview, refreshed built-in pages, and support for third-party plugins.
Animations and theming
Refined motion, colors, and shared widgets give desktop components a more unified appearance.
The redesign is not simply cosmetic. As the project gains more functions, clearer navigation and a consistent settings structure can make its growing collection of options easier to manage.
Dash Now Supports More Flexible Plugins
Dash is the central dashboard in Dux Shell. Version 2.0 allows plugins to contribute entire tabs, individual cards to the overview, or both. Users can rearrange and resize cards and choose which information appears in their dashboard.
The built-in overview, media player, weather, and wallpaper pages have also received updated layouts. This makes Dash more adaptable to different workflows: users can prioritize the information and controls they need instead of relying exclusively on a fixed collection of panels.
The changes also create additional opportunities for plugin developers to extend the shell. Developers should consult the updated Dux documentation before migrating existing extensions, as the 2.0 release changes shared widget names and introduces new plugin surfaces.
Dux Files Introduces a Standalone File Manager
One of the most substantial additions is Dux Files, a standalone file manager that follows the visual style of Dux Shell but can run independently of the shell itself.
Its feature set includes:
- Tabbed browsing: Work with multiple folders in one window.
- Split views: View folder locations side by side.
- File previews: Inspect supported content without relying exclusively on external applications.
- Archive handling: Work with ZIP, TAR, 7z, and RAR archives.
- Remote access: Access supported remote locations through SFTP, SMB, and WebDAV.
- Storage management: Mount removable drives and unlock encrypted storage where supported.
- File operations: Use common file-management actions with progress tracking and undo functionality.
- Application integration: Integrate with file-selection dialogs in supported applications.
These capabilities make Dux Files more than a visual companion to the shell. It provides a dedicated file-management application for local and remote workflows. Users should still check the official documentation for supported protocols, archive behavior, and any required system dependencies.
Dux Dot, OmegaDock, and the Updated Island
Dux Dot: A Compact Desktop Interface
Dux Shell 2.0 introduces Dux Dot, a small, movable interface designed as an alternative to a traditional desktop panel. Depending on the interaction, it can expand to provide access to the application launcher, dashboard, Control Center, media controls, weather information, and notifications.
This approach can suit users who prefer a minimal desktop and want their controls available on demand instead of keeping a large panel permanently visible.
OmegaDock: More Dock Configurations
The dock has been expanded and is now called OmegaDock. Users can create multiple dock instances, place them along different screen edges, and select between a compact icon strip and a full-width taskbar layout.
OmegaDock can also host widgets and plugins, including clocks, media controls, system-tray elements, and workspace information. Depending on the widget, content can appear in a popout or inline panel.
A More Flexible Island
The existing island component gains additional placement options. It can be integrated into desktop bars, float on the screen, use a vertical orientation, or sit at the top of the display in a notch-style layout.
Its compact interface can also accommodate more information, including media controls, weather, workspace switching, privacy indicators, and system-tray elements.
Customizable Lock Screen and Synchronized Lyrics
A Visual Lock-Screen Editor
The new lock-screen editor lets users add, move, resize, and configure widgets for the clock, date, notifications, system status, and power controls. A live preview helps users see their changes while arranging the screen.
This makes the lock screen more customizable without requiring every layout adjustment to be performed manually through configuration files.
Dux Lyrical Engine
The built-in media player gains the Dux Lyrical Engine, which supports synchronized song lyrics. Word-level and syllable-level timing are available when the relevant lyric data provides that detail.
Supported lyric sources include LRCLIB, YouTube Music, and KuGou, along with locally stored lyrics. Availability and synchronization quality can vary by track and provider.
Improved Wayland Compositor Integration
Dux Shell is intended for use with Wayland compositors rather than functioning as a compositor itself. Version 2.0 expands compatibility and integration with several projects in this ecosystem.
- Hyprland: Adds support for features introduced in Hyprland 0.56.
- MangoWC: Improves compatibility with version 0.18.
- Niri: Includes further integration and workflow improvements.
- Aqueous: Adds support for another Wayland compositor.
- Umbriel: Introduces initial integration.
