What this skill does
Control the Niri Wayland compositor on Linux via its IPC (`niri msg --json` / $NIRI_SOCKET). Use when you need to query Niri state (outputs/workspaces/windows/focused window) or perform actions (focus/move/close windows, switch workspaces, spawn commands, reload config) from an OpenClaw agent running on a Niri session.
Niri IPC is part of the Research & Knowledge category — research and knowledge skills that gather, search, and summarize information. You can install it on its own or alongside other research & knowledge skills from the OpenClaw catalog.
How to install Niri IPC
The easiest path is via the OpenClaw Easy desktop app — one click, no terminal required:
- Download OpenClaw Easy for macOS or Windows (free, one-click installer, ~30 seconds).
- Open the in-app Skills panel.
- Search for
niri-ipcand click Install. - The skill activates automatically when an incoming message matches its description.
Install from the command line
If you already run the OpenClaw CLI, add Niri IPC with a single command:
openclaw skills add niri-ipc
This pulls niri-ipc from ClawHub and installs it into ~/.openclaw/skills/niri-ipc/. Restart the OpenClaw gateway afterwards so the new skill is discovered.
How to use Niri IPC
Once installed, Niri IPC activates on its own: when an incoming message on WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Feishu or Line matches the skill's description, your OpenClaw agent loads it and runs the workflow. You can also trigger it explicitly by describing the task in chat. No extra configuration is required after install.
Manual install (advanced)
If you prefer manual installation:
- Click the Download .zip button above to grab
niri-ipc-1.0.0.zipdirectly from our S3 mirror. - Unzip into
~/.openclaw/skills/niri-ipc/(create the directory if it does not exist). - Restart OpenClaw Easy (or the OpenClaw CLI gateway) so the new skill is discovered.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Niri IPC?
Install Niri IPC in the OpenClaw Easy desktop app by opening the Skills panel, searching for niri-ipc, and clicking Install. From a terminal you can run: openclaw skills add niri-ipc. Either way the skill is placed in ~/.openclaw/skills/niri-ipc/.
Is Niri IPC free?
Yes. Niri IPC is free and open-source, distributed under the Apache-2.0 license through ClawHub. No account or payment is required to download or run it.
What does Niri IPC do?
Control the Niri Wayland compositor on Linux via its IPC (`niri msg --json` / $NIRI_SOCKET).
Related: more research & knowledge skills
If Niri IPC looks useful, you may also want to check out other research & knowledge skills in the OpenClaw catalog:
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Free, open-source · Apache-2.0 · Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or local Ollama models