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Overview

Environment variables are configured in multiple locations depending on their scope and purpose. This page documents all environment variables used across the dotfiles.

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Shell Environment (zshenv)

Defined in home/zshenv - loaded first by ZSH for all shells.

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Less Pager Colors

Customizes the appearance of the less pager with color support. 
export LESS_TERMCAP_mb=$'\e[1;31m'    # Begin blinking
export LESS_TERMCAP_md=$'\e[1;36m'    # Begin bold
export LESS_TERMCAP_me=$'\e[0m'       # End mode
export LESS_TERMCAP_se=$'\e[0m'       # End standout-mode
export LESS_TERMCAP_so=$'\e[30;43m'   # Begin standout-mode
export LESS_TERMCAP_ue=$'\e[0m'       # End underline
export LESS_TERMCAP_us=$'\e[4;32m'    # Begin underline

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PATH Configuration

Extends PATH with user binaries and development tools. 
typeset -U path
path=(
    "$HOME/.local/bin"
    "$CARGO_HOME/bin"
    "$GOBIN"
    "$NPM_CONFIG_PREFIX/bin"
    "$PYTHONUSERBASE/bin"
    "/usr/lib/ccache/bin"
    $path
)

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ZSH Optimization

skip_global_compinit=1    # Skip global compinit for faster startup

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systemd User Environment

Defined in system/environment.d/ - loaded by systemd user session.

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XDG Base Directory (envvarsuser.conf)

Follows the XDG Base Directory Specification. 
# XDG Base Directory Specification
XDG_CONFIG_HOME=$HOME/.config
XDG_CACHE_HOME=$HOME/.cache
XDG_DATA_HOME=$HOME/.local/share
XDG_STATE_HOME=$HOME/.local/state
VariableDefault ValuePurpose
XDG_CONFIG_HOME~/.configUser-specific configuration files
XDG_CACHE_HOME~/.cacheUser-specific cache data
XDG_DATA_HOME~/.local/shareUser-specific data files
XDG_STATE_HOME~/.local/stateUser-specific state data

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Application Directories

# ZSH configuration directory
ZDOTDIR=$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh
WINEPREFIX=$XDG_DATA_HOME/wineprefixes/default

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Default Programs

EDITOR=nvim
VISUAL=nvim
TERMINAL=kitty
BROWSER=brave
PAGER="less -R"
VariableValuePurpose
EDITORnvimDefault text editor
VISUALnvimVisual editor (for programs that need GUI editor)
TERMINALkittyDefault terminal emulator
BROWSERbraveDefault web browser
PAGERless -RDefault pager with raw control characters

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Less Pager Configuration

LESS='-R --mouse --incsearch'
LESSHISTFILE=$XDG_STATE_HOME/less/history

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Development Tool Directories

Keeps development tools organized within XDG directories. 
# Rust
CARGO_HOME=$XDG_DATA_HOME/cargo
RUSTUP_HOME=$XDG_DATA_HOME/rustup

# Go
GOPATH=$XDG_DATA_HOME/go
GOBIN=$XDG_DATA_HOME/go/bin

# Node.js / NPM
NPM_CONFIG_CACHE=$XDG_CACHE_HOME/npm
NPM_CONFIG_PREFIX=$XDG_DATA_HOME/npm

# Python
PYTHONUSERBASE=$XDG_DATA_HOME/python
PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIX=$XDG_CACHE_HOME/python
LanguageVariablesPurpose
RustCARGO_HOME, RUSTUP_HOMECargo packages and Rustup toolchains
GoGOPATH, GOBINGo workspace and binaries
Node.jsNPM_CONFIG_CACHE, NPM_CONFIG_PREFIXNPM cache and global packages
PythonPYTHONUSERBASE, PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIXUser packages and bytecode cache

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Rendering & Hardware (rendering.conf)

NVIDIA GPU-specific configuration for hardware acceleration. 
# Font rendering and hardware cursors
WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS=1
FREETYPE_PROPERTIES="cff:no-stem-darkening=0 autofitter:no-stem-darkening=0"

# Video acceleration (NVIDIA)
LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME=nvidia
NVD_BACKEND=direct
VDPAU_DRIVER=nvidia
__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia
VariableValuePurpose
WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS1Disable hardware cursors (NVIDIA workaround)
FREETYPE_PROPERTIESFont rendering settingsDisable stem darkening for better rendering
LIBVA_DRIVER_NAMEnvidiaVA-API driver for NVIDIA
NVD_BACKENDdirectNVIDIA direct backend
VDPAU_DRIVERnvidiaVDPAU driver for video acceleration
__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAMEnvidiaGLX vendor library

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Wayland Environment (wayland.conf)

Wayland-specific environment variables for proper application behavior. 
# Wayland session
WAYLAND=1
XDG_SESSION_TYPE=wayland
GBM_BACKEND=nvidia-drm

# Qt
QT_QPA_PLATFORM="wayland;xcb"
QT_WAYLAND_DISABLE_WINDOWDECORATION=1
QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=qt6ct

