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Otter Shell apps share eleven Zig libraries. They link into binaries at build time. End users do not install them as separate packages.

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Library stack

LibraryPurposeDepends on
otter-utilsBounded arrays, logging, file paths, inotifynone
otter-geoGeometry types (Point, Rect, Padding, Transform)none
otter-confComptime config parser and hot-reload watcherotter-utils
otter-renderCPU renderer, fonts, images, CommandListotter-geo, otter-utils
otter-waylandWayland client, layer shell, input, clipboardotter-geo, otter-render, otter-utils
otter-vteTerminal cell rendering primitivesotter-geo, otter-render
otter-themeShared theme tokens and 12 presetsotter-geo, otter-render, otter-conf, otter-utils
otter-config-typesTyped config structs for all appsotter-render, otter-geo, otter-conf
otter-tools-corePure-Zig helpers for small CLI toolsotter-conf, otter-utils
otter-desktopXDG icons, D-Bus, PipeWire, PAM, sysinfootter-utils
otter-uiSurface Description frame API and widgetsotter-geo, otter-render, otter-vte, otter-theme, otter-wayland, otter-utils, otter-desktop, otter-tools-core
Typical app chain: otter-ui, then otter-wayland, otter-render, otter-theme, otter-conf, otter-desktop.

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Compile-time flags

FlagLibraries affectedEffect
-Denable_dbus=falseotter-desktop, otter-bar, otter-lockRemove D-Bus services
-Denable_pipewire=falseotter-desktop, otter-bar, otter-osdRemove PipeWire audio
-Denable_pam=falseotter-desktop, otter-lock, otter-greeterRemove PAM auth
-Denable_text=falseotter-renderNo font/shaping
-Dc_allocator=jemalloc|mimallocAll with C depsOverride C allocator

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Source locations

Each library has its own repo under git.pika-os.com/otter-shell. Monorepo checkout layout: 
otter-shell/
├── otter-conf/
├── otter-geo/
├── otter-utils/
├── otter-render/
├── otter-wayland/
├── otter-vte/
├── otter-theme/
├── otter-config-types/
├── otter-tools-core/
├── otter-desktop/
├── otter-ui/
└── otter-bar/ … (applications)
Read each component’s README.md for API examples and build instructions.