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Manjaro ARM Sway Edition

Welcome to the Manjaro ARM Sway Edition. The following sections will give you an introduction to the default configuration. This configuration can be found in /etc/sway/.

The directory hosts various configuration files of which the important ones are:

  • /etc/sway/definitions: host the global definitions such as the application launcher, terminal, the idle program, default and alternative modifier key, ...
  • /etc/sway/config: the default Sway configuration file. If you want to customize it, you should create a copy in $HOME/.config/sway and change it as needed.
  • /etc/sway/config.d/99-autostart-applications: contains all the programs that has to be started as soon as the Sway session initializes
  • /etc/sway/themes/matcha: the color configuration to match the matcha theme of Manjaro

Basics

The default modifier key ($mod) is the Alt key.

Additionally, there are two kind of movement key sets:

  • VIM mode: h / j / k / l
  • Arrows: left / down / up / right

Sway has up to ten different workspaces that can be freely arranged on the available displays.

Opening / Closing Applications

  • open a new terminal window: $mod + Enter
  • open the application launcher: $mod + d
  • open the run command: $mod + Shift + d
  • kill the application (forcefully): $mod + Shift + q

Using Workspaces

  • switch to another workspace: $mod + 0-9 (workspace no.)
  • move an application to another workspace : $mod + Shift + 0-9 (workspace no.)

Focussing Windows

  • focus another application window: $mod + <movement-key> (see Basics)

Moving Windows

  • move the focused application window around on the current workspace: $mod + Shift + <movement-key> (see Basics)

Modifying Windows

  • toggle full-screen for the current application window: $mod + f
  • split the current application window vertically: $mod + v
  • split the current application window horizontally: $mod + b

Changing the Container Layout

  • toggle between horizontal and vertical layout: $mod + e
  • enable stacking of application windows: $mod + s
  • enable tabbed application windows: $mod + w

Floating Windows

  • toggle floating mode for current application window: $mod + Shift + Space
  • move floating application window around: $mod + Shift + <movement-key> (see Basics)
  • switch between floating application window and tiled application window: $mod + Space

Resize Mode

After activating the Resize Mode you should see a message in the statusbar.

  • enter resize mode for the current application window: $mod + r
  • resize the current application window: <movement-key> (can be used together with Shift for larger offsets)
  • increase the gaps between windows: +
  • decrease the gaps between windows: -
  • exit the resize mode: Enter or ESC

Scratchpad Mode

Sway has a "scratchpad", which is a bag of holding for windows. You can send windows there and get them back later.

  • move the current application window to the Scratchpad: $mod + Shift + Minus
  • activate the Scratchpad Mode: $mod + Minus

Screenshot Mode

  • enter screenshot mode: $mod + Shift + s
  • copy screenshot of the whole screen: f
  • save screenshot of the whole screen: Shift + f
  • copy screenshot of the application window: w
  • save screenshot of the application window: Shift + w
  • copy screenshot of certain area of the screen: r
  • save screenshot of certain area of the screen: Shift + r
  • exit the resize mode: Enter or ESC

Screenshot Recording Mode

  • enter screenshot recording mode: $mod + Shift + r
  • record the whole screen: f
  • record the whole screen with audio: Shift + f
  • record a certain area of the screen: r
  • record a certain area of the screen with audio: Shift + r
  • exit the resize mode: Enter or ESC

Restart / Exit

  • reload Sway configuration: $mod + Shift + c
  • exit Sway session: $mod + Shift + e

Appendix A: Chromium with Widevine for Netflix, Spotify and Co.

As part of the Sway profile you also received a custom bash script /usr/local/bin/install_chromium_widevine.sh, which when executed will create a custom systemd-spawn container in /var/lib/machines/chromium_widevine based on Debian 10 Buster armhf. Additionally, a compatible Chromium version incl. the required DRM extensions are installed into this container. This will take some time, but when finished you are able to either launch a custom Chromium-Widevine application either via the shell (/usr/local/bin/launch_chromium_widevine.sh), or via the application launcher (Chromium-Widevine).

Appendix B: Pinebook related tweaks

If you have the predecessor of the Pinebook Pro you will have to do the following minor tweaks on the default installation:

  • for the correct battery status in Waybar you will have to update it's config (default in /etc/xdg/waybar/) by copying it to $HOME/.config/waybar and change the value of the "bat" property in the battery section
    "battery": {
        ...
        "bat": "cw2015-battery"         // <--- set to "axp20x-battery" for Pinebook
    },