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# Ly - a TUI display manager # The Ly display manager
![Ly screenshot](.github/screenshot.png "Ly screenshot") ![Ly screenshot](.github/screenshot.png "Ly screenshot")
Ly is a lightweight TUI (ncurses-like) display manager for Linux and BSD. Ly is a lightweight TUI (ncurses-like) display manager for Linux and BSD,
designed with portability in mind (e.g. it does not require systemd to run).
Join us on Matrix over at [#ly:envs.net](https://matrix.to/#/#ly:envs.net)! Join us on Matrix over at [#ly:envs.net](https://matrix.to/#/#ly:envs.net)!
**Note**: Development happens on [Codeberg](https://codeberg.org/AnErrupTion/ly) with a mirror on [GitHub](https://github.com/fairyglade/ly). **Note**: Development happens on [Codeberg](https://codeberg.org/AnErrupTion/ly)
with a mirror on [GitHub](https://github.com/fairyglade/ly).
## Dependencies ## Dependencies
- Compile-time: - Compile-time:
- zig 0.14.0 - zig 0.14.x
- libc - libc
- pam - pam
- xcb (optional, required by default; needed for X11 support) - xcb (optional, required by default; needed for X11 support)
@ -21,14 +23,10 @@ Join us on Matrix over at [#ly:envs.net](https://matrix.to/#/#ly:envs.net)!
- shutdown - shutdown
- brightnessctl - brightnessctl
## Packaging status
[![Packaging status](https://repology.org/badge/vertical-allrepos/ly.svg?exclude_unsupported=1)](https://repology.org/project/ly/versions)
### Debian ### Debian
``` ```
# apt install build-essential libpam0g-dev libxcb-xkb-dev # apt install build-essential libpam0g-dev libxcb-xkb-dev xauth xserver-xorg brightnessctl
``` ```
### Fedora ### Fedora
@ -37,136 +35,102 @@ Join us on Matrix over at [#ly:envs.net](https://matrix.to/#/#ly:envs.net)!
It is recommended to add a rule for Ly as it currently does not ship one. It is recommended to add a rule for Ly as it currently does not ship one.
``` ```
# dnf install kernel-devel pam-devel libxcb-devel zig # dnf install kernel-devel pam-devel libxcb-devel zig xorg-x11-xauth xorg-x11-server brightnessctl
``` ```
## Packaging status
[![Packaging status](https://repology.org/badge/vertical-allrepos/ly.svg?exclude_unsupported=1)](https://repology.org/project/ly/versions)
## Support ## Support
The following desktop environments were tested with success: Ly has been tested with a wide variety of desktop environments and window
managers, all of which you can find in the sections below:
[Wayland Environments](#supported-wayland-environments) [Wayland environments](#supported-wayland-environments)
[X11 Environments](#supported-x11-environments) [X11 environments](#supported-x11-environments)
Ly should work with any X desktop environment, and provides ## Manually building
basic wayland support (sway works very well, for example).
## systemd? The procedure for manually building Ly is pretty standard:
Unlike what you may have heard, Ly does not require `systemd`,
and was even specifically designed not to depend on `logind`.
You should be able to make it work easily with a better init,
changing the source code won't be necessary :)
## Cloning and Compiling
Clone the repository
``` ```
$ git clone https://codeberg.org/AnErrupTion/ly $ git clone https://codeberg.org/AnErrupTion/ly
```
Change the directory to ly
```
$ cd ly $ cd ly
```
Compile
```
$ zig build $ zig build
``` ```
Test in the configured tty (tty2 by default) After building, you can (optionally) test Ly in a terminal emulator, although
or a terminal emulator (but authentication won't work) authentication will **not** work:
``` ```
$ zig build run $ zig build run
``` ```
**Important**: Running Ly in a terminal emulator as root is _not_ recommended. If you **Important**: While you can also run Ly in a terminal emulator as root, it is
want to properly test Ly, please enable its service (as described below) and reboot **not** recommended either. If you want to properly test Ly, please enable its
your machine. service (as described below) and reboot your machine.
