docs: update CHANGELOG, README keybindings, gitignore ly/

- Automata.Frame() rendered as base layer, form card overlaid via ANSI
  cursor positioning with dark background for readability
- Clock widget showing datetime (Mon Jan 02 15:04:05) in top bar
- Session type label (x11/wayland) shown above switcher selection

.gitignore

@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ session.md
 build/*
 examples/*
 things_todo.md
+ly/*

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ first public release
 
 ### Recent Fixes
 
+- **DesktopNames parsing** — `.desktop` files now parse the `DesktopNames` field. the first semicolon-delimited entry becomes `XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP`, and the full list with `:` separators becomes `XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP`. fixes GNOME/KDE sessions not getting proper environment variables
+- **utmpx accounting wired** — `AddUtmpx` and `Close` are now called from `spawnSession` so user logins appear in `who`/`w`/`last`
+- **fixed hardcoded shell** — `Credentials.Shell` now reads from `/etc/passwd` instead of always returning `/bin/sh`. removes duplicate `userShell` logic in exec.go
+- **automata background wired** — `Automata.Frame()` is now rendered in `View()` as the base layer with the login form card overlaid using ANSI cursor positioning. the form has a dark card background for readability
+- **clock widget** — added a datetime display (`Mon Jan 02 15:04:05`) to the top bar, updated every tick
+- **session specifier label** — the environment switcher now shows the session type (`x11`, `wayland`) above the session name, like ly's specifier
+- **form card background** — login content is rendered inside a padded card with a dark background so it reads cleanly over the animated automata
+
 - **utmpx time field portability** — replaced hardcoded `C.__uint32_t` / `C.__int32_t` casts with a C helper function (`auth/utmpx_time.h`) that lets the compiler handle type conversion. fixes build failure on systems where `ut_tv` uses `struct timeval` instead of the 32/64 compat struct
 - **cgo pointer safety for pam** — replaced `unsafe.Pointer(&h)` (Go stack pointer passed to C) with `storeHandle`/`loadHandle` helpers that keep the `cgo.Handle` in C-heap memory. fixes `cgo argument has Go pointer to unpinned Go pointer` panic on Go 1.22+
 - **pam conversation callback** — fixed `unsafe.Slice` using `&r` (pointer-to-pointer) as the backing array instead of `r` (the calloc'd response array), which wrote password bytes into random stack memory. also now only responds to `PAM_PROMPT_ECHO_OFF`/`PAM_PROMPT_ECHO_ON` messages — info and error messages get nil. fixes `pam_unix: auth could not identify password`
@@ -46,4 +54,4 @@ first public release
 - session leader is the latchd process, not the desktop — pam session tracking via systemd-logind may be imperfect
 - not all config options affect the rendering yet
 - occasional terminal state corruption on abrupt exit
-- automata background rendered as tick-only visual (not wired into the view yet)
+- automata background visible at screen edges; form card covers the center

README.md

@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ pacman -S latchd
 systemctl enable latchd
 ```
 
-## command line
+## Command Line
 
-```
+```bash
 latchd [options]
 
   -c, --config <file>     config path (default: /etc/latchd/config.toml)
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ latchd [options]
   --initial-path <path>   override initial PATH value
 ```
 
-## adding sessions
+## Adding Sessions
 
-drop executable scripts into the right folder and they show up in the switcher.
+Drop executable scripts into the right folder and they show up in the switcher.
 
 **x11** — put your xinitrc scripts in `/etc/latchd/wms/`:
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ tty sessions are added automatically if no other environments are found, or you
 
 ## configuring
 
-the config lives at `/etc/latchd/config.toml`. all options are documented inline in the file. you can also use a `variables.toml` file with `$VAR` syntax:
+The config lives at `/etc/latchd/config.toml`. all options are documented inline in the file. you can also use a `variables.toml` file with `$VAR` syntax:
 
 ```toml
 # /etc/latchd/variables.toml
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ title_color_focused = "$accent"
 border_color_focused = "$accent"
 ```
 
-## debugging
+## Debugging
 
 three log files:
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ three log files:
 
 run `latchd --show-config` to verify your configuration. run `latchd --preview` to test the login screen without leaving your current session.
 
