Quick Start
Basic configuration and first steps with MangoWC.
Now that you have MangoWC installed, let's get your environment set up.
Initial Setup
Create Configuration Directory
MangoWC looks for configuration files in ~/.config/mango/.
mkdir -p ~/.config/mangoCopy Default Config
A default configuration file is provided at /etc/mango/config.conf. Copy it to your local directory to start customizing.
cp /etc/mango/config.conf ~/.config/mango/config.confLaunch MangoWC
You can now start the compositor from your TTY.
exec mangoOptional: To specify a custom config file path:
mango -c /path/to/your/config.confEssential Keybindings
MangoWC uses the following keybinds by default:
| Key Combination | Action |
|---|---|
Alt + Return | Open Terminal (defaults to foot) |
Alt + Space | Open Launcher (defaults to rofi) |
Alt + Q | Close (Kill) the active window |
Super + M | Quit MangoWC |
Super + F | Toggle Fullscreen |
Alt + Arrow Keys | Move focus (Left, Right, Up, Down) |
Ctrl + 1-9 | Switch to Tag 1-9 |
Alt + 1-9 | Move window to Tag 1-9 |
Some default bindings rely on specific tools like foot (terminal) and rofi (launcher). Ensure you have them installed or update your config.conf to use your preferred alternatives.
Recommended Tools
To get a fully functional desktop experience, we recommend installing the following components:
| Category | Recommended Tools |
|---|---|
| Application Launcher | rofi, bemenu, wmenu, fuzzel |
| Terminal Emulator | foot, wezterm, alacritty, kitty, ghostty |
| Status Bar | waybar, eww, quickshell, ags |
| Desktop Shell | Noctalia, DankMaterialShell |
| Wallpaper Setup | swww, swaybg |
| Notification Daemon | swaync, dunst, mako |
| Desktop Portal | xdg-desktop-portal, xdg-desktop-portal-wlr, xdg-desktop-portal-gtk |
| Clipboard | wl-clipboard, wl-clip-persist, cliphist |
| Gamma Control/Night Light | wlsunset, gammastep |
| Miscellaneous | xfce-polkit, wlogout |
Next Steps
Now that you are up and running, dive deeper into customizing MangoWC:
- Configure Monitors - Set up resolution, scaling, and multi-monitor layouts.
- Window Rules - Define how specific applications should behave.
- Appearance - Customize colors, borders, gaps, and effects.