diff --git a/include/sway/scene_descriptor.h b/include/sway/scene_descriptor.h
index 970adaa5b..43991f771 100644
--- a/include/sway/scene_descriptor.h
+++ b/include/sway/scene_descriptor.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ enum sway_scene_descriptor_type {
 	SWAY_SCENE_DESC_CONTAINER,
 	SWAY_SCENE_DESC_VIEW,
 	SWAY_SCENE_DESC_LAYER_SHELL,
+	SWAY_SCENE_DESC_POPUP,
 	SWAY_SCENE_DESC_DRAG_ICON,
 };
 
diff --git a/include/sway/tree/view.h b/include/sway/tree/view.h
index 4aaed9e3e..467d912f9 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/view.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/view.h
@@ -123,8 +123,6 @@ struct sway_view {
 		struct wl_signal unmap;
 	} events;
 
-	struct wl_listener surface_new_subsurface;
-
 	int max_render_time; // In milliseconds
 
 	enum seat_config_shortcuts_inhibit shortcuts_inhibit;
@@ -191,43 +189,12 @@ struct sway_xwayland_unmanaged {
 	struct wl_listener override_redirect;
 };
 #endif
-struct sway_view_child;
-
-struct sway_view_child_impl {
-	void (*get_view_coords)(struct sway_view_child *child, int *sx, int *sy);
-	void (*destroy)(struct sway_view_child *child);
-};
-
-/**
- * A view child is a surface in the view tree, such as a subsurface or a popup.
- */
-struct sway_view_child {
-	const struct sway_view_child_impl *impl;
-	struct wl_list link;
-
-	struct sway_view *view;
-	struct sway_view_child *parent;
-	struct wl_list children; // sway_view_child::link
-	struct wlr_surface *surface;
-	bool mapped;
-
-	struct wl_listener surface_commit;
-	struct wl_listener surface_new_subsurface;
-	struct wl_listener surface_map;
-	struct wl_listener surface_unmap;
-	struct wl_listener surface_destroy;
-	struct wl_listener view_unmap;
-};
-
-struct sway_subsurface {
-	struct sway_view_child child;
-
-	struct wl_listener destroy;
-};
 
 struct sway_xdg_popup {
-	struct sway_view_child child;
+	struct sway_view *view;
 
+	struct wlr_scene_tree *scene_tree;
+	struct wlr_scene_tree *xdg_surface_tree;
 	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_xdg_popup;
 
 	struct wl_listener surface_commit;
@@ -339,13 +306,6 @@ void view_unmap(struct sway_view *view);
 void view_update_size(struct sway_view *view);
 void view_center_surface(struct sway_view *view);
 
-void view_child_init(struct sway_view_child *child,
-	const struct sway_view_child_impl *impl, struct sway_view *view,
-	struct wlr_surface *surface);
-
-void view_child_destroy(struct sway_view_child *child);
-
-
 struct sway_view *view_from_wlr_xdg_surface(
 	struct wlr_xdg_surface *xdg_surface);
 #if HAVE_XWAYLAND
diff --git a/sway/desktop/output.c b/sway/desktop/output.c
index 942bc780b..a51844847 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/output.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/output.c
@@ -289,8 +289,14 @@ static void send_frame_done_iterator(struct wlr_scene_buffer *buffer,
 	}
 
 	struct wlr_scene_node *current = &buffer->node;
-
 	while (true) {
+		struct sway_view *view = scene_descriptor_try_get(current,
+			SWAY_SCENE_DESC_VIEW);
+		if (view) {
+			view_max_render_time = view->max_render_time;
+			break;
+		}
+
 		if (!current->parent) {
 			break;
 		}
diff --git a/sway/desktop/xdg_shell.c b/sway/desktop/xdg_shell.c
index 11c112bee..fed820cf6 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/xdg_shell.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/xdg_shell.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include <wlr/util/edges.h>
 #include "log.h"
 #include "sway/decoration.h"
-#include "sway/desktop.h"
+#include "sway/scene_descriptor.h"
 #include "sway/desktop/transaction.h"
 #include "sway/input/cursor.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
@@ -19,41 +19,29 @@
 #include "sway/tree/workspace.h"
 #include "sway/xdg_decoration.h"
 
-static const struct sway_view_child_impl popup_impl;
+static struct sway_xdg_popup *popup_create(
+	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup, struct sway_view *view,
+	struct wlr_scene_tree *parent);
 
