From b8fb241e84fdf7cf4fae6f300a88fa3767dbadce Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Bastian de Byl <bastian@debyl.io>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2026 14:47:31 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] chore: updated guide with more custom nice rules

---
 content/post/kde-plasma-performance.md | 49 ++++++++++++++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 46 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/content/post/kde-plasma-performance.md b/content/post/kde-plasma-performance.md
index 1b860d8..b402a5f 100644
--- a/content/post/kde-plasma-performance.md
+++ b/content/post/kde-plasma-performance.md
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ yay -S cachyos-ananicy-rules-git  # Community rules
 sudo systemctl enable --now ananicy-cpp
 ```
 
-Now add custom rules for package management and compilation:
+Now add custom rules. First, demote background tasks that shouldn't freeze your
+desktop:
 
 ```bash
 sudo tee /etc/ananicy.d/package-managers.rules << 'EOF'
@@ -212,12 +213,40 @@ sudo tee /etc/ananicy.d/package-managers.rules << 'EOF'
 {"name": "cargo", "type": "BG_CPUIO"}
 {"name": "ninja", "type": "BG_CPUIO"}
 {"name": "make", "type": "BG_CPUIO"}
+
+# Coredump processing - can churn through 100MB+ dumps
+{"name": "systemd-coredump", "type": "BG_CPUIO"}
+{"name": "coredumpctl", "type": "BG_CPUIO"}
 EOF
 ```
 
 The `BG_CPUIO` type sets `nice=16`, `ioclass=idle`, and `sched=idle`. These
 processes will only get CPU and disk time when nothing else needs it.
 
+Next, boost interactive desktop applications that need to stay responsive:
+
+```bash
+sudo tee /etc/ananicy.d/99-desktop-priority.rules << 'EOF'
+# Desktop apps that need high priority for responsiveness
+
+# Terminal emulators
+{"name": "warp", "type": "LowLatency_RT"}
+{"name": "kitty", "type": "LowLatency_RT"}
+{"name": "alacritty", "type": "LowLatency_RT"}
+
+# Plasma desktop - boost higher than defaults
+{"name": "plasmashell", "nice": -5, "ioclass": "best-effort", "ionice": 0, "latency_nice": -5}
+
+# Browsers - boost for snappier UI
+{"name": "vivaldi-bin", "nice": -3, "ioclass": "best-effort", "ionice": 2, "latency_nice": -3}
+{"name": "firefox", "nice": -3, "ioclass": "best-effort", "ionice": 2, "latency_nice": -3}
+EOF
+```
+
+The `LowLatency_RT` type sets `nice=-12` — these apps get CPU priority over
+almost everything else. The `99-` prefix ensures this file loads last and
+overrides any conflicting defaults.
+
 ## Step 5: Tune VM Dirty Page Handling
 
 The kernel's default dirty page settings are tuned for servers, not desktops.
@@ -259,10 +288,24 @@ sudo sysctl --system
 | 1.2GB ClamAV RAM usage | 0 bytes |
 | BFQ overhead on NVMe | Direct hardware scheduling |
 | Compilation starves desktop | Compilation yields to UI |
+| Coredump processing freezes system | Runs at idle priority |
+| All processes equal priority | Desktop apps prioritized |
+
+The final priority hierarchy looks like this:
+
+| Process | Nice | Notes |
+|:--------|-----:|:------|
+| warp, kitty, kwin | -12 | `LowLatency_RT` — always responsive |
+| plasmashell | -5 | Boosted from default -1 |
+| vivaldi, firefox | -3 | Snappier than default |
+| _normal processes_ | 0 | Default |
+| pacman, dkms, gcc | +16 | `BG_CPUIO` — idle only |
+| systemd-coredump | +16 | Won't freeze on crash dumps |
 
 DKMS can now compile nvidia modules while I continue working. Package updates
-run in the background without the mouse cursor freezing. The system finally
-behaves like it should on modern hardware.
+run in the background without the mouse cursor freezing. Even when an app
+crashes and generates a 100MB+ coredump, the desktop stays smooth. The system
+finally behaves like it should on modern hardware.
 
 # Diagnostic Commands