diff --git a/special-workspaces/README.md b/special-workspaces/README.md
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+++ b/special-workspaces/README.md
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+# Special Workspaces
+
+Displays populated and currently active Hyprland special workspaces as compact
+chips in the Noctalia bar.
+
+## Plugin
+
+| Field | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| ID | `jamesfeeder/special-workspaces` |
+| Entries | Bar widget: `special-workspaces`; service: `workspace-state` |
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Noctalia v5 with plugin API 3 or newer.
+- Hyprland, including its `hyprctl` utility.
+- Install `socat` on `PATH`.
+
+## Usage
+
+Enable `jamesfeeder/special-workspaces` in **Settings → Plugins**, then add
+**Special Workspaces** to the bar from **Settings → Bar**.
+
+The widget shows special workspaces in alphabetical order. Active workspaces
+remain visible when empty. Inactive workspaces appear only while populated and
+can be hidden with `hide_inactive`.
+
+## Settings
+
+| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| `max_label_chars` | `int` | `0` | Maximum Unicode characters shown from each workspace name. `0` shows the full name. |
+| `hide_inactive` | `bool` | `false` | Hide populated workspaces unless they are visible on a monitor. |
+| `capsule_radius` | `int` | `8` | Corner radius in logical pixels. Negative values are treated as `0`. |
+| `capsule_padding` | `int` | `5` | Space before and after the label along the bar axis, in logical pixels. Negative values are treated as `0`. |
+| `capsule_min_width` | `int` | `35` | Minimum capsule length along the bar axis, in logical pixels. Negative values are treated as `0`. |
+| `active_style` | `select` | `"fill"` | Active capsule style: `"fill"` or `"ghost"`. |
+| `inactive_style` | `select` | `"fill"` | Inactive capsule style: `"fill"` or `"ghost"`. Hidden when `hide_inactive` is enabled. |
+
+## Notes
+
+- Active means visible on any monitor, not focused.
+- Fill style uses `primary` colors for active workspaces and `secondary` colors
+  for inactive workspaces. Ghost style uses a transparent fill with `primary`
+  or `on_surface` text.
+- On vertical bars, capsules grow vertically and display one Unicode character
+  per line from top to bottom.
+- The service snapshots `hyprctl -j clients` and `hyprctl -j monitors`, then
+  listens to Hyprland's `.socket2.sock` through `socat`.
+- If the event socket disconnects, the service waits for it to return,
+  refreshes its snapshot, and reconnects. It retains the last valid state while
+  `hyprctl` is unavailable and retries failed snapshots up to twice.
diff --git a/special-workspaces/plugin.toml b/special-workspaces/plugin.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de960a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/special-workspaces/plugin.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+id = "jamesfeeder/special-workspaces"
+name = "Special Workspaces"
+version = "1.4.0"
+plugin_api = 3
+author = "jamesfeeder"
+license = "MIT"
+icon = "stack-2"
+description = "Displays populated and currently active Hyprland special workspaces"
+tags = ["hyprland", "indicator", "bar"]
+dependencies = ["socat"]
+
+[[service]]
+id = "workspace-state"
+entry = "service.luau"
+
+[[widget]]
+id = "special-workspaces"
+entry = "widget.luau"
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "max_label_chars"
+  type = "int"
+  label_key = "settings.max_label_chars.label"
+  description_key = "settings.max_label_chars.description"
+  default = 0
+  min = 0
+  max = 64
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "hide_inactive"
+  type = "bool"
+  label_key = "settings.hide_inactive.label"
+  description_key = "settings.hide_inactive.description"
+  default = false
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "capsule_radius"
+  type = "int"
+  label_key = "settings.capsule_radius.label"
+  description_key = "settings.capsule_radius.description"
+  default = 8
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "capsule_padding"
+  type = "int"
+  label_key = "settings.capsule_padding.label"
+  description_key = "settings.capsule_padding.description"
+  default = 5
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "capsule_min_width"
+  type = "int"
+  label_key = "settings.capsule_min_width.label"
+  description_key = "settings.capsule_min_width.description"
+  default = 35
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "active_style"
+  type = "select"
+  label_key = "settings.active_style.label"
+  description_key = "settings.active_style.description"
+  default = "fill"
+  options = [
+    { value = "fill", label_key = "settings.style.fill" },
+    { value = "ghost", label_key = "settings.style.ghost" },
+  ]
+
+  [[widget.setting]]
+  key = "inactive_style"
+  type = "select"
+  label_key = "settings.inactive_style.label"
+  description_key = "settings.inactive_style.description"
+  default = "fill"
+  options = [
+    { value = "fill", label_key = "settings.style.fill" },
+    { value = "ghost", label_key = "settings.style.ghost" },
+  ]
+  visible_when = { key = "hide_inactive", values = ["false"] }
diff --git a/special-workspaces/service.luau b/special-workspaces/service.luau
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f03117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/special-workspaces/service.luau
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+-- Publishes populated or active Hyprland special workspaces to the plugin state
+-- channel.