-static void popup_get_view_coords(struct sway_view_child *child,
-		int *sx, int *sy) {
-	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup = (struct sway_xdg_popup *)child;
-	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup = popup->wlr_xdg_popup;
-
-	wlr_xdg_popup_get_toplevel_coords(wlr_popup,
-		wlr_popup->current.geometry.x - wlr_popup->base->current.geometry.x,
-		wlr_popup->current.geometry.y - wlr_popup->base->current.geometry.y,
-		sx, sy);
+static void popup_handle_new_popup(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
+	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup =
+		wl_container_of(listener, popup, new_popup);
+	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup = data;
+	popup_create(wlr_popup, popup->view, popup->xdg_surface_tree);
 }
 
-static void popup_destroy(struct sway_view_child *child) {
-	if (!sway_assert(child->impl == &popup_impl,
-			"Expected an xdg_shell popup")) {
-		return;
-	}
-	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup = (struct sway_xdg_popup *)child;
-	wl_list_remove(&popup->surface_commit.link);
+static void popup_handle_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
+	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup = wl_container_of(listener, popup, destroy);
+
 	wl_list_remove(&popup->new_popup.link);
 	wl_list_remove(&popup->destroy.link);
+	wl_list_remove(&popup->surface_commit.link);
+	wlr_scene_node_destroy(&popup->scene_tree->node);
 	free(popup);
 }
 
-static const struct sway_view_child_impl popup_impl = {
-	.get_view_coords = popup_get_view_coords,
-	.destroy = popup_destroy,
-};
-
-static struct sway_xdg_popup *popup_create(
-	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup, struct sway_view *view);
-
 static void popup_unconstrain(struct sway_xdg_popup *popup) {
-	struct sway_view *view = popup->child.view;
+	struct sway_view *view = popup->view;
 	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup = popup->wlr_xdg_popup;
 
 	struct sway_workspace *workspace = view->container->pending.workspace;
@@ -83,29 +71,44 @@ static void popup_handle_surface_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data
 	}
 }
 
-static void popup_handle_new_popup(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
-	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup =
-		wl_container_of(listener, popup, new_popup);
-	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup = data;
-	popup_create(wlr_popup, popup->child.view);
-}
-
-static void popup_handle_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
-	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup = wl_container_of(listener, popup, destroy);
-	view_child_destroy(&popup->child);
-}
-
-static struct sway_xdg_popup *popup_create(
-		struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup, struct sway_view *view) {
+static struct sway_xdg_popup *popup_create(struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup,
+		struct sway_view *view, struct wlr_scene_tree *parent) {
 	struct wlr_xdg_surface *xdg_surface = wlr_popup->base;
 
-	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup =
-		calloc(1, sizeof(struct sway_xdg_popup));
-	if (popup == NULL) {
+	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup = calloc(1, sizeof(struct sway_xdg_popup));
+	if (!popup) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	view_child_init(&popup->child, &popup_impl, view, xdg_surface->surface);
+
 	popup->wlr_xdg_popup = wlr_popup;
+	popup->view = view;
+
+	popup->scene_tree = wlr_scene_tree_create(parent);
+	if (!popup->scene_tree) {
+		free(popup);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	popup->xdg_surface_tree = wlr_scene_xdg_surface_create(
+		popup->scene_tree, xdg_surface);
+	if (!popup->xdg_surface_tree) {
+		wlr_scene_node_destroy(&popup->scene_tree->node);
+		free(popup);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	if (!scene_descriptor_assign(&popup->scene_tree->node,
+			SWAY_SCENE_DESC_POPUP, popup)) {
+		sway_log(SWAY_ERROR, "Failed to allocate a popup scene descriptor");
+		wlr_scene_node_destroy(&popup->scene_tree->node);
+		free(popup);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	popup->wlr_xdg_popup = xdg_surface->popup;
+	struct sway_xdg_shell_view *shell_view =
+		wl_container_of(view, shell_view, view);
+	xdg_surface->data = shell_view;
 
 	wl_signal_add(&xdg_surface->surface->events.commit, &popup->surface_commit);
 	popup->surface_commit.notify = popup_handle_surface_commit;
@@ -114,9 +117,6 @@ static struct sway_xdg_popup *popup_create(
 	wl_signal_add(&wlr_popup->events.destroy, &popup->destroy);
 	popup->destroy.notify = popup_handle_destroy;
 
-	wl_signal_add(&xdg_surface->surface->events.map, &popup->child.surface_map);
-	wl_signal_add(&xdg_surface->surface->events.unmap, &popup->child.surface_unmap);
-
 	return popup;
 }
 
