ML4W OS Dotfiles v2.16 shipped today, moving the dock into a standalone repository and collapsing configuration into single JSON files for the first time. The update wraps up the project's switch to Quickshell, dropping Waybar and nwg-dock-hyprland to fix Fedora 44 breaks while adding a new command-line tool for managing the dock. New features include a sidebar blue light filter switch, an option to route right-click clock actions to a custom calendar app, and shortcuts for opening your dotfiles and backup folders. Old config paths are gone, so users upgrading from v2.15.1 need to check their settings before installing since the dock autohide toggle has also moved into the new dock dialog.

ML4W OS Dotfiles v2.16 splits the dock into its own repo and forces single-file config

The v2.16 release of the ML4W dotfiles for Hyprland just dropped. The big change is structural. The dock has been moved to its own repository. Configuration for both the status bar and the dock now comes from a single JSON file each. Old paths are gone. If you are running Fedora 44, this change is likely what you have been waiting for.

The release went up today. It marks the final step in the project's shift to Quickshell. The main dotfiles repo now sits at roughly 5,034 stars and 377 forks. It is one of the most popular Hyprland configurations available.

Why the dock matters

The ML4W dock used to live inside the main dotfiles repo, relying on nwg-dock-hyprland which simply does not work on Fedora 44. You probably noticed that limitation if you tried to install ML4W on Fedora recently. The new dock lives in github.com/mylinuxforwork/ml4w-dock. It is built with Quickshell. The installer creates ml4w-dock in your local binary folder. You can toggle, enable, or disable the dock from the command line.

Keep in mind that the dock reads ~/.config/ml4w-dock/config.json. You will need to update your setup if you edited the old paths. The installer will migrate your settings on first run. However, if you made heavy custom changes, you might need to copy them over manually. The new dock includes a launcher button on the left side. Left click opens the app launcher. Right click shows a menu with reload and settings options. You can hide the button in the config file if you do not like it.

Other changes in v2.16

The status bar config now lives in ~/.config/ml4w-statusbar/config.json. The old statusbar.json files are no longer read. This removes the guesswork about which file actually controls your settings. There is a new blue light filter toggle in the sidebar. It works alongside the existing keybinding. You can find it if you need to adjust screen color temperature without touching the terminal.

The Welcome app now reads its version from a JSON file. It no longer uses hardcoded strings. This makes version checking more reliable. You can also set an alternative calendar app. Right click the clock in the status bar to launch it. Two new menu entries in the Welcome app open your dotfiles and backup folders directly.

The Quickshell pivot

This release completes the migration to Quickshell. The project has been moving away from Waybar and nwg-dock-hyprland for months. v2.15 introduced the Quickshell dock. v2.16 extracts it into its own repo. Quickshell uses QtQuick and QML. It supports real-time reload. That means you can edit your config and see changes immediately. It also works across distributions without the breakage seen in older tools.

The ML4W dotfiles now require Quickshell for the dock and status bar. You will need version 0.3.1 or newer. The installer handles this automatically. For Arch users, there is one more thing to note. The AUR helper is no longer installed automatically. You must provide your own. This change started in v2.15.1 and carries over to v2.16.

Upgrade implications

If you are updating from v2.15.1, the main risk is configuration. Legacy paths are removed. The installer will try to migrate them. But if you have custom edits in the old locations, check them before you update. The dock is now external. It installs to ~/.local/share/ml4w-dock. The main dotfiles repo no longer contains the dock code. This keeps the main repo smaller and makes the dock easier to maintain.

The autohide settings for the dock moved into the dock's own settings dialog. You can no longer toggle it from the sidebar. This is a minor workflow change, but it keeps the sidebar less cluttered.

Final thoughts

It is a clean release. The architectural shifts make sense. The move to Quickshell fixes real compatibility issues. Fedora users can finally have a fully supported ML4W setup. The dock splitting is a smart move. It isolates a complex component. If you are maintaining a similar project, consider doing the same.

Head here to the installation script and here to the release page on GitHub.