Arch Linux Series Episode 5 - Hyprland

Hey everyone,

In this video we are setting up Hyprland, a cutting-edge Wayland compositor & window manager, on my Arch Linux system. Whether you're a seasoned Linux user or just getting started with customizing your desktop environment, I hope you'll find some valuable insights here.

Why Hyprland?

Hyprland is gaining traction in the Linux community for its sleek animations and efficient performance. However, it comes with some interesting considerations:

1. It's primarily developed by one person, which raises questions about long-term support.

2. Unlike many other Wayland compositors, it doesn't use the common wlroots library, opting for a custom implementation instead.

3. It requires some extra setup for Nvidia GPUs (which I have).

Despite these potential drawbacks, I decided to give it a shot. Let's dive into the setup process!

Setting Up Hyprland

The installation process was surprisingly smooth. Here's what I did:

sudo pacman -S hyprland alacritty wofi polkit rtkit

After installation, I created a basic configuration file at ~/.config/hyprland/hyprland.conf. This is where you can customize keybindings, appearance, and other settings.

Pro tip: Always check the Arch Wiki and project documentation when setting up new software. They're invaluable resources!

Examining the System with pstree

One of the things I love about Arch Linux is how minimal it is out of the box. After setting up Hyprland, I wanted to see what processes were running. The pstree command is perfect for this:

pstree

This minimal set of processes gives us a lean, efficient system. It's fascinating to see how everything is interconnected, with systemd at the root and our user processes (like Hyprland and Alacritty) branching off from there.

One thing that stands out is the absence of a traditional display server like X.org. Hyprland, being a Wayland compositor, handles both compositing and window management tasks, leading to a more streamlined graphics stack.

It's worth noting that pstree only shows the process hierarchy. To get more detailed information about each process, including resource usage, we can use commands like ps aux or top. For a more interactive process viewer, htop is an excellent choice.

Bluetooth: Surprisingly Simple!

One of the most pleasant surprises was how easy it was to set up Bluetooth devices. Here's what I did:

1. Install the necessary packages:

sudo pacman -S bluez bluez-utils

1. Enable the Bluetooth service:

sudo systemctl enable --now bluetooth.service

1. Use bluetoothctl to pair and connect devices:

bluetoothctl
[bluetooth]# scan on
[bluetooth]# pair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
[bluetooth]# connect XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

And that was it! My Bluetooth keyboard was up and running in no time. It's refreshing when things just work, isn't it?

Graphics Tablet: A Pleasant Surprise

Speaking of things just working, my Wacom tablet was recognized and functional right out of the box. No additional configuration needed!

If you do need to troubleshoot hardware issues, remember that udevadm monitor is your friend. It shows you real-time device events, which can be incredibly helpful.

Wrapping Up

Setting up Hyprland was a slightly challenging but rewarding experience. It reinforced my belief that hands-on projects are the best way to learn and stay sharp in the ever-evolving world of tech.

If you're interested in diving deeper into Linux customization or window managers, why not give Hyprland a try? Experiment with different configurations, create custom scripts, or try integrating it with your favorite applications.

And if you're looking for a community to share your Linux adventures with, don't forget to check out my DevOps community. We love discussing projects like these and helping each other grow.

Until next time, happy tinkering!

Mischa

P.S. What's your favorite window manager or desktop environment? Drop a comment below – I'd love to hear about your experiences!