diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index cde8d62..6c6a8a6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ if (WAYLAND)
 	list(APPEND QT_FPDEPS WaylandClient)
 endif()
 
+if (DBUS)
+	list(APPEND QT_DEPS Qt6::DBus)
+	list(APPEND QT_FPDEPS DBus)
+endif()
+
 find_package(Qt6 REQUIRED COMPONENTS ${QT_FPDEPS})
 
 qt_standard_project_setup(REQUIRES 6.6)
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 247abf2..090fbc2 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ install(TARGETS quickshell RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
 add_subdirectory(core)
 add_subdirectory(io)
 
+if (DBUS)
+	add_subdirectory(dbus)
+endif()
+
 if (WAYLAND)
 	add_subdirectory(wayland)
 endif ()
diff --git a/src/dbus/CMakeLists.txt b/src/dbus/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a0d23e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+set_source_files_properties(org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.xml PROPERTIES
+	CLASSNAME DBusPropertiesInterface
+	#INCLUDE dbus_properties_types.hpp
+)
+
+qt_add_dbus_interface(DBUS_INTERFACES
+	org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.xml
+	dbus_properties
+)
+
+qt_add_library(quickshell-dbus STATIC
+	dbusutil.cpp
+	${DBUS_INTERFACES}
+)
+
+# dbus headers
+target_include_directories(quickshell-dbus PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
+
+target_link_libraries(quickshell-dbus PRIVATE ${QT_DEPS})
+
+qs_pch(quickshell-dbus)
+#qs_pch(quickshell-dbusplugin)
diff --git a/src/dbus/dbusutil.cpp b/src/dbus/dbusutil.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a80d622
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus/dbusutil.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+#include "dbusutil.hpp"
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <utility>
+
+#include <qcontainerfwd.h>
+#include <qdbusabstractinterface.h>
+#include <qdbusargument.h>
+#include <qdbuserror.h>
+#include <qdbusextratypes.h>
+#include <qdbusmessage.h>
+#include <qdbusmetatype.h>
+#include <qdbuspendingcall.h>
+#include <qdbuspendingreply.h>
+#include <qdebug.h>
+#include <qlogging.h>
+#include <qloggingcategory.h>
+#include <qmetatype.h>
+#include <qobject.h>
+#include <qpolygon.h>
+#include <qvariant.h>
+
+#include "dbus_properties.h"
+
+Q_LOGGING_CATEGORY(logDbus, "quickshell.dbus", QtWarningMsg);
+
+namespace qs::dbus {
+
+QDBusError demarshallVariant(const QVariant& variant, const QMetaType& type, void* slot) {
+	const char* expectedSignature = "v";
+
+	if (type.id() != QMetaType::QVariant) {
+		expectedSignature = QDBusMetaType::typeToSignature(type);
+		if (expectedSignature == nullptr) {
+			qFatal() << "failed to demarshall unregistered dbus meta-type" << type << "with" << variant;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (variant.metaType() == type) {
+		if (type.id() == QMetaType::QVariant) {
+			*reinterpret_cast<QVariant*>(slot) = variant; // NOLINT
+		} else {
+			type.destruct(slot);
+			type.construct(slot, variant.constData());
+		}
+	} else if (variant.metaType() == QMetaType::fromType<QDBusArgument>()) {
+		auto arg = qvariant_cast<QDBusArgument>(variant);
+		auto signature = arg.currentSignature();
+
+		if (signature == expectedSignature) {
+			if (!QDBusMetaType::demarshall(arg, type, slot)) {
+				QString error;
+				QDebug(&error) << "failed to deserialize dbus value" << variant << "into" << type;
+				return QDBusError(QDBusError::InvalidArgs, error);
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		QString error;
+		QDebug(&error) << "failed to deserialize variant" << variant
+		               << "which is not a primitive type or a dbus argument (what?)";
+		return QDBusError(QDBusError::InvalidArgs, error);
+	}
+
+	return QDBusError();
+}
+
+void asyncReadPropertyInternal(
+    const QMetaType& type,
+    QDBusAbstractInterface& interface,
+    const QString& property,
+    std::function<void(std::function<QDBusError(void*)>)> callback // NOLINT
+) {
+	if (type.id() != QMetaType::QVariant) {
+		const char* expectedSignature = QDBusMetaType::typeToSignature(type);
+		if (expectedSignature == nullptr) {
+			qFatal() << "qs::dbus::asyncReadPropertyInternal called with unregistered dbus meta-type"
