SwayOS 2.0

SwayOS is a productivity-oriented minimalist and super elegant desktop layer for unix-like operating systems. It is a collection of configuration files, open source applications and open source applications created exclusively for SwayOS ( Sway Overview, Wayland Control Panel, Wayland Favorite List, Visual Music Player and MultiMedia File Manager ).

Description

SwayOS is a productivity-oriented, resource efficient and elegant desktop layer for unix-like operating systems. It uses a tiling window manager so you don't have to deal with minimizing/maximizing/moving windows any more. Windows are placed automatically and always open. To avoid crowdedness you place your windows onto workspaces.

Discussions/Issues/Feature requests : https://github.com/swayos/swayos.github.io/discussions
Source : https://github.com/swayos/swayos.github.io

Shortcuts

WIN + numbers : switch to workspace / open overview ( long press )
WIN + SPACE : open application launcher
WIN + SHIFT + Q : close focused window
WIN + SHIFT + numbers : move focused window to workspace with given number

Additional shortcuts that make work easier

WIN + arrows : set focus to neighbouring windows
WIN + SHIFT + arrows : move window to a new position inside the workspace
WIN + R : resize mode, if there are more windows in a workspace you can press WIN + R, resize window with arrows, then press ESC
WIN + ENTER : open a terminal
WIN + SHIFT + ENTER : open browser
ALT + SPACE : switch keyboard layout if there are more
WIN + PrtScr : take screenshot
WIN + SHIFT + SPACE : toggle/untoggle floating over a window

Installation

SwayOS install scripts are available for Void Linux and Debian Linux ( >=12 ). On other OS'es and distributions you have to install the needed programs yourself and copy everything to your home folder from home/.config, check out the void/debian installer script.

Installation on Void or Debian :

Start with a clean minimal install of any of these systems, with network connection. Then

wget -O https://swayos.github.io/setup
bash setup

Optional Post-installation todos

set font sizes according to your display size and resolution for foot, sway and waybar
add you own favorite apps to ~/.config/wfl/wfl.sh
setup pipewire support in chrome to enabel screen sharing, go to url chrome://flags/#enable-webrtc-pipewire-capturer
set google chrome's appereance to GTK+ so it will use the dark theme
remove swayos_setup_* log files from your home directory

UI Structure of SwayOS

SwayOS's UI has two parts : the status bar ( on top by default ) and the window area under the status bar. The status bar has the following sections from left to right : workspace block ( indicators ) , hardware status block ( in the center by default ), clock and quick launch icons block.

Usage of SwayOS

By default you have these applications :

Chromium for internet
LibreOffice for office work
Nautilus as file manager
Foot for terminal
Visual Music Player for offline music
MultiMedia File Manager for media/document viewing and managing
Sway Overview for workspace overview panel
Wayland Control Panel for system menu/control panel
Wayland Favorite List for favorite applications panel
Wayland Overlay Bar for volume/brightness indication

You open apps by pressing WIN key + SPACE or by selecting them from the favorites menu.

Recommended multimedia applications :

Photopea for Photoshop replacement ( www.photopea.com )
Inkscape for vector graphics ( Illustrator replacement )
Natron for video post processing ( After Effects replacement )
Davinci Resolve for video editing ( Premiere Pro replacement )
Shotcut for simpler video editing
Blender for 3D modelling and rendering ( 3DSMax/Cinema 4D replacement )
Steam for gaming. Enable proton in its settings and you can play 95% of all windows games

Components

sway wm : Sway Window Manager
waybar : Status Bar Manager
wofi : Application launcher
wob : Wayland Overlay Bar, visible when you change volumes with the dedicated keys on your laptop
sov : Sway Overview, visible when you press the WIN + numbers for a longer period or the overview icon in the top left corner
wcp : Wayland Control Panel, visible when you click on the settings icon in the status bar
swaylock : Sway Lock, locks automatically or lock manually from the shutdown menu
swayidle : Sway IDle, locks screen automatically after 10 minuter
grim : Screen capture utility, activated with WIN + PRTSCR
slurp : Screen region capture utility, activated with WIN + SHIFT + PRTSCR
iwgtk : wifi selector app
blueman : bluetooth selector app
brightnessctl : lcd brightness control
terminus-font : default font for desktop and terminal
ubuntu-font : default font for applications
pipewire : audio/video server, needed for chrome desktop sharing and faster bluetooth audio
pavucontrol : volume control ui
wdisplays : display manager
zsh : shell
system-config-printer : printer manager
visual music player : offline music/video player, parses files under ~/Music
multimedia file manager : media/document file viewer/player/manager

Frequently Asked Questions

How to change display brightness
with brightness keys
by moving mouse over lcd pecentage in status bar and scroll
How to change volume
with volume keys
by moving mouse over volume percentage in status bar and scroll
by clicking on the audio icon in the status bar
How to mounnt external usb devices?
Open nautilus from the favorites, it will auto-mount connected usb drives.
How to add multiple keyboard input sources?
Edit sway config, add

input " your wanted device id " {
    ...
    xkb_layout "us,hu"
    xkb_options "grp:alt_space_toggle"
    ...
}

How to make a specific program open in a floating window always?
Enable the program to be a floating in sway config.

Donations

paypal : https://paypal.me/milgra
patreon : https://www.patreon.com/milgra
bitcoin : 37cSZoyQckihNvy939AgwBNCiutUVN82du

Known bugs

sov should handle outputs plugged in/out during session
vmp and mmfm should use kuid like wcp and wfl for faster one person development

Changelog

23.12.2023.:

Version jump to 2.0
WCP and WFL are simple bash scripts now using KUID for UI generation
SOV update
Removed quick launch icons, moved quick launch items under favorites panel
Workspaces icon is moved to the top left corner next to workspace numbers
Settings icon is moved to top right corner
Status bar got transparent background
All system status values are percentages now

vil / swayos.github.io