The actual experience depends on the compositor, distribution, installed dependencies, and how the shell is configured. Before deploying it on a daily-use system, users should consult the compatibility documentation for their chosen environment.
More Than 90 Bug Fixes and Improvements
Alongside the new features, the Dux Labs team reports more than 90 fixes and quality-of-life improvements in version 2.0. The changes cover a broad range of desktop behavior.
- Lock screen and power: Improvements to multi-monitor locking, suspend behavior, and monitor wake-up.
- System tray: Fixes for icon positioning and behavior after displays reconnect.
- Networking: Changes affecting Wi-Fi discovery, VPN profile switching, and network-interface handling.
- Notifications: Improvements to popup behavior and notification rules.
- Screenshots: Better scaling on high-DPI displays, support for copying captures without saving, and other workflow fixes.
- Desktop stability: Corrections affecting the dock, wallpapers, audio, brightness, launcher, and other components.
These fixes are particularly relevant to a desktop shell because its components interact with window managers, displays, networking services, audio systems, and system-level tools. The official release notes provide the detailed list of changes.
Plugin Ecosystem and Developer Changes
The project reports a plugin registry containing more than 380 plugins and 47 themes. Version 2.0 also improves the plugin browser with features for discovering and managing extensions.
For developers, the release includes changes to shared QML widget names and plugin integration. Some older widget types have replacements in the shared qs.DCommon.Widgets library. Existing plugin authors should review the migration guidance rather than automatically replacing every deprecated type.
Package maintainers should pay particular attention to these changes:
- The main repository has moved to the Dux Labs GitHub organization.
- Some package names are changing to the new Dux naming scheme.
- Desktop application assets use updated application identifiers.
- Build requirements and source-directory names may differ from earlier releases.
- Repository migration instructions depend on the release and distribution packaging.
How to Get Dux Shell 2.0
The official project provides installation instructions and documentation for supported Linux distributions. Consult the current guide before installing, particularly if you already use an earlier version of DankMaterialShell.
Official installation command:
curl -fsSL https://install.duxlabs.dev | shThis command downloads and runs the project’s installation script. Review the script and the official installation instructions before executing it, especially on a production or work-critical machine. Installation can modify repositories, packages, and desktop configuration.
For existing users, do not assume that upgrading is identical to installing from scratch. Check the project’s current migration notes, back up relevant configuration, and follow the instructions for your distribution.
Start with the official Dux documentation and the GitHub releases page for release-specific guidance.
Who Should Consider Dux Shell?
Dux Shell 2.0 is especially worth exploring for Linux users who prefer customizable Wayland desktops and want more integrated controls than a minimal window-manager setup usually provides by itself.
- Hyprland and Niri users: Those looking for a customizable shell, panels, notifications, and desktop controls.
- Linux desktop enthusiasts: Users interested in visual customization, dashboard widgets, and flexible docks.
- Plugin developers: Developers who want to extend the dashboard and shared desktop widgets.
- Power users: People who want integrated media controls, file management, and configurable desktop interactions.
It may be less suitable for users who need a completely preconfigured desktop with minimal setup or who rely on a desktop environment outside the project’s supported integration paths. Compatibility and the amount of manual configuration required should be evaluated before switching.
Final Thoughts
Dux Shell 2.0 is both a rebrand and a substantial expansion of the DankMaterialShell project. The Material 3 Expressive redesign, Dux Files, Dux Dot, customizable Dash plugins, OmegaDock, and wider Wayland integration make the release more ambitious than a routine visual update.
The project also retains the familiar dms command, while developers and package maintainers need to account for repository, package, and application-identifier changes. For existing users, the best next step is to review the official migration guidance before upgrading.
For Linux desktop enthusiasts, Dux Shell 2.0 is a release worth watching as customizable Wayland desktop tooling continues to evolve.
Official Sources and Further Reading
- Dux Labs: DMS 2.0 — DankMaterialShell Is Now Dux Shell — official release announcement and feature details.
- Dux Shell GitHub Releases — release notes, packaging information, and version history.
- Official Dux Documentation — installation, configuration, and usage guidance.
- Linuxiac: DankMaterialShell Becomes Dux Shell with Major 2.0 Release — additional coverage of the release.