I have an Early 2015 13" MacBook Pro with a Retina display that has been damaged. The bottom 2.75 inches and the right 1.25 inches of the screen are unusable, but the top-left part, about 2/3 of the display, works just fine. I'm looking for a way to configure Linux to completely ignore the damaged areas and only render content in the good part, anchored at the top-left corner.
I've tried several Linux distributions like Fedora KDE and Pop!_OS, using `xrandr` to create a new resolution mode (2392x1086), but I faced issues where the display got centered instead of aligning to the top left. On Wayland, there doesn't seem to be support for cropping or offsetting the viewport. I'm not interested in a tiling window manager; I just want to use normal floating windows in the usable area.
Is there a compositor or WM setup that can help with this? I've heard Sway or Wayfire might be options, but I'm unsure about how to configure them to ensure only floating windows are used and the broken parts are ignored. Any help, configuration examples, or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like an annoying issue! In my experience, Xnest could be a potential workaround; it allows you to run an X11 screen in a window. By default, that window will start in the top left corner, which might do what you need. Just keep in mind it might break 3D acceleration, though. Better to check if that fits your needs! Hope it helps!
Honestly, I’m not sure if any Linux distro has the capabilities you need for adjusting the screen in such a specific way. Maybe it'd be easier to just get the display fixed or look into a new laptop instead?
I get what you mean, but that’s not always feasible for everyone. Sometimes a workaround is the best option for a quick fix!
That could be a decent option! But have you considered that it might introduce some performance issues?