Improve SYN-OS Openbox + Polybar UX: sound controls, running apps UI, and theme mapping

[syn990]

Context

• Polybar is in, but it isn’t giving us the daily usability we want.

  • No proper sound control UI beyond pavucontrol, which feels clunky.
  • No way to view or switch running apps (Polybar is not a taskbar). In Tint2 we had window buttons, and in Windows you can click running apps. We want something similar — ideally a pop-out panel styled like Uplink showing current windows.

• PipeWire has been trialed but caused issues. We need to tread carefully with audio backend decisions.

• Themes are all manual edits across Openbox, Polybar, GTK/Qt. It’s too much hassle. We should map out how the included packages (Openbox theme, Polybar config, GTK settings, Kvantum for Qt) can be unified into a consistent Red theme first, and only after that introduce the Blue variant.

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Goals

1. Sound: Provide a light, integrated way to change volume and switch devices from Polybar / UI pop-out, without depending on pavucontrol daily.
2. Windows: Add a way to see and switch between running apps (task-switcher pop-out or menu).
3. Theming: Automate applying the Red theme across Openbox, Polybar, GTK, and Qt with the packages already included in SYN-OS. Introduce Blue later once this path is stable.

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Proposed Direction

• Keep PipeWire optional until stability is better understood.

• Explore Polybar + Rofi integration for sound and window listing.

  • Volume: pamixer backend, scroll + click on Polybar, Rofi pop-out for sink selection.
  • Windows: rofi -show window or a custom script to list minimized/active apps in a styled menu.

• Map out theme automation:

  • Openbox: rc.xml + theme folder
  • Polybar: color tokens in config.ini
  • GTK: set dark variant (Adwaita-dark) or package Oomox preset
  • Qt: Kvantum theme preset
  • Provide one command/script (syn-theme red) to apply them all

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Tasks

• Review Polybar config and add missing UI pieces (volume + app pop-out)
• Decide on stable audio backend (PipeWire vs fallback ALSA)
• Create Rofi pop-out for active windows (Uplink-style)
• Define Red theme tokens and apply across Openbox, Polybar, GTK, Qt
• Add helper script for theme switching (start with Red only)
• QA on clean install: sound works, window pop-out shows apps, theme consistency

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Acceptance Criteria

• Out of the box, users can change sound volume and switch apps without opening pavucontrol.
• Running apps are visible in a menu/pop-out (not just Alt+Tab).
• Polybar shows volume status and allows simple adjustments.
• A single command/script applies the Red theme across all environments.
• Blue theme comes later, once Red is automated.