WhalePaper (Rust Wallpaper Engine)

Windows live wallpaper app: video behind desktop icons, controlled by the WhalePaper desktop UI.

Official UI (ship this)

$env:FFMPEG_DIR = "C:\ffmpeg"
cd web-ui && npm run build && cd ..
cargo build -p wallpaper-runtime -p wallpaper-api --features app
Copy-Item web-ui\dist target\debug\dist -Recurse -Force
.\copy_ffmpeg_dlls.ps1 -FFmpegPath "C:\ffmpeg"
cargo run -p wallpaper-api --features app -- --app

Or after building: target\debug\wallpaper-api.exe --app

• Close the window → app stays in the system tray (wallpaper keeps playing). Tray: Open / Pause / Resume / Next / Quit.
• Second launch focuses the existing window (single instance).
• Installer (scripts\build-installer.ps1) packages this same path (single-exe + app).

Legacy controller (not the product UI)

wallpaper-ui (Slint) remains in the repo for experiments. Prefer WhalePaper (wallpaper-api --app) for day-to-day use and releases.

Prerequisites

• Windows 10/11, Rust stable, FFmpeg full_build-shared (see FFMPEG_DOWNLOAD.md)
• Node.js only when rebuilding web-ui

Workspace crates

Crate	Role
wallpaper-core	Engine, video decode/present, telemetry, session config
wallpaper-host-windows	WorkerW / DirectComposition host
wallpaper-runtime	Process/service, IPC, auto-pause / occlusion
wallpaper-api	HTTP bridge + WhalePaper desktop shell (--app)
web-ui	React UI served by the API
wallpaper-ui	Legacy Slint controller

Features

• Video wallpapers (HW decode when FFmpeg D3D11VA is available)
• Pause / resume, fit, FPS cap, performance mode
• Auto-pause: fullscreen, window occlusion, lock, low battery
• Library: recent + favorites (%LOCALAPPDATA%\WhalePaper\library.json)
• Playlists / timed slideshow
• Start with Windows: logon task (no admin) or Windows Service (admin)

Docs

• RUNNING.md — run notes
• FFMPEG_DOWNLOAD.md — correct FFmpeg package
• web-ui/README.md — API / --app details