Config-Sway includes several utility scripts to automate common tasks and enhance your Sway experience. These scripts are located in ~/.config/scripts/ and handle autostarting applications, layout management, and wallpaper configuration.
Available Scripts autostart.sh Automatically launches applications in specific workspaces when Sway starts.
Location : ~/.config/scripts/autostart.shFeatures
Launches Firefox in workspace 1
Opens VSCode in workspace 2
Starts Kitty terminal in workspace 3
Includes error handling and notifications
Usage Add to your Sway config to run on startup:
exec ~/.config/scripts/autostart.sh
How It Works
Delay Startup
Waits 2 seconds for Sway to fully initialize
Check Dependencies
Verifies swaymsg is available
Launch Applications
Opens each application in its designated workspace with 1-second delays between launches
Full Script
Customization Example
#!/usr/bin/env bash set -euo pipefail sleep 2 if ! command -v swaymsg > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then notify-send "Autostart (Sway)" "swaymsg no disponible" 2> /dev/null || true exit 0 fi # Firefox in workspace 1 swaymsg 'workspace number 1; exec firefox' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true sleep 1 # VSCode in workspace 2 swaymsg 'workspace number 2; exec code' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true sleep 1 # Kitty in workspace 3 swaymsg 'workspace number 3; exec kitty' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true
mode-hacker.sh Creates a “hacker” layout with a terminal, clock, and audio visualizer.
Location : ~/.config/scripts/mode-hacker.shFeatures
Creates a three-pane layout
Left pane: Full-height Kitty terminal
Right top: TTY-clock display
Right bottom: Cava audio visualizer
Usage Bind to a keyboard shortcut in your Sway config:
bindsym $mod +Shift+h exec ~/.config/scripts/mode-hacker.sh
Layout Description ┌─────────────┬─────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ Clock │ │ Terminal │ │ │ ├─────────┤ │ │ │ │ │ Cava │ └─────────────┴─────────┘
Full Script
Required Packages
#!/usr/bin/env bash set -euo pipefail sleep 0.3 if ! command -v swaymsg > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then notify-send "Mode hacker (Sway)" "swaymsg no disponible" 2> /dev/null || true exit 0 fi # Main terminal swaymsg 'exec kitty --title x' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true sleep 0.35 # Split horizontally and add clock swaymsg 'split horizontal' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true swaymsg 'exec kitty --override font_size=12 --title clock -- tty-clock -c -C 4' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true sleep 0.35 # Split vertically and add cava swaymsg 'split vertical' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true swaymsg 'exec kitty --title cava -- cava' > /dev/null 2>&1 || true
Customization You can modify the clock appearance by changing the tty-clock parameters:
-c: Center the clock-C 4: Set color (0-7 for different colors)-t: Display time only (no date)-D: Display date only (no time)
setwallpaper.sh Sets or restores the wallpaper using swaybg.
Location : ~/.config/scripts/setwallpaper.shFeatures
Reads wallpaper path from config file
Falls back to default wallpaper if not found
Uses solid color as last resort
Automatically kills existing swaybg process
Usage Run manually or add to Sway config:
exec ~/.config/scripts/setwallpaper.sh
How It Works
Read Config
Reads wallpaper path from ~/.config/sway/wallpaper
Check File
Verifies the wallpaper file exists
Apply Wallpaper
Kills existing swaybg and launches with new wallpaper
Fallback
Uses default wallpaper or solid color if configured wallpaper not found
Full Script
Set Custom Wallpaper
#!/bin/sh # Read wallpaper path W = "$( cat ~/.config/sway/wallpaper 2> /dev/null || true )" # If exists, load it if [ -n " $W " ] && [ -f " $W " ]; then killall swaybg 2> /dev/null || true swaybg -i " $W " -m fill > /dev/null 2>&1 & # Fallback to default wallpaper elif [ -f ~ /.config/wallpapers/arch-linux-logo.webp ]; then killall swaybg 2> /dev/null || true swaybg -i ~/.config/wallpapers/arch-linux-logo.webp -m fill > /dev/null 2>&1 & # Last resort: solid color else killall swaybg 2> /dev/null || true swaybg -c "#1e1e2e" > /dev/null 2>&1 & fi
Wallpaper Modes swaybg supports several scaling modes:
fill: Scale to fill the screen (default)fit: Scale to fit within screenstretch: Stretch to fill screencenter: Center image without scalingtile: Tile image across screen
Modify the script to use a different mode:
swaybg -i " $W " -m fit > /dev/null 2>&1 &
Integration with Sway Config Add all scripts to your ~/.config/sway/config:
# Autostart applications exec ~/.config/scripts/autostart.sh # Set wallpaper on startup exec ~/.config/scripts/setwallpaper.sh # Bind hacker mode to Super+Shift+H bindsym $mod +Shift+h exec ~/.config/scripts/mode-hacker.sh
Troubleshooting Script Not Executing Ensure scripts have execute permissions:
chmod +x ~/.config/scripts/ * .sh
Applications Not Launching Check if the applications are installed:
command -v firefox command -v code command -v kitty
Wallpaper Not Loading Verify swaybg is installed:
Check the wallpaper path:
cat ~/.config/sway/wallpaper ls -la "$( cat ~/.config/sway/wallpaper)"
Creating Custom Scripts You can create your own scripts following the same patterns:
#!/usr/bin/env bash set -euo pipefail # Exit on error, undefined variables, pipe failures # Check for required commands if ! command -v swaymsg > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then notify-send "My Script" "swaymsg not available" exit 1 fi # Your script logic here swaymsg 'your commands'
Always use error handling and notifications to help debug issues.