The best AwesomeWM dotfiles and rices in 2026
AwesomeWM is an X11 window manager configured entirely in Lua. Its config can build anything from a bar to a full dashboard, which is why AwesomeWM rices are among the most polished on r/unixporn: the widgets are written by hand rather than assembled from separate programs.
Many of these setups rely on features that only exist in the development version of AwesomeWM, often packaged as awesome-git, rather than the last stable release. Check each setup’s instructions before installing.
5 entries · each pinned to an exact upstream version · updated
All 5 entries, compared
Filter in the catalogue →| Setup | Works with | Difficulty | What it changes | Maintenance | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Elena Aphelion DesktopIconic pastel r/unixporn aesthetic with handcrafted Lua widgets and exquisite typography. | Works with: AwesomeWM (X11) · Arch Linux, Void Linux, Gentoo | Easy | Changes: 2 folders in ~ | Quiet | Stars: 3.9k |
 HotfilesAwesomeWM rice with Material-style widgets, dashboard and lockscreen in Lua. | Works with: AwesomeWM (X11) | Manual setup | Changes: Nothing for you: follow the upstream guide | Quiet | Stars: 1.6k |
 CrystalAwesomeWM configuration with multiple colorschemes and handcrafted widgets. | Works with: AwesomeWM (X11) | Manual setup | Changes: Nothing for you: follow the upstream guide | Quiet | Stars: 885 |
 Yoru AwesomeWMClean, dark and minimalist AwesomeWM desktop with custom Lua widgets and Tokyo Night palette. | Works with: AwesomeWM (X11) · Arch Linux, Debian, Ubuntu | Moderate | Changes: 5 packages · 1 folder in ~ | Archived upstream | Stars: 3.6k |
 janleigh DotfilesSmall, tidy AwesomeWM rice with a soft palette and minimal widgets. | Works with: AwesomeWM (X11) | Manual setup | Changes: Nothing for you: follow the upstream guide | Archived upstream | Stars: 936 |
Avoid or migrate
These still install, but their projects have stopped. Pick a maintained alternative for a new setup.
- Yoru AwesomeWM
The upstream repository is archived: it may still work, but bugs will not be fixed.
Move to: Elena Aphelion Desktop, Hotfiles
- janleigh Dotfiles
The upstream repository is archived: it may still work, but bugs will not be fixed.
Move to: Elena Aphelion Desktop, Hotfiles
How to choose
- Check whether the setup needs awesome-git.
- AwesomeWM runs on X11 only; you need an X11 session.
- Fonts and icon fonts are part of the look: install the ones each setup names.
Questions
Does AwesomeWM work on Wayland?
No, AwesomeWM is an X11 window manager. It runs in an X11 session.
Do I need awesome-git?
Often, yes: many modern rices use features added after the last stable release. Each setup’s README says which version it needs.
Where is the AwesomeWM config?
In ~/.config/awesome, starting from rc.lua. Back up that folder before trying another setup.