@@ -317,7 +317,6 @@ static void handle_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 		// The client changed its surface size in this commit. For floating
 		// containers, we resize the container to match. For tiling containers,
 		// we only recenter the surface.
-		desktop_damage_view(view);
 		memcpy(&view->geometry, &new_geo, sizeof(struct wlr_box));
 		if (container_is_floating(view->container)) {
 			view_update_size(view);
@@ -330,15 +329,12 @@ static void handle_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 		} else {
 			view_center_surface(view);
 		}
-		desktop_damage_view(view);
 	}
 
 	if (view->container->node.instruction) {
 		transaction_notify_view_ready_by_serial(view,
 				xdg_surface->current.configure_serial);
 	}
-
-	view_damage_from(view);
 }
 
 static void handle_set_title(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
@@ -360,7 +356,16 @@ static void handle_new_popup(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	struct sway_xdg_shell_view *xdg_shell_view =
 		wl_container_of(listener, xdg_shell_view, new_popup);
 	struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup = data;
-	popup_create(wlr_popup, &xdg_shell_view->view);
+
+	struct sway_xdg_popup *popup = popup_create(wlr_popup,
+		&xdg_shell_view->view, root->layers.popup);
+	if (!popup) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	int lx, ly;
+	wlr_scene_node_coords(&popup->view->content_tree->node, &lx, &ly);
+	wlr_scene_node_set_position(&popup->scene_tree->node, lx, ly);
 }
 
 static void handle_request_maximize(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
@@ -567,5 +572,7 @@ void handle_xdg_shell_toplevel(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	xdg_shell_view->destroy.notify = handle_destroy;
 	wl_signal_add(&xdg_toplevel->events.destroy, &xdg_shell_view->destroy);
 
+	wlr_scene_xdg_surface_create(xdg_shell_view->view.content_tree, xdg_toplevel->base);
+
 	xdg_toplevel->base->data = xdg_shell_view;
 }
diff --git a/sway/input/cursor.c b/sway/input/cursor.c
index 30df76f45..fd8f50d45 100644
--- a/sway/input/cursor.c
+++ b/sway/input/cursor.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ struct sway_node *node_at_coords(
 		while (true) {
 			struct sway_container *con = scene_descriptor_try_get(current,
 				SWAY_SCENE_DESC_CONTAINER);
+
 			if (!con) {
 				struct sway_view *view = scene_descriptor_try_get(current,
 					SWAY_SCENE_DESC_VIEW);
@@ -88,12 +89,18 @@ struct sway_node *node_at_coords(
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (con) {
-				if (!con->view || con->view->surface) {
-					return &con->node;
+			if (!con) {
+				struct sway_xdg_popup *popup =
+					scene_descriptor_try_get(current, SWAY_SCENE_DESC_POPUP);
+				if (popup) {
+					con = popup->view->container;
 				}
 			}
 
+			if (con && (!con->view || con->view->surface)) {
+				return &con->node;
+			}
+
 			if (scene_descriptor_try_get(current, SWAY_SCENE_DESC_LAYER_SHELL)) {
 				// We don't want to feed through the current workspace on
 				// layer shells
diff --git a/sway/tree/view.c b/sway/tree/view.c
index 7af2fd3f7..ee25faf1e 100644
--- a/sway/tree/view.c
+++ b/sway/tree/view.c
@@ -488,24 +488,6 @@ void view_for_each_popup_surface(struct sway_view *view,
 		view->impl->for_each_popup_surface(view, iterator, user_data);
 	}
 }
-
-static void view_subsurface_create(struct sway_view *view,
-	struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface);
-
-static void view_init_subsurfaces(struct sway_view *view,
-	struct wlr_surface *surface);
-
-static void view_child_init_subsurfaces(struct sway_view_child *view_child,
-	struct wlr_surface *surface);
-
-static void view_handle_surface_new_subsurface(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_view *view =
-		wl_container_of(listener, view, surface_new_subsurface);
-	struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface = data;
-	view_subsurface_create(view, subsurface);
-}
-
 static bool view_has_executed_criteria(struct sway_view *view,
 		struct criteria *criteria) {
 	for (int i = 0; i < view->executed_criteria->length; ++i) {
@@ -826,11 +808,6 @@ void view_map(struct sway_view *view, struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface,
 	}
 	ipc_event_window(view->container, "new");
 
-	view_init_subsurfaces(view, wlr_surface);
-	wl_signal_add(&wlr_surface->events.new_subsurface,
-			&view->surface_new_subsurface);
-	view->surface_new_subsurface.notify = view_handle_surface_new_subsurface;
-
 	if (decoration) {
 		view_update_csd_from_client(view, decoration);
 	}
@@ -897,8 +874,6 @@ void view_map(struct sway_view *view, struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface,
 void view_unmap(struct sway_view *view) {
 	wl_signal_emit_mutable(&view->events.unmap, view);
 
