H
HyprL

Table of Contents

Introduction

This glossary provides definitions for common terms you’ll encounter when working with Hyprland and the HyprL desktop environment. This is especially useful for users new to Linux or tiling window managers.

General Linux Terms

  • Arch Linux: A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that follows a rolling release model.
  • AUR (Arch User Repository): A community-driven repository for Arch Linux users. It contains package descriptions (PKGBUILDs) that allow you to compile a package from source with makepkg and install it via pacman.
  • Bash: The Bourne Again SHell, a common command-line interpreter for Linux.
  • CLI (Command Line Interface): A text-based interface for interacting with a computer, as opposed to a graphical user interface (GUI).
  • Dotfiles: Configuration files that start with a dot (e.g., .bashrc, .config/hypr/hyprland.conf). These files store user preferences and settings for various applications and the system.
  • GUI (Graphical User Interface): A visual interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators.
  • Kernel: The core component of an operating system that manages system resources and provides services for applications.
  • Pacman: The package manager for Arch Linux, used to install, remove, and update software packages.
  • PipeWire: A multimedia server that handles audio and video streams, often used as a modern replacement for PulseAudio and JACK.
  • Shell: A command-line interpreter that provides a user interface for accessing an operating system’s services.
  • Sudo: A program that allows a permitted user to execute a command as another user (usually the superuser, or root).
  • Systemd: A suite of system management daemons, libraries, and utilities designed to centralize service management on Linux.
  • TTY (Teletypewriter): A virtual console or terminal, typically accessed via Ctrl + Alt + F1-F7.
  • Wayland: A display server protocol that aims to be a simpler and more secure alternative to the X Window System.
  • X11 / Xorg: The traditional display server protocol for Linux and Unix-like operating systems.
  • Zsh: The Z Shell, another powerful command-line interpreter that is often used as an alternative to Bash.

Hyprland Specific Terms

  • Compositor: In the context of Wayland, a compositor is a program that combines the functions of a window manager and a display server. Hyprland is a Wayland compositor.

  • Dunst: A lightweight and customizable notification daemon that displays pop-up notifications on your desktop.

  • Hypridle: A utility that manages idle behavior, such as dimming the screen or locking the session after a period of inactivity.

  • Hyprland: A dynamic, GPU-accelerated tiling Wayland compositor. It’s the core window manager that HyprL is built around.

  • Hyprlock: The lock screen utility used in HyprL to secure your session when you step away from your computer.

  • Hyprpaper: The wallpaper utility used in HyprL to manage and display desktop backgrounds.

  • Kitty: A fast, feature-rich, GPU-accelerated terminal emulator used as the default terminal in HyprL.

  • Rofi: A highly customizable application launcher, window switcher, and dmenu replacement used in HyprL to quickly find and open programs.

  • SwayNC: A notification center for Wayland, providing a more advanced and interactive way to manage your notifications.

  • Swww: A command-line utility for setting wallpapers on Wayland compositors like Hyprland.

  • Super Key: Often referred to as the “Windows key” or “Meta key” on your keyboard. It’s heavily used for shortcuts and keybindings in Hyprland.

  • Tiling Window Manager: A type of window manager that automatically arranges windows on your screen without overlapping, maximizing screen space and promoting keyboard-driven workflows.

  • Waybar: A highly customizable and modular status bar for Wayland compositors, used in HyprL to display system information, workspaces, and more.

  • Yay: An AUR helper (Arch User Repository helper). It simplifies installing packages from the AUR, which is a community-driven repository of software not found in the official Arch Linux repositories.

This glossary will be updated as the documentation grows. If you encounter a term not listed here, feel free to ask!