+-- Hyprland's event socket triggers snapshots after relevant changes.
+
+local STATE_KEY = "special_workspaces"
+local SEPARATOR = "__NOCTALIA_SPECIAL_WORKSPACES_MONITORS__"
+local STREAM_REFRESH_MARKER = "__NOCTALIA_SPECIAL_WORKSPACES_STREAM_REFRESH__"
+local SNAPSHOT_ATTEMPTS = 3
+
+local loggedSnapshotError = false
+local refreshInFlight = false
+local refreshPending = false
+
+local function logSnapshotError(message)
+  if not loggedSnapshotError then
+    noctalia.log("Special workspaces: " .. message .. "; retaining last state")
+    loggedSnapshotError = true
+  end
+end
+
+local function shellQuote(value)
+  return "'" .. string.gsub(value, "'", "'\"'\"'") .. "'"
+end
+
+local function specialName(value)
+  if type(value) ~= "string" then
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local name = string.match(value, "^special:(.+)$")
+  if name and name ~= "" then
+    return name
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+local function snapshotFromJson(clientsJson, monitorsJson)
+  local clients, clientErr = noctalia.json.decode(clientsJson)
+  local monitors, monitorErr = noctalia.json.decode(monitorsJson)
+  if type(clients) ~= "table" or type(monitors) ~= "table" then
+    return nil, "invalid Hyprland JSON" .. (clientErr and (": " .. clientErr) or (monitorErr and (": " .. monitorErr) or ""))
+  end
+
+  local workspaces = {}
+  for _, client in ipairs(clients) do
+    local workspace = client.workspace
+    local name = workspace and specialName(workspace.name)
+    if name then
+      local item = workspaces[name]
+      if not item then
+        item = { name = name, windowCount = 0, active = false }
+        workspaces[name] = item
+      end
+      item.windowCount = item.windowCount + 1
+    end
+  end
+
+  for _, monitor in ipairs(monitors) do
+    local special = monitor.specialWorkspace
+    local name = special and specialName(special.name)
+    if name then
+      local item = workspaces[name]
+      if not item then
+        item = { name = name, windowCount = 0, active = false }
+        workspaces[name] = item
+      end
+      item.active = true
+    end
+  end
+
+  local result = {}
+  for _, item in pairs(workspaces) do
+    table.insert(result, item)
+  end
+  table.sort(result, function(a, b) return a.name < b.name end)
+  return result
+end
+
+local function publishSnapshot(clientsJson, monitorsJson)
+  local state, err = snapshotFromJson(clientsJson, monitorsJson)
+  if not state then
+    -- Keep the last valid state during temporary compositor command failures.
