diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a2965f9..1df833d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ pkg_check_modules(deps REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET
 configure_file(aquamarine.pc.in aquamarine.pc @ONLY)
 
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 23)
+set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS TRUE)
 
 if(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES Debug OR CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES DEBUG)
     message(STATUS "Configuring aquamarine in Debug")
diff --git a/include/aquamarine/backend/Backend.hpp b/include/aquamarine/backend/Backend.hpp
index 5ecb79e..5848722 100644
--- a/include/aquamarine/backend/Backend.hpp
+++ b/include/aquamarine/backend/Backend.hpp
@@ -158,4 +158,4 @@ namespace Aquamarine {
             std::mutex              eventLock;
         } m_sEventLoopInternals;
     };
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/include/aquamarine/backend/DRM.hpp b/include/aquamarine/backend/DRM.hpp
index 66fa69e..5eaf7ed 100644
--- a/include/aquamarine/backend/DRM.hpp
+++ b/include/aquamarine/backend/DRM.hpp
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ namespace Aquamarine {
         virtual void                                                      setCursorVisible(bool visible);
         virtual Hyprutils::Math::Vector2D                                 cursorPlaneSize();
         virtual size_t                                                    getGammaSize();
+        virtual std::vector<SDRMFormat>                                   getRenderFormats();
 
         int                                                               getConnectorID();
 
diff --git a/include/aquamarine/backend/Headless.hpp b/include/aquamarine/backend/Headless.hpp
index 1ece8dc..d619528 100644
--- a/include/aquamarine/backend/Headless.hpp
+++ b/include/aquamarine/backend/Headless.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ namespace Aquamarine {
         virtual Hyprutils::Memory::CSharedPointer<IBackendImplementation> getBackend();
         virtual void                                                      scheduleFrame(const scheduleFrameReason reason = AQ_SCHEDULE_UNKNOWN);
         virtual bool                                                      destroy();
+        virtual std::vector<SDRMFormat>                                   getRenderFormats();
 
         Hyprutils::Memory::CWeakPointer<CHeadlessOutput>                  self;
 
diff --git a/include/aquamarine/backend/Wayland.hpp b/include/aquamarine/backend/Wayland.hpp
index 1d03726..bdc3468 100644
--- a/include/aquamarine/backend/Wayland.hpp
+++ b/include/aquamarine/backend/Wayland.hpp
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ namespace Aquamarine {
         virtual void                                                      scheduleFrame(const scheduleFrameReason reason = AQ_SCHEDULE_UNKNOWN);
         virtual Hyprutils::Math::Vector2D                                 cursorPlaneSize();
         virtual bool                                                      destroy();
+        virtual std::vector<SDRMFormat>                                   getRenderFormats();
 
         Hyprutils::Memory::CWeakPointer<CWaylandOutput>                   self;
 
diff --git a/include/aquamarine/output/Output.hpp b/include/aquamarine/output/Output.hpp
index 8411422..97f7932 100644
--- a/include/aquamarine/output/Output.hpp
+++ b/include/aquamarine/output/Output.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <xf86drmMode.h>
 #include "../allocator/Swapchain.hpp"
 #include "../buffer/Buffer.hpp"
+#include "../backend/Misc.hpp"
 
 namespace Aquamarine {
 
@@ -114,9 +115,10 @@ namespace Aquamarine {
             AQ_SCHEDULE_NEEDS_FRAME,
         };
 
-        virtual bool                                                      commit()     = 0;
-        virtual bool                                                      test()       = 0;
-        virtual Hyprutils::Memory::CSharedPointer<IBackendImplementation> getBackend() = 0;
+        virtual bool                                                      commit()           = 0;
+        virtual bool                                                      test()             = 0;
+        virtual Hyprutils::Memory::CSharedPointer<IBackendImplementation> getBackend()       = 0;
+        virtual std::vector<SDRMFormat>                                   getRenderFormats() = 0;
         virtual Hyprutils::Memory::CSharedPointer<SOutputMode>            preferredMode();
         virtual bool                                                      setCursor(Hyprutils::Memory::CSharedPointer<IBuffer> buffer, const Hyprutils::Math::Vector2D& hotspot);
         virtual void                                                      moveCursor(const Hyprutils::Math::Vector2D& coord); // includes the hotspot
@@ -170,4 +172,4 @@ namespace Aquamarine {
             Hyprutils::Signal::CSignal state;
         } events;
     };
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/Headless.cpp b/src/backend/Headless.cpp
index 9e96cee..2c358d4 100644
--- a/src/backend/Headless.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/Headless.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ bool Aquamarine::CHeadlessOutput::test() {
     return true;
 }
 
+std::vector<SDRMFormat> Aquamarine::CHeadlessOutput::getRenderFormats() {
+    // not sure if this is right but prob doest matter
+    return backend->getRenderFormats();
+}
+
 Hyprutils::Memory::CSharedPointer<IBackendImplementation> Aquamarine::CHeadlessOutput::getBackend() {
     return backend.lock();
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/Wayland.cpp b/src/backend/Wayland.cpp
index 834a060..0b70b51 100644
--- a/src/backend/Wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/Wayland.cpp
@@ -501,6 +501,13 @@ Aquamarine::CWaylandOutput::~CWaylandOutput() {
         waylandState.surface->sendDestroy();
 }
 
+std::vector<SDRMFormat> Aquamarine::CWaylandOutput::getRenderFormats() {
+    // TODO
+    // this is technically wrong because this returns the format table formats
+    // the actually supported formats are given by tranche formats
+    return backend->getRenderFormats();
+}
+
 bool Aquamarine::CWaylandOutput::destroy() {
     events.destroy.emit();
     waylandState.surface->sendAttach(nullptr, 0, 0);
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/DRM.cpp b/src/backend/drm/DRM.cpp
index 78fa9d9..44e4dab 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/DRM.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/drm/DRM.cpp
@@ -1533,6 +1533,10 @@ size_t Aquamarine::CDRMOutput::getGammaSize() {
     return size;
 }
 
+std::vector<SDRMFormat> Aquamarine::CDRMOutput::getRenderFormats() {
+    return connector->crtc->primary->formats;
+}
+
 int Aquamarine::CDRMOutput::getConnectorID() {
     return connector->id;
 }