How do I make wal colors stick after rebooting my Linux system?

Add 'wal -i "$(< ~/.cache/wal/wal)"' to your .xinitrc file to reload the last wallpaper and colorscheme on startup. Also, include '(wal -r &)' in your shell's .bashrc or .zshrc for new terminals.

Can I use wal with iTerm2 on macOS?

Yes, but it requires using the wal2iterm script from the contrib folder to convert colors to an iTerm2 theme. You'll need to manually import the generated .itermcolors file each time, as wal doesn't auto-apply to iTerm2.

wal or pywal: which should I choose for theming my terminal?

Pywal is the recommended choice as it's faster, written in Python 3, has tests, and supports more export formats. Use wal only if you're tied to Bash scripting or have an existing setup that depends on it, but expect limited updates.

How to fix weird color artifacts in Termite when using wal?

Run wal with the -t flag (e.g., 'wal -i image.jpg -t') to adjust escape sequences for VTE terminals like Termite and xfce4-terminal, which resolves rendering issues.

Does wal automatically change colors in Firefox?

Wal exports CSS variables for Firefox, but you need to manually set up a userChrome.css file or use the Stylish extension to import and apply them, as it doesn't auto-theme Firefox without additional configuration.

What if wal doesn't generate good colors from my wallpaper?

Wal can fail with certain images; try using simpler, high-contrast wallpapers or manually create a colorscheme file and load it with 'wal -f /path/to/colors' for more control over the palette.

wal — Terminal Colorscheme Generator

Q: How do I make wal colors stick after rebooting my Linux system?

Add 'wal -i "$(< ~/.cache/wal/wal)"' to your .xinitrc file to reload the last wallpaper and colorscheme on startup. Also, include '(wal -r &)' in your shell's .bashrc or .zshrc for new terminals.

Q: Can I use wal with iTerm2 on macOS?

Yes, but it requires using the wal2iterm script from the contrib folder to convert colors to an iTerm2 theme. You'll need to manually import the generated .itermcolors file each time, as wal doesn't auto-apply to iTerm2.

Q: wal or pywal: which should I choose for theming my terminal?

Pywal is the recommended choice as it's faster, written in Python 3, has tests, and supports more export formats. Use wal only if you're tied to Bash scripting or have an existing setup that depends on it, but expect limited updates.

Q: How to fix weird color artifacts in Termite when using wal?

Run wal with the -t flag (e.g., 'wal -i image.jpg -t') to adjust escape sequences for VTE terminals like Termite and xfce4-terminal, which resolves rendering issues.

Q: Does wal automatically change colors in Firefox?

Wal exports CSS variables for Firefox, but you need to manually set up a userChrome.css file or use the Stylish extension to import and apply them, as it doesn't auto-theme Firefox without additional configuration.

Q: What if wal doesn't generate good colors from my wallpaper?

Wal can fail with certain images; try using simpler, high-contrast wallpapers or manually create a colorscheme file and load it with 'wal -f /path/to/colors' for more control over the palette.

What is wal?

wal is a Bash script that generates terminal colorschemes from images and applies them dynamically to your desktop environment. It solves the problem of manually theming terminals and other applications by automating color extraction and application, creating a unified look based on your wallpaper.

Target Audience

Linux users and developers who customize their desktop environments, particularly those using terminal emulators like URxvt, Termite, or xfce4-terminal and window managers like i3.

Value Proposition

Developers choose wal for its simplicity, automation, and deep integration with the Linux desktop ecosystem, allowing real-time theming across terminals and supported applications without manual configuration.

🎨 Generate and change colorschemes on the fly. Deprecated, use pywal instead. -->

Use Cases

Best For

Automatically theming terminals to match your wallpaper
Creating cohesive color schemes for i3, rofi, and polybar setups
Generating color palettes for web development via SCSS variables
Scripting dynamic color changes in shell environments
Quickly switching between saved colorschemes without changing wallpapers
Integrating terminal colors with Firefox using CSS variables

Not Ideal For

Users on macOS or Windows without terminal emulators that support the required escape sequences for live color updates
Developers seeking an actively maintained project with regular updates and broader ecosystem support, as development has shifted to pywal
Teams needing robust image processing or support for complex image formats beyond ImageMagick's default capabilities
Environments where Python-based tooling is preferred for easier installation and integration, since wal is a Bash script with dependency on specific Linux tools

Pros & Cons

Pros

Dynamic Color Extraction

Automatically generates colorschemes from any image using ImageMagick, eliminating manual palette creation for wallpapers.

Live Terminal Updates

Applies colorschemes to all open terminals in real-time via escape sequences, providing immediate visual feedback without restarting.

Extensive Desktop Integration

Exports colors to Xresources, shell variables, and formats like SCSS, enabling theming for i3, rofi, vim, and Firefox with minimal setup.

Caching for Performance

Stores generated schemes for instant cycling through wallpapers, speeding up theme switching without reprocessing images.

Cons

Deprecated and Unmaintained

Development focus has shifted to pywal, making wal less updated with potential bugs and missing features like tests or new export formats.

Limited Terminal Compatibility

Only works with terminals supporting specific escape sequences, excluding many modern or proprietary emulators without manual fixes like the -t flag for VTE issues.

Complex Setup Requirements

Requires editing shell startup files (.bashrc) and .xinitrc for persistence, adding overhead and potential for errors in configuration.

Image Processing Inconsistencies

Admits it's not perfect and may fail with some images, relying on ImageMagick which can produce suboptimal palettes for low-contrast or complex visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is wal?

Target Audience

Linux users and developers who customize their desktop environments, particularly those using terminal emulators like URxvt, Termite, or xfce4-terminal and window managers like i3.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Automatically theming terminals to match your wallpaper
Creating cohesive color schemes for i3, rofi, and polybar setups
Generating color palettes for web development via SCSS variables
Scripting dynamic color changes in shell environments
Quickly switching between saved colorschemes without changing wallpapers
Integrating terminal colors with Firefox using CSS variables

Not Ideal For

Users on macOS or Windows without terminal emulators that support the required escape sequences for live color updates
Developers seeking an actively maintained project with regular updates and broader ecosystem support, as development has shifted to pywal
Teams needing robust image processing or support for complex image formats beyond ImageMagick's default capabilities
Environments where Python-based tooling is preferred for easier installation and integration, since wal is a Bash script with dependency on specific Linux tools

Pros & Cons

Pros

Dynamic Color Extraction

Automatically generates colorschemes from any image using ImageMagick, eliminating manual palette creation for wallpapers.

Live Terminal Updates

Applies colorschemes to all open terminals in real-time via escape sequences, providing immediate visual feedback without restarting.

Extensive Desktop Integration

Exports colors to Xresources, shell variables, and formats like SCSS, enabling theming for i3, rofi, vim, and Firefox with minimal setup.

Caching for Performance

Stores generated schemes for instant cycling through wallpapers, speeding up theme switching without reprocessing images.

Cons

Deprecated and Unmaintained

Development focus has shifted to pywal, making wal less updated with potential bugs and missing features like tests or new export formats.

Limited Terminal Compatibility

Only works with terminals supporting specific escape sequences, excluding many modern or proprietary emulators without manual fixes like the -t flag for VTE issues.

Complex Setup Requirements

Requires editing shell startup files (.bashrc) and .xinitrc for persistence, adding overhead and potential for errors in configuration.

Image Processing Inconsistencies

Admits it's not perfect and may fail with some images, relying on ImageMagick which can produce suboptimal palettes for low-contrast or complex visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

wal

What is wal?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

wal

What is wal?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?