+    logSnapshotError("snapshot failed (" .. err .. ")")
+    return false
+  end
+  loggedSnapshotError = false
+  noctalia.state.set(STATE_KEY, state)
+  return true
+end
+
+local function refresh()
+  if refreshInFlight then
+    refreshPending = true
+    return
+  end
+  refreshInFlight = true
+  local command = "attempt=1; while [ \"$attempt\" -le " .. SNAPSHOT_ATTEMPTS
+    .. " ]; do clients=$(hyprctl -j clients) && monitors=$(hyprctl -j monitors)"
+    .. " && { printf '%s\\n" .. SEPARATOR .. "\\n%s\\n' \"$clients\" \"$monitors\"; exit 0; };"
+    .. " attempt=$((attempt + 1)); [ \"$attempt\" -le " .. SNAPSHOT_ATTEMPTS
+    .. " ] && sleep 1; done; exit 1"
+  local started = noctalia.runAsync(command, function(result)
+    if result.exitCode ~= 0 then
+      logSnapshotError("hyprctl failed")
+    else
+      local markerStart, markerEnd = string.find(result.stdout, "\n" .. SEPARATOR .. "\n", 1, true)
+      if not markerStart then
+        logSnapshotError("incomplete hyprctl snapshot")
+      else
+        publishSnapshot(string.sub(result.stdout, 1, markerStart - 1), string.sub(result.stdout, markerEnd + 1))
+      end
+    end
+
+    refreshInFlight = false
+    if refreshPending then
+      refreshPending = false
+      refresh()
+    end
+  end)
+  if not started then
+    refreshInFlight = false
+    logSnapshotError("could not start hyprctl snapshot")
+  end
+end
+
+local refreshEvents = {
+  activespecial = true,
+  activespecialv2 = true,
+  openwindow = true,
+  closewindow = true,
+  movewindow = true,
+  movewindowv2 = true,
+  workspace = true,
+  workspacev2 = true,
+  focusedmon = true,
+  focusedmonv2 = true,
+  createworkspace = true,
+  createworkspacev2 = true,
+  destroyworkspace = true,
+  destroyworkspacev2 = true,
+  moveworkspace = true,
+  moveworkspacev2 = true,
+  renameworkspace = true,
+  monitoradded = true,
+  monitoraddedv2 = true,
+  monitorremoved = true,
+  monitorremovedv2 = true,
+}
+
+local function startEventStream()
+  if not noctalia.commandExists("socat") then
+    noctalia.log("Special workspaces: socat is unavailable; event updates disabled")
+    return
+  end
+
+  local runtimeDir = noctalia.getenv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR")
+  local signature = noctalia.getenv("HYPRLAND_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE")
+  if not runtimeDir or not signature then
+    noctalia.log("Special workspaces: Hyprland environment is unavailable; event updates disabled")
+    return
+  end
+
+  local socket = runtimeDir .. "/hypr/" .. signature .. "/.socket2.sock"
+  -- Keep a single helper alive across temporary socket failures. Noctalia stops
+  -- the complete stream command automatically when this service exits.
+  local command = "while true; do while [ ! -S " .. shellQuote(socket)
+    .. " ]; do sleep 5; done; printf '" .. STREAM_REFRESH_MARKER
+    .. "\\n'; socat -u UNIX-CONNECT:" .. shellQuote(socket)
+    .. " - 2>&1; sleep 5; done"
+  local started = noctalia.runStream(command, function(line)
+    if line == STREAM_REFRESH_MARKER then
+      refresh()
+      return
+    end
+
+    local event = string.match(line, "^([%a%d_]+)>>")
+    if event then
+      if refreshEvents[event] then
+        refresh()
+      end
+    end
+  end)
+
+  if not started then
+    noctalia.log("Special workspaces: could not start socat event stream")
+  end
+end
+
+refresh()
+startEventStream()
+
+function onOutputsChanged()
+  refresh()
+end
diff --git a/special-workspaces/thumbnail.webp b/special-workspaces/thumbnail.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..718df6a
Binary files /dev/null and b/special-workspaces/thumbnail.webp differ
diff --git a/special-workspaces/translations/en.json b/special-workspaces/translations/en.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..791f724
--- /dev/null
+++ b/special-workspaces/translations/en.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+  "settings": {
+    "max_label_chars": {
+      "label": "Maximum label characters",
+      "description": "Maximum characters shown from each workspace name. Use 0 to show the full name."
+    },
+    "hide_inactive": {
+      "label": "Hide inactive workspaces",
+      "description": "Hide populated special workspaces unless they are currently visible on a monitor."
+    },
+    "capsule_radius": {
+      "label": "Capsule radius",
+      "description": "Corner radius of each capsule in logical pixels. Values below 0 are treated as 0."
+    },
+    "capsule_padding": {
+      "label": "Capsule content padding",
+      "description": "Space before and after the label along the bar axis, in logical pixels. Values below 0 are treated as 0."
+    },
+    "capsule_min_width": {
+      "label": "Capsule minimum length",
+      "description": "Minimum capsule length along the bar axis: width on horizontal bars, height on vertical bars. Values below 0 are treated as 0."