Install Ly for systemd-based systems (the default) The following sections show how to install Ly for a particular init system.
Because the procedure is very similar for all of them, the commands will only
be detailed for the first section (which is about systemd).
**Note**: All following sections will assume you are using LightDM for
convenience sake.
### systemd
Now, you can install Ly on your system:
``` ```
# zig build installexe # zig build installexe -Dinit_system=systemd
``` ```
Instead of DISPLAY_MANAGER you need to add your DM: **Note**: The `init_system` parameter is optional and defaults to `systemd`.
- gdm.service Note that you also need to disable your current display manager. For example,
- sddm.service if LightDM is the current display manager, you can execute the following
- lightdm.service command:
``` ```
# systemctl disable DISPLAY_MANAGER # systemctl disable lightdm.service
``` ```
Enable the service Then, similarly to the previous command, you need to enable the Ly service:
``` ```
# systemctl enable ly.service # systemctl enable ly.service
``` ```
If you need to switch between ttys after Ly's start you also have to **Important**: Because Ly runs in a TTY, you **must** disable the TTY service
disable getty on Ly's tty to prevent "login" from spawning on top of it that Ly will run on, otherwise bad things will happen. For example, to disable `getty` spawning on TTY 2 (the default TTY on which Ly spawns), you need to
execute the following command:
``` ```
# systemctl disable getty@tty2.service # systemctl disable getty@tty2.service
``` ```
You can change the TTY Ly will run on by editing the `tty` option in the configuration file.
### OpenRC ### OpenRC
**NOTE 1**: On Gentoo, Ly will disable the `display-manager-init` service in order to run.
Clone, compile and test.
Install Ly and the provided OpenRC service
``` ```
# zig build installexe -Dinit_system=openrc # zig build installexe -Dinit_system=openrc
``` # rc-update del lightdm
Enable the service
```
# rc-update add ly # rc-update add ly
```
You can edit which tty Ly will start on by editing the `tty` option in the configuration file.
If you choose a tty that already has a login/getty running (has a basic login prompt),
then you have to disable getty, so it doesn't respawn on top of ly
```
# rc-update del agetty.tty2 # rc-update del agetty.tty2
``` ```
**NOTE 2**: To avoid a console spawning on top on Ly, comment out the appropriate line from /etc/inittab (default is 2). **Note**: On Gentoo specifically, you also **must** comment out the appropriate
line for the TTY in /etc/inittab.
### runit ### runit
``` ```
# zig build installexe -Dinit_system=runit # zig build installexe -Dinit_system=runit
# rm /var/service/lightdm
# ln -s /etc/sv/ly /var/service/ # ln -s /etc/sv/ly /var/service/
```
By default, ly will run on tty2. To change the tty it must be set in `/etc/ly/config.ini`
You should as well disable your existing display manager service if needed, e.g.:
```
# rm /var/service/lxdm
```
The agetty service for the tty console where you are running ly should be disabled.
For instance, if you are running ly on tty2 (that's the default, check your `/etc/ly/config.ini`)
you should disable the agetty-tty2 service like this:
```
# rm /var/service/agetty-tty2 # rm /var/service/agetty-tty2
``` ```
@ -174,95 +138,60 @@ you should disable the agetty-tty2 service like this:
``` ```
# zig build installexe -Dinit_system=s6 # zig build installexe -Dinit_system=s6
``` # s6-rc -d change lightdm
Then, edit `/etc/s6/config/ttyX.conf` and set `SPAWN="no"`, where X is the TTY ID (e.g. `2`).
Finally, enable the service:
```
# s6-service add default ly-srv # s6-service add default ly-srv
# s6-db-reload # s6-db-reload
# s6-rc -u change ly-srv # s6-rc -u change ly-srv
``` ```
To disable TTY 2, edit `/etc/s6/config/tty2.conf` and set `SPAWN="no"`.
