3.6 KiB
---js const title = "Making Linux look good"; const date = "2025-03-26"; const draft = true; 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.
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 and one of the default hyprland wallpapers (wall2.png).
App launcher
For an app launcher, this one uses wofi with a config copied from somewhere and modified a bit.
This one will eventually get background blur.
Editor
For a text editor, this one uses Vim with SpaceVim. SpaceVim also works in NeoVim, for those that prefer that.
Visualizer
This one's visualizer is 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 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 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. It's very powerful, has built-in MPRIS, and is themable with Kvantum.
Yes, this one has a bad music taste. No, it's not afraid
to admit that.
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IM
This one uses a few IM clients:
- Vencord (for Discord)
- Dino (for XMPP)
- gomuks web (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. 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.