+			         << type;
+		}
+	}
+
+	auto callMessage = QDBusMessage::createMethodCall(
+	    interface.service(),
+	    interface.path(),
+	    "org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties",
+	    "Get"
+	);
+
+	callMessage << interface.interface() << property;
+	auto pendingCall = interface.connection().asyncCall(callMessage);
+
+	auto* call = new QDBusPendingCallWatcher(pendingCall, &interface);
+
+	auto responseCallback = [type, callback](QDBusPendingCallWatcher* call) {
+		QDBusPendingReply<QDBusVariant> reply = *call;
+
+		callback([&](void* slot) {
+			if (reply.isError()) {
+				return reply.error();
+			} else {
+				return demarshallVariant(reply.value().variant(), type, slot);
+			}
+		});
+	};
+
+	QObject::connect(call, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, &interface, responseCallback);
+}
+
+void AbstractDBusProperty::tryUpdate(const QVariant& variant) {
+	auto error = this->read(variant);
+	if (error.isValid()) {
+		qCWarning(logDbus).noquote() << "Error demarshalling property update for" << this->toString();
+		qCWarning(logDbus) << error;
+	} else {
+		qCDebug(logDbus).noquote() << "Updated property" << this->toString() << "to"
+		                           << this->valueString();
+	}
+}
+
+void AbstractDBusProperty::update() {
+	if (this->group == nullptr) {
+		qFatal(logDbus) << "Tried to update dbus property" << this->name
+		                << "which is not attached to a group";
+	} else {
+		const QString propStr = this->toString();
+
+		if (this->group->interface == nullptr) {
+			qFatal(logDbus).noquote() << "Tried to update property" << propStr
+			                          << "of a disconnected interface";
+		}
+
+		qCDebug(logDbus).noquote() << "Updating property" << propStr;
+
+		auto pendingCall =
+		    this->group->propertyInterface->Get(this->group->interface->interface(), this->name);
+
+		auto* call = new QDBusPendingCallWatcher(pendingCall, this);
+
+		auto responseCallback = [this, propStr](QDBusPendingCallWatcher* call) {
+			const QDBusPendingReply<QDBusVariant> reply = *call;
+
+			if (reply.isError()) {
+				qCWarning(logDbus).noquote() << "Error updating property" << propStr;
+				qCWarning(logDbus) << reply.error();
+			} else {
+				this->tryUpdate(reply.value().variant());
+			}
+
+			delete call;
+		};
+
+		QObject::connect(call, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, this, responseCallback);
+	}
+}
+
+QString AbstractDBusProperty::toString() const {
+	const QString group = this->group == nullptr ? "{ NO GROUP }" : this->group->toString();
+	return group + ':' + this->name;
+}
+
+DBusPropertyGroup::DBusPropertyGroup(QVector<AbstractDBusProperty*> properties, QObject* parent)
+    : QObject(parent)
+    , properties(std::move(properties)) {}
+
+void DBusPropertyGroup::setInterface(QDBusAbstractInterface* interface) {
+	if (this->interface != nullptr) {
+		delete this->propertyInterface;
+		this->propertyInterface = nullptr;
+	}
+
+	if (interface != nullptr) {
+		this->interface = interface;
+
+		this->propertyInterface = new DBusPropertiesInterface(
+		    interface->service(),
+		    interface->path(),
+		    interface->connection(),
+		    this
+		);
+
+		QObject::connect(
+		    this->propertyInterface,
+		    &DBusPropertiesInterface::PropertiesChanged,
+		    this,
+		    &DBusPropertyGroup::onPropertiesChanged
+		);
+	}
+}
+
+void DBusPropertyGroup::attachProperty(AbstractDBusProperty* property) {
+	this->properties.append(property);
+	property->group = this;
+}
+
+void DBusPropertyGroup::updateAllDirect() {
+	qCDebug(logDbus).noquote() << "Updating all properties of" << this->toString()
+	                           << "via individual queries";
+
+	if (this->interface == nullptr) {
+		qFatal() << "Attempted to update properties of disconnected property group";
+	}
+
+	for (auto* property: this->properties) {
+		property->update();
+	}
+}
+
+void DBusPropertyGroup::updateAllViaGetAll() {
+	qCDebug(logDbus).noquote() << "Updating all properties of" << this->toString() << "via GetAll";
+
+	if (this->interface == nullptr) {
+		qFatal() << "Attempted to update properties of disconnected property group";
+	}