### dinit ### dinit
``` ```
# zig build installexe -Dinit_system=dinit # zig build installexe -Dinit_system=dinit
# dinitctl disable lightdm
# dinitctl enable ly # dinitctl enable ly
``` ```
In addition to the steps above, you will also have to keep a TTY free within `/etc/dinit.d/config/console.conf`. To disable TTY 2, go to `/etc/dinit.d/config/console.conf` and modify
`ACTIVE_CONSOLES`.
To do that, change `ACTIVE_CONSOLES` so that the tty that ly should use in `/etc/ly/config.ini` is free.
### Updating ### Updating
You can also install Ly without overrding the current configuration file. That's called You can also install Ly without overrding the current configuration file. This
_updating_. To update, simply run: is called **updating**. To update, simply run:
``` ```
# zig build installnoconf # zig build installnoconf
``` ```
You can, of course, still select the init system of your choice when using this command. You can, of course, still select the init system of your choice when using this
command.
## Arch Linux Installation
You can install ly from the [`[extra]` repos](https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/ly/):
```
# pacman -S ly
```
## Gentoo Installation
You can install ly from the GURU repository:
Note: If the package is masked, you may need to unmask it using ~amd64 keyword:
```bash
# echo 'x11-misc/ly ~amd64' >> /etc/portage/package.accept_keywords
```
1. Enable the GURU repository:
```bash
# eselect repository enable guru
```
2. Sync the GURU repository:
```bash
# emaint sync -r guru
```
3. Install ly from source:
```bash
# emerge --ask x11-misc/ly
```
## Configuration ## Configuration
You can find all the configuration in `/etc/ly/config.ini`. You can find all the configuration in `/etc/ly/config.ini`. The file is fully
The file is commented, and includes the default values. commented, and includes the default values.
## Controls ## Controls
Use the up and down arrow keys to change the current field, and the Use the Up/Down arrow keys to change the current field, and the Left/Right
left and right arrow keys to change the target desktop environment arrow keys to scroll through the different fields (whether it be the info line,
while on the desktop field (above the login field). the desktop environment, or the username). The info line is where messages and
errors are displayed.
## .xinitrc ## A note on .xinitrc
If your .xinitrc doesn't work make sure it is executable and includes a shebang. If your `.xinitrc` file doesn't work ,make sure it is executable and includes a
This file is supposed to be a shell script! Quoting from xinit's man page: shebang. This file is supposed to be a shell script! Quoting from `xinit`'s man
page:
> If no specific client program is given on the command line, xinit will look for a file in the user's home directory called .xinitrc to run as a shell script to start up client programs. > If no specific client program is given on the command line, xinit will look
> for a file in the user's home directory called .xinitrc to run as a shell
> script to start up client programs.
On Arch Linux, the example .xinitrc (/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc) starts like this: A typical shebang for a shell script looks like this:
``` ```
#!/bin/sh #!/bin/sh
@ -272,10 +201,10 @@ On Arch Linux, the example .xinitrc (/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc) starts like this:
- The numlock and capslock state is printed in the top-right corner. - The numlock and capslock state is printed in the top-right corner.
- Use the F1 and F2 keys to respectively shutdown and reboot. - Use the F1 and F2 keys to respectively shutdown and reboot.
- Take a look at your .xsession if X doesn't start, as it can interfere - Take a look at your `.xsession` file if X doesn't start, as it can interfere
(this file is launched with X to configure the display properly). (this file is launched with X to configure the display properly).
## Supported Wayland Environments ## Supported Wayland environments
- budgie - budgie
- cosmic - cosmic
@ -290,7 +219,7 @@ On Arch Linux, the example .xinitrc (/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc) starts like this:
- sway - sway
- weston - weston
## Supported X11 Environments ## Supported X11 environments
- awesome - awesome
- bspwm - bspwm
@ -311,7 +240,7 @@ On Arch Linux, the example .xinitrc (/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc) starts like this:
- xfce - xfce
- xmonad - xmonad
## Additional Information ## A final note
The name "Ly" is a tribute to the fairy from the game Rayman. The name "Ly" is a tribute to the fairy from the game Rayman. Ly was tested by
Ly was tested by oxodao, who is some seriously awesome dude. oxodao, who is some seriously awesome dude.