+    },
+    "active_style": {
+      "label": "Active workspace style",
+      "description": "Show active workspaces as primary-filled capsules or transparent labels with primary text."
+    },
+    "inactive_style": {
+      "label": "Inactive workspace style",
+      "description": "Show inactive workspaces as secondary-filled capsules or transparent labels with surface text."
+    },
+    "style": {
+      "fill": "Fill",
+      "ghost": "Ghost"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/special-workspaces/widget.luau b/special-workspaces/widget.luau
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3b0632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/special-workspaces/widget.luau
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+local STATE_KEY = "special_workspaces"
+local PILL_HEIGHT = 16
+local PILL_GAP = 4
+local state = noctalia.state.get(STATE_KEY) or {}
+local maxLabelChars = tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("max_label_chars")) or 0
+local hideInactive = noctalia.getConfig("hide_inactive") == true
+local capsuleRadius = math.max(0, tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("capsule_radius")) or 8)
+local capsulePadding = math.max(0, tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("capsule_padding")) or 5)
+local capsuleMinWidth = math.max(0, tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("capsule_min_width")) or 35)
+local activeStyle = noctalia.getConfig("active_style") or "fill"
+local inactiveStyle = noctalia.getConfig("inactive_style") or "fill"
+local renderedVertical = nil
+
+local function displayName(name)
+  if maxLabelChars <= 0 then
+    return name
+  end
+
+  local nextOffset = utf8.offset(name, maxLabelChars + 1)
+  if nextOffset then
+    return string.sub(name, 1, nextOffset - 1)
+  end
+  return name
+end
+
+local function verticalName(name)
+  local characters = {}
+  for _, codepoint in utf8.codes(name) do
+    table.insert(characters, utf8.char(codepoint))
+  end
+  return table.concat(characters, "\n")
+end
+
+local function render(vertical)
+  renderedVertical = vertical
+  local container = vertical and ui.column or ui.row
+  local capsule = vertical and ui.column or ui.row
+  local chips = {}
+
+  for _, workspace in ipairs(state) do
+    if workspace.active or not hideInactive then
+      local name = workspace.name
+      local style = workspace.active and activeStyle or inactiveStyle
+      local filled = style == "fill"
+      local fill = filled
+          and (workspace.active and "primary" or "secondary")
+        or "#00000000"
+      local textColor = filled
+          and (workspace.active and "on_primary" or "on_secondary")
+        or (workspace.active and "primary" or "on_surface")
+      local capsuleProps = {
+        key = name,
+        align = "center",
+        justify = "center",
+        fill = fill,
+        radius = capsuleRadius,
+      }
+      if vertical then
+        capsuleProps.width = PILL_HEIGHT
+        capsuleProps.minHeight = capsuleMinWidth
+        capsuleProps.paddingV = capsulePadding
+      else
+        capsuleProps.height = PILL_HEIGHT
+        capsuleProps.minWidth = capsuleMinWidth
+        capsuleProps.paddingH = capsulePadding
+      end
+
+      local label = displayName(name)
+      table.insert(chips, capsule(capsuleProps, {
+        ui.label({
+          text = vertical and verticalName(label) or label,
+          fontSize = 11,
+          color = textColor,
+          textAlign = "center",
+        }),
+      }))
+    end
+  end
+
+  barWidget.render(container({ gap = PILL_GAP, align = "center" }, chips))
+end
+
+function update()
+  local vertical = barWidget.isVertical()
+  if vertical ~= renderedVertical then
+    render(vertical)
+  end
+end
+
+noctalia.state.watch(STATE_KEY, function(value)
+  state = type(value) == "table" and value or {}
+  render(renderedVertical)
+end)
+
+function onConfigChanged()
+  maxLabelChars = tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("max_label_chars")) or 0
+  hideInactive = noctalia.getConfig("hide_inactive") == true
+  capsuleRadius = math.max(0, tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("capsule_radius")) or 8)
+  capsulePadding = math.max(0, tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("capsule_padding")) or 5)
+  capsuleMinWidth = math.max(0, tonumber(noctalia.getConfig("capsule_min_width")) or 35)
+  activeStyle = noctalia.getConfig("active_style") or "fill"
+  inactiveStyle = noctalia.getConfig("inactive_style") or "fill"
+  render(renderedVertical)
+end
+
+render(barWidget.isVertical())