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Installation Modes

bspwmctl offers different installation modes to suit your needs.

Available Modes

Minimal Mode (Default)

Command: ./bspwmctl install --minimal or ./bspwmctl install

The lightest installation with just the essentials.

Includes:

  • bspwm - Window manager
  • sxhkd - Hotkey daemon
  • kitty - Terminal emulator

Best for:

  • Low-resource systems
  • Users who want to customize everything themselves
  • Minimalist setups

Disk space: ~50MB after compilation

Standard Mode

Command: ./bspwmctl install --standard

Balanced installation with commonly used components.

Includes:

  • Everything from Minimal mode
  • Polybar - Status bar
  • Picom - Compositor (transparency, shadows)
  • Rofi - Application launcher

Best for:

  • Most users
  • Daily driver setups
  • First-time bspwm users

Disk space: ~150MB after compilation

Full Mode (Coming in v0.2.0)

Command: ./bspwmctl install --full

Complete installation with all the bells and whistles.

Will include:

  • Everything from Standard mode
  • Zsh + Powerlevel10k - Modern shell
  • Dunst - Notification daemon
  • Feh - Wallpaper setter
  • Additional utilities and scripts

Best for:

  • Users who want everything preconfigured
  • Complete desktop replacement
  • Power users

Estimated disk space: ~300MB after compilation

Mode Comparison

Feature Minimal Standard Full
bspwm + sxhkd ✅ ✅ ✅
Terminal (kitty) ✅ ✅ ✅
Status bar (Polybar) ❌ ✅ ✅
Compositor (Picom) ❌ ✅ ✅
Launcher (Rofi) ❌ ✅ ✅
Zsh + P10k ❌ ❌ ✅
Notifications ❌ ❌ ✅
Extra utilities ❌ ❌ ✅
Disk Space ~50MB ~150MB ~300MB
Install Time ~5-10 min ~10-15 min ~15-20 min

Switching Between Modes

You can upgrade from one mode to another by running the installer again:

# Upgrade from minimal to standard
./bspwmctl install --standard

# Upgrade from standard to full (when available)
./bspwmctl install --full

The installer will only install missing components.

Which Mode Should I Choose?

Choose Minimal if you:

  • Have limited disk space
  • Want maximum control over your config
  • Are comfortable building your setup from scratch
  • Have an older/slower computer

Choose Standard if you:

  • Want a good balance of features and simplicity
  • Are new to bspwm
  • Want something that "just works"
  • ← Recommended for most users

Choose Full if you:

  • Want the complete experience
  • Don't mind the extra disk space
  • Want all tools preconfigured
  • Are setting up a new system from scratch

Next Steps

After choosing your mode:

  1. Install bspwmctl
  2. Learn the basics
  3. Customize your setup