Post #1015088

2026-04-01 07:00 UTC

Ok so IBus and fcitx are well-established input method projects. Gnome even defaults to using IBus and I’m not sure it would even run without it. IBus does fun stuff like letting you type emojis (super+period, type an emoji name, etc) but also lets folks type non-Latin languages, like CJK and other stuff… It’s been around a while. And yet, after ~18 years, Wayland still has no standard mechanism for it. There’s like 3 different protocols - all incompatible and incomplete - for implementing an input method engine. And probably 2-3 other also-incompatible protocols for normal apps to say “I support using an input method” I *really* do not understand how it ended up this way. I want to know! There are a few issue trackers with folks discussing these protocols as if they’re brand new ideas never before considered? And with no prior art to examine? How did it end up like this?!

Replies (3)

@whack@hachyderm.io 2026-04-01 07:04

I shout most of my Wayland confusion into the void here because I honestly have no idea who is driving these efforts, and if I did, I don’t yet know how to communicate without simply gesturing wildly at the mess and shouting “what the heck happened here” I’d send patches or participate in discussion if 1) I knew where, and 2) I had faith that contributions would move forward

Open ##2050660
@phrawzty@hachyderm.io 2026-04-01 09:12

@whack There is nothing on god’s green earth that we computer touchers won’t reinvent at least twice

Open ##2050667
@vvelox@goatdaddy.net 2026-04-01 18:08

@whack And the infuriating part is it has been around for 17 years and is still a complete mess. I started using FreeBSD 25 years ago and XFree86 was far more complete and usable than Wayland is today despite having existed for a far shorter time frame.

Open ##2050668