+
+	auto pendingCall = this->propertyInterface->GetAll(this->interface->interface());
+	auto* call = new QDBusPendingCallWatcher(pendingCall, this);
+
+	auto responseCallback = [this](QDBusPendingCallWatcher* call) {
+		const QDBusPendingReply<QVariantMap> reply = *call;
+
+		if (reply.isError()) {
+			qCWarning(logDbus).noquote()
+			    << "Error updating properties of" << this->toString() << "via GetAll";
+			qCWarning(logDbus) << reply.error();
+		} else {
+			qCDebug(logDbus).noquote() << "Received GetAll property set for" << this->toString();
+			this->updatePropertySet(reply.value());
+		}
+
+		delete call;
+	};
+
+	QObject::connect(call, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, this, responseCallback);
+}
+
+void DBusPropertyGroup::updatePropertySet(const QVariantMap& properties) {
+	for (const auto [name, value]: properties.asKeyValueRange()) {
+		auto prop = std::find_if(
+		    this->properties.begin(),
+		    this->properties.end(),
+		    [&name](AbstractDBusProperty* prop) { return prop->name == name; }
+		);
+
+		if (prop == this->properties.end()) {
+			qCDebug(logDbus) << "Ignoring untracked property update" << name << "for" << this;
+		} else {
+			(*prop)->tryUpdate(value);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+QString DBusPropertyGroup::toString() const {
+	if (this->interface == nullptr) {
+		return "{ DISCONNECTED }";
+	} else {
+		return this->interface->service() + this->interface->path() + "/"
+		     + this->interface->interface();
+	}
+}
+
+void DBusPropertyGroup::onPropertiesChanged(
+    const QString& interfaceName,
+    const QVariantMap& changedProperties,
+    const QStringList& invalidatedProperties
+) {
+	if (interfaceName != this->interface->interface()) return;
+	qCDebug(logDbus) << "Received property change set and invalidations for" << this->toString();
+
+	for (const auto& name: invalidatedProperties) {
+		auto prop = std::find_if(
+		    this->properties.begin(),
+		    this->properties.end(),
+		    [&name](AbstractDBusProperty* prop) { return prop->name == name; }
+		);
+
+		if (prop == this->properties.end()) {
+			qCDebug(logDbus) << "Ignoring untracked property invalidation" << name << "for" << this;
+		} else {
+			(*prop)->update();
+		}
+	}
+
+	this->updatePropertySet(changedProperties);
+}
+
+} // namespace qs::dbus
diff --git a/src/dbus/dbusutil.hpp b/src/dbus/dbusutil.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c5f3f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus/dbusutil.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <utility>
+
+#include <qcontainerfwd.h>
+#include <qdbusabstractinterface.h>
+#include <qdbuserror.h>
+#include <qdbusextratypes.h>
+#include <qdbuspendingcall.h>
+#include <qdbusreply.h>
+#include <qdbusservicewatcher.h>
+#include <qdebug.h>
+#include <qlogging.h>
+#include <qloggingcategory.h>
+#include <qobject.h>
+#include <qtmetamacros.h>
+#include <qvariant.h>
+
+class DBusPropertiesInterface;
+
+Q_DECLARE_LOGGING_CATEGORY(logDbus);
+
+namespace qs::dbus {
+
+QDBusError demarshallVariant(const QVariant& variant, const QMetaType& type, void* slot);
+
+template <typename T>
+class DBusResult {
+public:
+	explicit DBusResult() = default;
+	explicit DBusResult(T value): value(std::move(value)) {}
+	explicit DBusResult(QDBusError error): error(std::move(error)) {}
+	explicit DBusResult(T value, QDBusError error)
+	    : value(std::move(value))
+	    , error(std::move(error)) {}
+
+	bool isValid() { return !this->error.isValid(); }
+
+	T value;
+	QDBusError error;
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+DBusResult<T> demarshallVariant(const QVariant& variant) {
+	T value;
+	auto error = demarshallVariant(variant, QMetaType::fromType<T>(), &value);
+	return DBusResult<T>(value, error);
+}
+
+void asyncReadPropertyInternal(
+    const QMetaType& type,
+    QDBusAbstractInterface& interface,
+    const QString& property,
+    std::function<void(std::function<QDBusError(void*)>)> callback
+);
+
+template <typename T>
+void asyncReadProperty(
+    QDBusAbstractInterface& interface,
+    const QString& property,
+    std::function<void(T, QDBusError)> callback
+) {
+	asyncReadPropertyInternal(
