Could Blur My Shell Be the Key to Native Blur in GNOME Shell?

[rodrigoGA]

Hi everyone,

First, I want to thank you all for the amazing work on Blur My Shell. It's an incredible extension that enhances GNOME Shell in both functionality and aesthetics. Your effort and dedication to this project are truly appreciated!

Recently, I came across a discussion on Reddit that sparked some thoughts about the lack of native blur support in GNOME Shell:
Why doesn’t GNOME have native blur yet, and how can we help make it happen?.

This raises an interesting question:

• Could the work already done in Blur My Shell be integrated into GNOME Shell to provide native support for blur?
• Would this improve the stability and functionality of features like blur in applications, which can sometimes feel limited or inconsistent?
• How can we, as a community, help make this happen? Perhaps through technical contributions, funding, or simply promoting the idea?

Here’s why I believe native blur support would be a valuable addition to GNOME Shell:

1. Improved functionality:
   Blur isn’t just about aesthetics. It enhances readability in semi-transparent interfaces by reducing distractions. For example, a terminal with semi-transparent blur allows you to view background elements without losing text clarity.

2. Real user demand:
   Extensions like Blur My Shell are among the most downloaded, reflecting strong interest in this feature. Users clearly want more than just an aesthetic boost—they’re looking for stable and integrated functionality.

3. Competitive design:
   GNOME is celebrated for its clean and modern design. However, the absence of native blur can make it feel less polished compared to environments like KDE, macOS, or Windows, where blur is a standard feature.

4. Enabling developers:
   Native blur support would provide a solid foundation for developers to create high-quality, visually appealing applications. Without it, many developers face limitations or have to rely on workarounds, as highlighted in this example from Ghostty:
   Ghostty Issue.

It’s important to clarify that this isn’t about enabling blur by default in GNOME Shell. The goal is to provide developers with the tools to utilize blur natively, ensuring greater stability and flexibility without forcing it on all users.

While concerns like performance impact or limited development resources are valid, integrating what has already been achieved in Blur My Shell could ease the process and offer a more robust, optimized solution.

Thank you again for all the hard work on Blur My Shell. I hope this discussion can be a step toward a more flexible and competitive GNOME Shell, with the community coming together to support this vision.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!