-## keybindings
+## Keybindings
 
 standard shell-style bindings in text fields:
 
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ standard shell-style bindings in text fields:
 | ctrl+b/f | left/right |
 | ctrl+p/n | up/down (previous/next field) |
 | tab, shift+tab | next/prev field |
+| down / up | next/prev field |
 | left/right | previous/next session (switcher mode) |
 | , / . | previous/next session (any mode) |
 | f1, f2 | power controls |
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ standard shell-style bindings in text fields:
 
 ## source layout
 
-```
+```bash
 src/
 ├── main.go           entry point, cli, vt switching, session forking
 ├── auth/

src/auth/pam.go

@@ -37,9 +37,11 @@ static struct pam_conv makePAMConv(void *data) {
 import "C"
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	ouser "os/user"
 	"runtime"
 	"runtime/cgo"
+	"strings"
 	"unsafe"
 )
 
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ func Validate(user, pass, service string) (*Credentials, error) {
 		PrimaryGID: gid,
 		AllGIDs:    gids,
 		HomeDir:    u.HomeDir,
-		Shell:      "/bin/sh",
+		Shell:      shellFromPasswd(uid),
 		pamHandle:  pamh,
 		pamData:    cData,
 		pamCB:      h,
@@ -211,3 +213,21 @@ func atou32(s string) uint32 {
 	}
 	return n
 }
+
+func shellFromPasswd(uid uint32) string {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile("/etc/passwd")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "/bin/sh"
+	}
+	uidStr := fmt.Sprint(uid)
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(data), "\n") {
+		parts := strings.Split(line, ":")
+		if len(parts) >= 7 && parts[2] == uidStr && parts[6] != "" {
+			sh := parts[6]
+			if sh != "/sbin/nologin" && sh != "/usr/sbin/nologin" && sh != "/bin/false" {
+				return sh
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return "/bin/sh"
+}

src/login/login.go

@@ -438,6 +438,9 @@ var (
 	infoCol  = lipgloss.Color("3")   // yellow
 	greenCol = lipgloss.Color("2")   // green
 
+	cardBg   = lipgloss.Color("0")   // black card background
+	cardPad  = 2
+
 	avatarStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(accent)
 
 	fieldBox = lipgloss.NewStyle().
@@ -481,6 +484,14 @@ func (m *Model) View() string {
 	content := m.renderLayout()
 
 	if m.width > 0 && m.height > 0 {
+		if m.automata != nil {
+			bg := m.automata.Frame()
+			var sb strings.Builder
+			sb.WriteString(bg)
+			sb.WriteString("\x1b[H") // cursor home before overlaying
+			sb.WriteString(overlayCenter(m.width, m.height, content))
+			return sb.String()
+		}
 		return lipgloss.Place(m.width, m.height, lipgloss.Center, lipgloss.Center,
 			content,
 		)
@@ -488,17 +499,49 @@ func (m *Model) View() string {
 	return content
 }
 
+func overlayCenter(w, h int, content string) string {
+	lines := strings.Split(content, "\n")
+	cw := 0
+	for _, l := range lines {
+		if lw := lipgloss.Width(l); lw > cw {
+			cw = lw
+		}
+	}
+	cx := (w - cw) / 2
+	cy := (h - len(lines)) / 2
+	if cx < 0 {
+		cx = 0
+	}
+	if cy < 0 {
+		cy = 0
+	}
+
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	for i, line := range lines {
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\x1b[%d;%dH", cy+i+1, cx+1))
+		sb.WriteString(line)
+	}
+	return sb.String()
+}
+
 func (m *Model) renderLayout() string {
-	// top bar: power hints
+	clock := m.renderClock()
-	top := m.renderPowerHints()
+
+	// top bar: power hints on left, clock on right
+	var topParts []string
+	topParts = append(topParts, m.renderPowerHints())
+	if clock != "" {
+		topParts = append(topParts, clock)
+	}
+	top := strings.Join(topParts, "   ")
 
 	// avatar + form side by side
 	avatar := m.renderAvatar()
 	form := m.renderForm()
 	mid := lipgloss.JoinHorizontal(lipgloss.Top, avatar, "   ", form)
 
-	// DE switcher below
+	// DE switcher with specifier label
-	sw := m.renderSwitcherDots()
+	sw := m.renderSwitcher()
 
 	// caps lock
 	caps := m.renderCapsLock()
@@ -536,7 +579,10 @@ func (m *Model) renderLayout() string {
 			joined = pad + joined
 		}
 	}
-	return joined
+	return lipgloss.NewStyle().
+		Background(cardBg).
+		Padding(cardPad, cardPad+2).
+		Render(joined)
 }
 
 func (m *Model) renderPowerHints() string {
@@ -594,7 +640,12 @@ func (m *Model) renderForm() string {
 	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, userField, "", passField)
 }
 