# GTK
GDK_BACKEND=wayland
GDK_DPI_SCALE=1

# Mozilla
MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1
MOZ_DBUS_REMOTE=1
MOZ_WEBRENDER=1
MOZ_DISABLE_RDD_SANDBOX=1

# Electron
ELECTRON_OZONE_PLATFORM_HINT=wayland

# Java
_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1
AWT_TOOLKIT=MToolkit

# SDL
SDL_VIDEODRIVER=wayland

# Other toolkits
CLUTTER_BACKEND=wayland
ECORE_EVAS_ENGINE=wayland_egl
ELM_ENGINE=wayland_egl
BEMENU_BACKEND=wayland
WINIT_UNIX_BACKEND=wayland
EGL_PLATFORM=wayland

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Wayland Variables by Toolkit

QT_QPA_PLATFORM="wayland;xcb"              # Use Wayland, fallback to XCB
QT_WAYLAND_DISABLE_WINDOWDECORATION=1      # Disable Qt window decorations
QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=qt6ct                 # Use qt6ct for theming

GDK_BACKEND=wayland                        # Use Wayland backend
GDK_DPI_SCALE=1                            # DPI scaling factor

MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1                       # Enable Wayland support
MOZ_DBUS_REMOTE=1                          # Enable D-Bus remote
MOZ_WEBRENDER=1                            # Enable WebRender
MOZ_DISABLE_RDD_SANDBOX=1                  # Disable RDD sandbox

ELECTRON_OZONE_PLATFORM_HINT=wayland       # Use Wayland Ozone platform

_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1              # Fix for tiling WMs
AWT_TOOLKIT=MToolkit                       # Use MToolkit

SDL_VIDEODRIVER=wayland                    # Use Wayland video driver

CLUTTER_BACKEND=wayland
ECORE_EVAS_ENGINE=wayland_egl
ELM_ENGINE=wayland_egl
BEMENU_BACKEND=wayland
WINIT_UNIX_BACKEND=wayland
EGL_PLATFORM=wayland

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Hyprland Variables (vars.conf)

Hyprland-specific variable definitions used in keybindings and configuration.

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Application Variables

$terminal = kitty
$fileManager = nemo
$menu = rofi -show drun
$lock = hyprlock
$browser = brave
VariableValueUsage
$terminalkittyDefault terminal emulator
$fileManagernemoDefault file manager
$menurofi -show drunApplication launcher
$lockhyprlockScreen locker
$browserbraveWeb browser

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Key Modifier Variables

$mainMod = SUPER
$ctrlMod = Control_L
$altMod = ALT_L
VariableValuePurpose
$mainModSUPERPrimary modifier (Windows/Super key)
$ctrlModControl_LControl key
$altModALT_LAlt key

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Color Variables

Based on Catppuccin color scheme. 
# Accent Colors
$mauve = rgba(c6a0f6ff)
$blue = rgba(8aadf4ff)
$red = rgba(ed8796ff)
$green = rgba(a6da95ff)
$peach = rgba(f5a97fff)

# Backgrounds
$mantle = rgba(1a1a1aee)
$base = rgba(24273aff)
$surface0 = rgba(49495aff)
$surface1 = rgba(565a7aff)
$surface2 = rgba(6d7899ff)

# Text
$text = rgba(cad1d9ff)
$subtext0 = rgba(a5adcbff)
$subtext1 = rgba(b8c5d6ff)

Accent Colors

  • Mauve
  • Blue
  • Red
  • Green
  • Peach

Backgrounds

  • Mantle
  • Base
  • Surface 0/1/2

Text Colors

  • Text
  • Subtext 0
  • Subtext 1

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Hyprland Environment (env.conf)

Environment variables specific to Hyprland window manager. 
# Cursor theme
env = HYPRCURSOR_THEME,Bibata-Modern-Classic
env = HYPRCURSOR_SIZE,24
env = XCURSOR_THEME,Bibata-Modern-Classic
env = XCURSOR_SIZE,24

# Plugin permissions
permission = /usr/(bin|local/bin)/hyprpm, plugin, allow
VariableValuePurpose
HYPRCURSOR_THEMEBibata-Modern-ClassicHyprland cursor theme
HYPRCURSOR_SIZE24Cursor size in Hyprland
XCURSOR_THEMEBibata-Modern-ClassicX11 cursor theme (fallback)
XCURSOR_SIZE24X11 cursor size
The permission directive allows hyprpm (Hyprland plugin manager) to load plugins.

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Loading Order

  1. systemd environment.d - Loaded by systemd user session
    • envvarsuser.conf
    • rendering.conf
    • wayland.conf
  2. zshenv - Loaded by ZSH for all shells
    • Imports systemd environment
    • Adds PATH entries
  3. Hyprland config - Loaded when Hyprland starts
    • vars.conf - Variable definitions
    • env.conf - Hyprland environment
The zshenv file explicitly imports systemd user environment variables at startup to ensure consistency between graphical and terminal sessions.

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