-	wl_list_remove(&view->surface_new_subsurface.link);
-
 	view->executed_criteria->length = 0;
 
 	if (view->urgent_timer) {
@@ -962,253 +937,6 @@ void view_center_surface(struct sway_view *view) {
 			(con->current.content_height - view->geometry.height) / 2);
 }
 
-static const struct sway_view_child_impl subsurface_impl;
-
-static void subsurface_get_view_coords(struct sway_view_child *child,
-		int *sx, int *sy) {
-	struct wlr_surface *surface = child->surface;
-	if (child->parent && child->parent->impl &&
-			child->parent->impl->get_view_coords) {
-		child->parent->impl->get_view_coords(child->parent, sx, sy);
-	} else {
-		*sx = *sy = 0;
-	}
-	struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface =
-		wlr_subsurface_try_from_wlr_surface(surface);
-	*sx += subsurface->current.x;
-	*sy += subsurface->current.y;
-}
-
-static void subsurface_destroy(struct sway_view_child *child) {
-	if (!sway_assert(child->impl == &subsurface_impl,
-			"Expected a subsurface")) {
-		return;
-	}
-	struct sway_subsurface *subsurface = (struct sway_subsurface *)child;
-	wl_list_remove(&subsurface->destroy.link);
-	free(subsurface);
-}
-
-static const struct sway_view_child_impl subsurface_impl = {
-	.get_view_coords = subsurface_get_view_coords,
-	.destroy = subsurface_destroy,
-};
-
-static void subsurface_handle_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_subsurface *subsurface =
-		wl_container_of(listener, subsurface, destroy);
-	struct sway_view_child *child = &subsurface->child;
-	view_child_destroy(child);
-}
-
-static void view_child_damage(struct sway_view_child *child, bool whole);
-
-static void view_subsurface_create(struct sway_view *view,
-		struct wlr_subsurface *wlr_subsurface) {
-	struct sway_subsurface *subsurface =
-		calloc(1, sizeof(struct sway_subsurface));
-	if (subsurface == NULL) {
-		sway_log(SWAY_ERROR, "Allocation failed");
-		return;
-	}
-	view_child_init(&subsurface->child, &subsurface_impl, view,
-		wlr_subsurface->surface);
-
-	wl_signal_add(&wlr_subsurface->events.destroy, &subsurface->destroy);
-	subsurface->destroy.notify = subsurface_handle_destroy;
-
-	subsurface->child.mapped = true;
-
-	view_child_damage(&subsurface->child, true);
-}
-
-static void view_child_subsurface_create(struct sway_view_child *child,
-		struct wlr_subsurface *wlr_subsurface) {
-	struct sway_subsurface *subsurface =
-		calloc(1, sizeof(struct sway_subsurface));
-	if (subsurface == NULL) {
-		sway_log(SWAY_ERROR, "Allocation failed");
-		return;
-	}
-	subsurface->child.parent = child;
-	wl_list_insert(&child->children, &subsurface->child.link);
-	view_child_init(&subsurface->child, &subsurface_impl, child->view,
-		wlr_subsurface->surface);
-
-	wl_signal_add(&wlr_subsurface->events.destroy, &subsurface->destroy);
-	subsurface->destroy.notify = subsurface_handle_destroy;
-
-	subsurface->child.mapped = true;
-
-	view_child_damage(&subsurface->child, true);
-}
-
-static bool view_child_is_mapped(struct sway_view_child *child) {
-	while (child) {
-		if (!child->mapped) {
-			return false;
-		}
-		child = child->parent;
-	}
-	return true;
-}
-
-static void view_child_damage(struct sway_view_child *child, bool whole) {
-	if (!child || !view_child_is_mapped(child) || !child->view || !child->view->container) {
-		return;
-	}
-	int sx, sy;
-	child->impl->get_view_coords(child, &sx, &sy);
-	desktop_damage_surface(child->surface,
-			child->view->container->pending.content_x -
-				child->view->geometry.x + sx,
-			child->view->container->pending.content_y -
-				child->view->geometry.y + sy, whole);
-}
-
-static void view_child_handle_surface_commit(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_view_child *child =
-		wl_container_of(listener, child, surface_commit);
-	view_child_damage(child, false);
-}
-
-static void view_child_handle_surface_new_subsurface(
-		struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
-	struct sway_view_child *child =
-		wl_container_of(listener, child, surface_new_subsurface);
-	struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface = data;
-	view_child_subsurface_create(child, subsurface);
-}
-
-static void view_child_handle_surface_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_view_child *child =
-		wl_container_of(listener, child, surface_destroy);
-	view_child_destroy(child);