-func (m *Model) renderSwitcherDots() string {
+func (m *Model) renderClock() string {
+	now := time.Now()
+	return powerHint.Render(now.Format("Mon Jan 02 15:04:05"))
+}
+
+func (m *Model) renderSwitcher() string {
 	if len(m.envs) == 0 {
 		return swNeighbour.Align(lipgloss.Center).Render("no desktop environments found")
 	}
@@ -604,6 +655,9 @@ func (m *Model) renderSwitcherDots() string {
 
 	var parts []string
 
+	// session specifier (like "x11", "wayland")
+	spec := swDot.Render(m.envs[m.selIdx].Kind + "  ")
+
 	if cfg.ShowMovers && m.selIdx > 0 {
 		parts = append(parts, swMover.Render(cfg.LeftMover+" "))
 	}
@@ -636,7 +690,7 @@ func (m *Model) renderSwitcherDots() string {
 	}
 	dotLine := strings.Join(dots, " ")
 
-	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Center, swLine, dotLine)
+	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Center, spec, swLine, dotLine)
 }
 
 func (m *Model) renderCapsLock() string {

src/main.go

@@ -165,12 +165,16 @@ func spawnSession(res *login.Result) error {
 	session.SetSeatVars(res.Config.TTY)
 	session.SetSessionVars(creds.UID)
 	session.SetXDGCommonPaths(creds.HomeDir)
+	session.SetDesktopVars(res.Env.DesktopNames, res.Env.SessionDesktop)
 
 	sess, err := session.Spawn(&res.Env, creds.UID, creds.PrimaryGID, creds.AllGIDs, &res.Config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("spawn: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	utmpx := auth.AddUtmpx(creds.Username, res.Config.TTY, uint32(sess.PID()))
+	defer utmpx.Close()
+
 	err = sess.Wait()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("session exited: %v", err)

src/session/env.go

@@ -57,6 +57,15 @@ func SetXDGCommonPaths(home string) {
 	setOrOwn("XDG_CONFIG_DIRS", "/etc/xdg")
 }
 
+func SetDesktopVars(currentDesktop, sessionDesktop string) {
+	if currentDesktop != "" {
+		setOrOwn("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP", currentDesktop)
+	}
+	if sessionDesktop != "" {
+		setOrOwn("XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP", sessionDesktop)
+	}
+}
+
 func setOrOwn(k, v string) {
 	if _, ok := os.LookupEnv(k); !ok {
 		os.Setenv(k, v)

src/session/exec.go

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ type PostLoginEnv struct {
 	Title            string
 	XinitrcPath      string
 	ScriptPath       string
+	DesktopNames     string // for XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP (colon-separated)
+	SessionDesktop   string // for XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP
 }
 
 type SpawnedEnv struct {

src/session/scan.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 type DesktopEntry struct {
 	Name         string
 	Exec         string
+	DesktopNames string
 	Hidden       bool
 	NoDisplay    bool
 }
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ func parseDesktopEntry(path string) (*DesktopEntry, error) {
 			e.Name = v
 		case "Exec":
 			e.Exec = v
+		case "DesktopNames":
+			e.DesktopNames = v
 		case "Hidden":
 			e.Hidden = strings.EqualFold(v, "true")
 		case "NoDisplay":
@@ -97,15 +100,28 @@ func scanDesktopDir(dir, kind string, envs *[]PostLoginEnv) {
 		if err != nil || de.Hidden || de.NoDisplay {
 			continue
 		}
+		desktopNames, sessionDesktop := splitDesktopNames(de.DesktopNames, e.Name())
 		*envs = append(*envs, PostLoginEnv{
 			Kind:           kind,
 			Title:          de.Name,
 			XinitrcPath:    de.Exec,
 			ScriptPath:     de.Exec,
+			DesktopNames:   desktopNames,
+			SessionDesktop: sessionDesktop,
 		})
 	}
 }
 
+func splitDesktopNames(raw, fallback string) (currentDesktop, sessionDesktop string) {
+	if raw == "" {
+		return fallback, fallback
+	}
+	parts := strings.SplitN(raw, ";", 2)
+	sessionDesktop = strings.TrimSpace(parts[0])
+	currentDesktop = strings.ReplaceAll(raw, ";", ":")
+	return
+}
+
 func scanScriptDir(dir, kind string, envs *[]PostLoginEnv) {
 	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
 	if err != nil {