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Set Up Sway Window Manager on Debian 12

My experience of setting up the Sway WM on Debian 12. Sway is a tiling window manager that is compatible with i3, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a keyboard-driven workflow.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that you have:

  • Debian 12 installed
  • A user account with sudo privileges
  • Basic knowledge of the command line

Step 1: Update Your System

Start by updating your package lists and upgrading your installed packages. Open a terminal and run:

Terminal window
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Sway

To install Sway, execute the following command:

Terminal window
sudo apt install sway

This command will download and install Sway along with its dependencies.

Step 3: Install Additional Utilities

For a better experience with Sway, consider installing some additional utilities:

Terminal window
sudo apt install swaybg swaylock waybar
  • swaybg: For setting background images.
  • swaylock: A screen locker for Sway.
  • waybar: A highly customisable status bar for Wayland.

Step 4: Configure Sway

Create a configuration file for Sway. You can copy the default configuration as a starting point:

Terminal window
mkdir -p ~/.config/sway
cp /etc/sway/config ~/.config/sway/config

Open the configuration file with your preferred text editor:

Terminal window
nano ~/.config/sway/config

You can modify various settings here, such as keybindings, workspace behaviour, and appearance. Make sure to adjust any settings to suit your preferences.

Step 5: Launch Sway

To start Sway, log out of your current session. On the login screen, select Sway from the session options. Once logged in, you will be greeted with a blank screen, which is the default Sway environment.

Step 6: Customise Your Environment

Now that Sway is up and running, you can further customise your environment. Here are a few tips:

  • Set a Wallpaper: Use swaybg to set a wallpaper. Add the following line to your configuration file:

    Terminal window
    exec swaybg -i /path/to/your/wallpaper.jpg -m fill

  • Add Applications to the Bar: Configure waybar to display your preferred applications and system information.

Conclusion

Setting up the Sway window manager on Debian 12 can be straightforward if you follow these steps. Enjoy the efficiency of a tiling window manager and tailor it to fit your workflow.