+	    QMetaType::fromType<T>(),
+	    interface,
+	    property,
+	    [callback](std::function<QDBusError(void*)> internalCallback) { // NOLINT
+		    T slot;
+		    auto error = internalCallback(static_cast<void*>(&slot));
+		    callback(slot, error);
+	    }
+	);
+}
+
+class DBusPropertyGroup;
+
+class AbstractDBusProperty: public QObject {
+	Q_OBJECT;
+
+public:
+	explicit AbstractDBusProperty(QString name, const QMetaType& type, QObject* parent = nullptr)
+	    : QObject(parent)
+	    , name(std::move(name))
+	    , type(type) {}
+
+	[[nodiscard]] QString toString() const;
+	[[nodiscard]] virtual QString valueString() = 0;
+
+public slots:
+	void update();
+
+signals:
+	void changed();
+
+protected:
+	virtual QDBusError read(const QVariant& variant) = 0;
+
+private:
+	void tryUpdate(const QVariant& variant);
+
+	DBusPropertyGroup* group = nullptr;
+
+	QString name;
+	QMetaType type;
+
+	friend class DBusPropertyGroup;
+};
+
+class DBusPropertyGroup: public QObject {
+	Q_OBJECT;
+
+public:
+	explicit DBusPropertyGroup(
+	    QVector<AbstractDBusProperty*> properties = QVector<AbstractDBusProperty*>(),
+	    QObject* parent = nullptr
+	);
+
+	void setInterface(QDBusAbstractInterface* interface);
+	void attachProperty(AbstractDBusProperty* property);
+	void updateAllDirect();
+	void updateAllViaGetAll();
+	[[nodiscard]] QString toString() const;
+
+private slots:
+	void onPropertiesChanged(
+	    const QString& interfaceName,
+	    const QVariantMap& changedProperties,
+	    const QStringList& invalidatedProperties
+	);
+
+private:
+	void updatePropertySet(const QVariantMap& properties);
+
+	DBusPropertiesInterface* propertyInterface = nullptr;
+	QDBusAbstractInterface* interface = nullptr;
+	QVector<AbstractDBusProperty*> properties;
+
+	friend class AbstractDBusProperty;
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+class DBusProperty: public AbstractDBusProperty {
+public:
+	explicit DBusProperty(QString name, QObject* parent = nullptr, T value = T())
+	    : AbstractDBusProperty(std::move(name), QMetaType::fromType<T>(), parent)
+	    , value(std::move(value)) {}
+
+	explicit DBusProperty(
+	    DBusPropertyGroup& group,
+	    QString name,
+	    QObject* parent = nullptr,
+	    T value = T()
+	)
+	    : DBusProperty(std::move(name), parent, std::move(value)) {
+		group.attachProperty(this);
+	}
+
+	[[nodiscard]] QString valueString() override {
+		QString str;
+		QDebug(&str) << this->value;
+		return str;
+	}
+
+	[[nodiscard]] T get() const { return this->value; }
+
+	void set(T value) {
+		this->value = std::move(value);
+		emit this->changed();
+	}
+
+protected:
+	QDBusError read(const QVariant& variant) override {
+		auto result = demarshallVariant<T>(variant);
+
+		if (result.isValid()) {
+			this->set(std::move(result.value));
+		}
+
+		return result.error;
+	}
+
+private:
+	T value;
+
+	friend class DBusPropertyGroup;
+};
+
+} // namespace qs::dbus
diff --git a/src/dbus/org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.xml b/src/dbus/org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..021123a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus/org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<node>
+	<interface name="org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties">
+		<method name="Get">
+			<arg name="interface_name" direction="in" type="s"/>
+			<arg name="property_name" direction="in" type="s"/>
+			<arg name="value" direction="out" type="v"/>
+		</method>
+		<method name="Set">
+			<arg name="interface_name" direction="in" type="s"/>
+			<arg name="property_name" direction="in" type="s"/>
+			<arg name="value" direction="in" type="v"/>
+		</method>
+		<method name="GetAll">
+			<arg name="interface_name" direction="in" type="s"/>
+			<arg name="props" direction="out" type="a{sv}"/>
+			<annotation name="org.qtproject.QtDBus.QtTypeName.Out0" value="QVariantMap"/>
+		</method>
+
+		<signal name="PropertiesChanged">
+			<arg type="s" name="interface_name"/>
+			<arg type="a{sv}" name="changed_properties"/>
+			<arg type="as" name="invalidated_properties"/>
+			<annotation name="org.qtproject.QtDBus.QtTypeName.Out1" value="QVariantMap" />
+		</signal>
+	</interface>
+</node>