---js
const title = "Making Linux look good";
const date = "2025-03-26";
const draft = false;
const tags = ["Linux"];
---

One of the main problems with mainstream Linux adoption is that "normies"
think that it can't look good. However, they're often amazed whenever this
one shows them its setup.

![The Kitty terminal on Hyprland with a background blur and visualizer behind.](https://media.everypizza.im/blog/terminal.png)
_This one's Vim while just starting out on this post._

## Difficulty

Hyprland isn't the easiest to learn. However, the configuration isn't too
bad. This one uses mostly defaults for the Hyprland configuration, only
adding custom shortcuts. It's also not difficult to copy the default
waybar config and modify it a bit to use nerdfonts.

## Wallpaper

For wallpapers, this one uses [hyprpaper](https://github.com/hyprwm/hyprpaper)
and one of the default hyprland wallpapers ([wall2.png](https://github.com/hyprwm/Hyprland/blob/main/assets/install/wall2.png)).

## App launcher

For an app launcher, this one uses [wofi](https://github.com/SimplyCEO/wofi)
with a config copied from somewhere and modified a bit.

![The wofi app launcher with a slightly transparent background and a visualizer over the wallpaper.](https://media.everypizza.im/blog/wofi.png)
_This one will eventually get background blur._

## Editor

For a text editor, this one uses Vim with [SpaceVim](https://spacevim.org/).
SpaceVim also works in NeoVim, for those that prefer that.

## Visualizer

This one's visualizer is [XAVA](https://github.com/nikp123/xava).
While it is made for X11, it works just fine on Linux.

## WM

This is the largest part. For a window manager, this one uses
Hyprland. It mostly uses default settings, but has a few
[custom binds](https://git.everypizza.im/n/dotfiles/src/branch/main/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf)
for a few things.

### Resource usage

Hyprland doesn't use a lot of resources, maybe like 300MB total
(window manager + hyprpaper both use ~150MB each).

## Qt apps

Qt apps are suprisingly hard to theme when not using Plasma.
However, with the help of Kvantum, you can download themes
online and use them. This one is using
[https://store.kde.org/p/1201321](KvGlass) to get blur effects
in the one Qt app it regularly uses (the Strawberry Music
        Player).

## GTK apps

This one uses a custom gtk.css, taken from 
[https://gist.githubusercontent.com/taiwbi/0c33fa7afaa65d2a593e2f77fb3d4af6/raw/76d51226bc73a01daa20fcb3090e3079e5d96e53/gnome-transparent-sidebar.css]().

## Music

As mentioned before, this one uses the
[Strawberry Music Player](https://strawberrymusicplayer.org/).
It's very powerful, has built-in MPRIS, and is themable with
Kvantum.

![A screenshot of the Strawberry Music Player.](https://media.everypizza.im/blog/Strawberry.png)
_Yes, this one has a bad music taste. No, it's not afraid
to admit that._
n
## IM

This one uses a few IM clients:

- [Vencord](https://github.com/Vencord/Vesktop) (for Discord)
- [Dino](https://dino.im/) (for XMPP)
- [gomuks web](https://github.com/tulir/gomuks) (for Matrix)

### Discord

Vesktop is mostly normal, although it has a blurred
background.

### Dino

Dino is at default settings, but there's a custom
GTK theme in use. 

### gomuks web

Default settings mostly but there's a very rushed
blurred background with Zen Browser.

## Browser

This one uses [Zen Browser](https://zen-browser.app/).
It has zoomer features like vertical tabs, and
transparency.

## Ending thoughts

Hopefully, this post inspires at least one reader to
try out theming Linux, and even sharing creations.
This one might make some Linux theming chats bridged
to mutiple instant messengers soon.

---

Update: The chats were made!

xmpp:linux-theming@conference.everypizza.im?join
https://matrix.to/#/#linux-theming:everypizza.im
https://discord.gg/5xGvBdUS (will expire 7 days
after this post)