From 786fc97ea0f5aa838b80d04b81dffe94a3bacb69 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Jelle Spreeuwenberg <mail@jelles.net>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2026 20:08:46 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] feat: add local dictation with Handy and Niri shortcuts

---
 docs/constellation-work.md              | 16 ++++++++++++++++
 docs/constellation.md                   |  4 ++++
 modules/capabilities/niri/_bindings.nix | 19 +++++++++++++++++++
 modules/capabilities/niri/default.nix   |  9 +++++++++
 4 files changed, 48 insertions(+)

diff --git a/docs/constellation-work.md b/docs/constellation-work.md
index 5602b06..c01007e 100644
--- a/docs/constellation-work.md
+++ b/docs/constellation-work.md
@@ -118,6 +118,22 @@ reports are not a fresh comparison with this baseline.
 
 ## Open choices and next discussion
 
+Dictation: plain local transcription is selected; rambling cleanup is deferred.
+The shared Niri module installs Handy and starts it hidden with the desktop.
+Super+D toggles recording; Super+Shift+D cancels. Commands were verified against
+the pinned Handy 0.9.1 source. No microphone recording or model download was run.
+After user activation, launch Handy from Walker, download/select Parakeet V3,
+keep automatic language detection and disable push-to-talk for toggle operation.
+In Advanced, choose paste method None and clipboard handling Copy to Clipboard.
+Keep post-processing disabled. Settings/models remain writable app-owned state.
+Start Handy manually for the current session; desktop autostart applies on login.
+Try an English and a Dutch recording, paste into Codex with Ctrl+Shift+V, then
+submit manually. User feedback needed: recognition accuracy, delay and shortcut
+delivery. Automatic paste can follow if wanted after checking Niri compatibility.
+Verification: formatting, flake evaluation, Zenith and Polaris no-link system
+builds, and whitespace checks passed. No system activation or interactive
+dictation was performed; recognition quality and latency remain unmeasured.
+
 The focus is the broader environment, not further API/database polish. Candidate
 areas remain places/ownership, navigation/interaction, human/agent collaboration,
 and system operation/maintenance; these are discussion areas, not a work queue.
diff --git a/docs/constellation.md b/docs/constellation.md
index 8f676dc..2eac5d0 100644
--- a/docs/constellation.md
+++ b/docs/constellation.md
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ use a flake to declare its tools without Nix owning the surrounding workspace.
 
 - Neovim, Niri, Walker and the terminal feel right: direct, keyboard-driven
   interaction with useful connections to the rest of the environment.
+- Use Handy for local plain dictation, mainly English with occasional Dutch.
+  Start with Parakeet V3 and clipboard output. Niri owns recording shortcuts;
+  model downloads and microphone preferences remain application-owned. Cleanup
+  through Codex, a cloud API or a local language model is deferred.
 - Outlook is acceptable as an application, but its interaction and integration
   do not fit as naturally. Accessible mail for tools and agents matters separately
   from choosing a mail reader. Preserve meaning and source context, not just text.
diff --git a/modules/capabilities/niri/_bindings.nix b/modules/capabilities/niri/_bindings.nix
index 3c97fcc..97b1205 100644
--- a/modules/capabilities/niri/_bindings.nix
+++ b/modules/capabilities/niri/_bindings.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   browser,
+  handy,
   launcher,
   swapMonitorWorkspaces,
   terminal,
@@ -34,6 +35,24 @@ in
     _props.hotkey-overlay-title = "App Launcher";
   };
 
+  # Dictation
+  "Mod+D" = {
+    spawn = [
+      handy
+      "--toggle-transcription"
+    ];
+    _props.repeat = false;
+    _props.hotkey-overlay-title = "Toggle Dictation";
+  };
+  "Mod+Shift+D" = {
+    spawn = [
+      handy
+      "--cancel"
+    ];
+    _props.repeat = false;
+    _props.hotkey-overlay-title = "Cancel Dictation";
+  };
+
   # Hardware media, volume, and brightness keys
   "XF86AudioPlay" = spawnLocked "playerctl play-pause";
   "XF86AudioStop" = spawnLocked "playerctl stop";
diff --git a/modules/capabilities/niri/default.nix b/modules/capabilities/niri/default.nix
index 8af5212..62215ae 100644
--- a/modules/capabilities/niri/default.nix
+++ b/modules/capabilities/niri/default.nix
@@ -41,10 +41,18 @@ in
             playerctl
             brightnessctl
             wireplumber
+            handy
           ]
           ++ [ swapMonitorWorkspaces ];
       };
 
+      desktop.autostart = [
+        [
+          (lib.getExe pkgs.handy)
+          "--start-hidden"
+        ]
+      ];
+
       dconf.settings."org/gnome/desktop/interface".color-scheme = "prefer-dark";
 
       wayland.windowManager.niri = {
@@ -136,6 +144,7 @@ in
               terminal
               ;
             swapMonitorWorkspaces = lib.getExe swapMonitorWorkspaces;
+            handy = lib.getExe pkgs.handy;
           };
         };
       };