-}
-
-static void view_init_subsurfaces(struct sway_view *view,
-		struct wlr_surface *surface) {
-	struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface;
-	wl_list_for_each(subsurface, &surface->current.subsurfaces_below,
-			current.link) {
-		view_subsurface_create(view, subsurface);
-	}
-	wl_list_for_each(subsurface, &surface->current.subsurfaces_above,
-			current.link) {
-		view_subsurface_create(view, subsurface);
-	}
-}
-
-static void view_child_init_subsurfaces(struct sway_view_child *view_child,
-		struct wlr_surface *surface) {
-	struct wlr_subsurface *subsurface;
-	wl_list_for_each(subsurface, &surface->current.subsurfaces_below,
-			current.link) {
-		view_child_subsurface_create(view_child, subsurface);
-	}
-	wl_list_for_each(subsurface, &surface->current.subsurfaces_above,
-			current.link) {
-		view_child_subsurface_create(view_child, subsurface);
-	}
-}
-
-static void view_child_handle_surface_map(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_view_child *child =
-		wl_container_of(listener, child, surface_map);
-	child->mapped = true;
-	view_child_damage(child, true);
-}
-
-static void view_child_handle_surface_unmap(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_view_child *child =
-		wl_container_of(listener, child, surface_unmap);
-	view_child_damage(child, true);
-	child->mapped = false;
-}
-
-static void view_child_handle_view_unmap(struct wl_listener *listener,
-		void *data) {
-	struct sway_view_child *child =
-		wl_container_of(listener, child, view_unmap);
-	view_child_damage(child, true);
-	child->mapped = false;
-}
-
-void view_child_init(struct sway_view_child *child,
-		const struct sway_view_child_impl *impl, struct sway_view *view,
-		struct wlr_surface *surface) {
-	child->impl = impl;
-	child->view = view;
-	child->surface = surface;
-	wl_list_init(&child->children);
-
-	wl_signal_add(&surface->events.commit, &child->surface_commit);
-	child->surface_commit.notify = view_child_handle_surface_commit;
-	wl_signal_add(&surface->events.new_subsurface,
-		&child->surface_new_subsurface);
-	child->surface_new_subsurface.notify =
-		view_child_handle_surface_new_subsurface;
-	wl_signal_add(&surface->events.destroy, &child->surface_destroy);
-	child->surface_destroy.notify = view_child_handle_surface_destroy;
-
-	// Not all child views have a map/unmap event
-	child->surface_map.notify = view_child_handle_surface_map;
-	wl_list_init(&child->surface_map.link);
-	child->surface_unmap.notify = view_child_handle_surface_unmap;
-	wl_list_init(&child->surface_unmap.link);
-
-	wl_signal_add(&view->events.unmap, &child->view_unmap);
-	child->view_unmap.notify = view_child_handle_view_unmap;
-
-	struct sway_container *container = child->view->container;
-	if (container != NULL) {
-		struct sway_workspace *workspace = container->pending.workspace;
-		if (workspace) {
-			surface_enter_output(child->surface, workspace->output);
-		}
-	}
-
-	view_child_init_subsurfaces(child, surface);
-}
-
-void view_child_destroy(struct sway_view_child *child) {
-	if (view_child_is_mapped(child) && child->view->container != NULL) {
-		view_child_damage(child, true);
-	}
-
-	if (child->parent != NULL) {
-		wl_list_remove(&child->link);
-		child->parent = NULL;
-	}
-
-	struct sway_view_child *subchild, *tmpchild;
-	wl_list_for_each_safe(subchild, tmpchild, &child->children, link) {
-		wl_list_remove(&subchild->link);
-		subchild->parent = NULL;
-		// The subchild lost its parent link, so it cannot see that the parent
-		// is unmapped. Unmap it directly.
-		subchild->mapped = false;
-	}
-
-	wl_list_remove(&child->surface_commit.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&child->surface_destroy.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&child->surface_map.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&child->surface_unmap.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&child->view_unmap.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&child->surface_new_subsurface.link);
-
-	if (child->impl && child->impl->destroy) {
-		child->impl->destroy(child);
-	} else {
-		free(child);
-	}
-}
-
 struct sway_view *view_from_wlr_surface(struct wlr_surface *wlr_surface) {
 	struct wlr_xdg_surface *xdg_surface;
 	if ((xdg_surface = wlr_xdg_surface_try_from_wlr_surface(wlr_surface))) {