How to Control Hyprland Wayland Compositor Plugins with 'hyprpm' (with examples)

The hyprpm command is a specialized tool designed for managing plugins in the Hyprland Wayland compositor environment. It allows users to handle various plugin tasks efficiently, including adding, removing, enabling, disabling, updating, and listing plugins. This command-line utility provides flexibility and control, catering to advanced users who need to customize their compositor settings for optimal performance and functionality.

Use case 1: Adding a Plugin

Code:

hyprpm add git_url

Motivation:
Adding a new plugin to your Hyprland setup can introduce new features or functionalities that enhance your desktop environment. This is especially useful when a new plugin is released by the community or developers that addresses a specific need or adds value to your workflow.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• add: The operation informing hyprpm you want to include a new plugin.
• git_url: The Git repository URL where the plugin’s source code is hosted. This argument instructs hyprpm to clone the repository and prepare the plugin for installation.

Example Output:

Cloning into 'plugin-name'...
Plugin 'plugin-name' added successfully.

Use case 2: Removing a Plugin

Code:

hyprpm remove git_url|plugin_name

Motivation:
Removing unused or problematic plugins is crucial to maintain system performance and stability. If a plugin is no longer needed or is causing conflicts, it’s best practice to remove it to ensure a smooth and responsive environment.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• remove: The operation for deleting a plugin.
• git_url|plugin_name: This can either be the original Git URL from which the plugin was added or the name of the plugin itself. It allows hyprpm to precisely identify which plugin to remove.

Example Output:

Removing plugin 'plugin-name'...
Plugin 'plugin-name' removed successfully.

Use case 3: Enabling a Plugin

Code:

hyprpm enable plugin_name

Motivation:
Enabling a plugin is necessary when you want the functionalities of a previously installed plugin to be active within your environment. It allows you to toggle the features of a plugin easily without re-installation.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• enable: The command operation that turns on a disabled plugin.
• plugin_name: The specific name of the plugin you wish to activate. This must be an already installed plugin in the system.

Example Output:

Plugin 'plugin-name' enabled.

Use case 4: Disabling a Plugin

Code:

hyprpm disable plugin_name

Motivation:
Disabling a plugin temporarily without removing it can be useful for troubleshooting purposes or to reduce system load. This allows users to experiment with different plugin configurations without permanently altering their setup.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• disable: The command operation that turns off an active plugin.
• plugin_name: The specific name of the plugin you wish to deactivate. This plugin should currently be enabled.

Example Output:

Plugin 'plugin-name' disabled.

Use case 5: Updating and Checking All Plugins

Code:

hyprpm update

Motivation:
Regularly updating plugins ensures that you have the latest features and security fixes. By checking all plugins at once, you maintain an up-to-date environment without manually updating each plugin, saving time and effort.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• update: The operation that checks for updates across all installed plugins and applies them if available.

Example Output:

Checking for updates...
Plugin 'plugin-1' is up to date.
Updating 'plugin-2'...
Plugin 'plugin-2' updated successfully.

Use case 6: Forcing an Operation

Code:

hyprpm -f operation

Motivation:
There are times when a standard operation may fail due to certain restrictions or conditions, and forcing the operation can be necessary to override these obstacles. This is particularly useful when prior attempts to add or remove a plugin encounter issues that require bypassing standard safety checks.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• -f|--force: This flag forces the specified operation, overriding default checks or conditions that would normally prevent the operation.
• operation: This represents any valid hyprpm operation, such as add, remove, enable, disable, etc.

Example Output:

Forcing operation 'add plugin-name'...
Operation completed with force.

Use case 7: Listing All Installed Plugins

Code:

hyprpm list

Motivation:
Listing all installed plugins provides you with a comprehensive view of your current setup. This is crucial for maintaining awareness of active plugins, allowing you to audit your configurations, identify outdated plugins, or detect possible redundancies.

Explanation:

• hyprpm: The command-line tool for managing Hyprland plugins.
• list: The operation that outputs a list of all currently installed plugins on your system.

Example Output:

Installed Plugins:
- plugin-1
- plugin-2
- plugin-3

Conclusion

The hyprpm command is a powerful utility for managing plugins within the Hyprland Wayland compositor, providing flexibility and enhancing the user’s ability to customize their desktop environment. By mastering these use cases, users can efficiently control their plugin library, ensuring their systems are optimized and tailored to their individual needs.