Other Problems with IME in dwl (Wayland version of dwm)

[scottro]

On occasion I use the dwl window manager. I'm not sure if this is an upstream issue, though I have similar problems using it with Fedora.
At any rate, I have a set of environment variables that I use if inputting Japanese with fcitx5. Problem 1 is, the only way I can get these variables set in dwl is to declare them in .bashrc, .zshrc, or .zshenv. I tried running a script export XMODIFIERS=@im=fcitx but it will only work with the terminal that I use to run the script. I'm guessing it opens a subshell, but anyway, that's not the main issue.

If I use labwc (which has a section in $HOME/.config/labwc to set environment variables), everything works as it should. In dwl, however, I can't input Japanese in alacritty, even if echo $XMODIFERS, etc., are showing correct environment variables. I also can't get it to work in firefox, though it does in chrome. (Also works in libreoffice). I can get it working in a urxvt terminal.

As this seems specific to dwl, I *think* it may be an upstream issue, but, while I realize this is an edge usage case, figured I'd ask in case anyone has run into it and solved it. (FWIW, in Fedora, I can't even open urxvt in dwl, with a message of can't open display :0, though it works in Fedora's labwc, but I figure that's a Linux, or more likely, Fedora issue).

 

[NapoleonWils0n]

hi mate

XMODIFERS sounds like an X11 variable so may not work in Wayland applications
that would be my hunch

in Fedora, I can't even open urxvt in dwl, with a message of can't open display :0

urxvt is a X11 app so you have to enable XWayalnd support in dwl

edit config.mk and make sure xwayland is enabled

_VERSION = 0.5
VERSION  = `git describe --tags --dirty 2>/dev/null || echo $(_VERSION)`

PKG_CONFIG = pkg-config

# paths
PREFIX = /usr/local
MANDIR = $(PREFIX)/share/man
DATADIR = $(PREFIX)/share

#XWAYLAND =
#XLIBS =
# Uncomment to build XWayland support
XWAYLAND = -DXWAYLAND
XLIBS = xcb xcb-icccm

CC = gcc

make enable xwayland

gmake CC=cc CFLAGS+='-std=c11' XWAYLAND="-DXWAYLAND" XLIBS="xcb xcb-icccm"

dwl notes

cerberus/dwl/dwl-freebsd.org at master · NapoleonWils0n/cerberus

cerberus code library. Contribute to NapoleonWils0n/cerberus development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

dwl config files

cerberus/dwl at master · NapoleonWils0n/cerberus

cerberus code library. Contribute to NapoleonWils0n/cerberus development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

i made a tutorial about using xkb to swap keys on dwl
dont know if thats any help

xkb swap sterling £ and numbersign # on a gb keyboard

Thread 'xkb swap sterling £ and numbersign # on a gb keyboard'

Aug 4, 2024

xkb swap sterling £ and numbersign # on a gb keyboard

cerberus/xkb/xkb-swap-sterling-numbersign at master · NapoleonWils0n/cerberus

cerberus code library. Contribute to NapoleonWils0n/cerberus development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

freebsd-dotfiles-xps/.config/xkb at master · NapoleonWils0n/freebsd-dotfiles-xps

freebsd dotfiles dell xps 15 2019. Contribute to NapoleonWils0n/freebsd-dotfiles-xps development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

i use a mac gb keyboard layout

default layout

pressing shift + 3 outputs sterling £
and pressing option + 3 outputs numbersign #

what i needed to do was change the keyboard layout
change the keys so pressing shift and 3 ouputs # instead of £

pressing shift + 3 outputs sterling #
and pressing option + 3 outputs numbersign £

the wayland...

• NapoleonWils0n
• dwl keyboard mac wayland xkb
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Howtos and FAQs (Moderated)

• 
• 

give me a shout if you need any help

 

[scottro]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I *think* that as XMODIFIERS does work with urxvt and a few other apps, that that's not the problem. As for urxvt in Fedora, I do have Xwayland installed, but anyway, that's a Fedora problem, (and in Fedora, urxvt works fine in labwc)

 

[scottro]

A little bit of an update. From the fcitx's pages, https://fcitx-im.org/wiki/Using_Fcitx_5_on_Wayland, it seems that XMODIFIERS is still needed. (in the TLDR section).

 

[scottro]

Another small update. I'd mentioned urxvt didn't work in Fedora. Fedora doesn't have an rpm for it, so I used the tarball for 0.7. Someone on Fedora forums pointed out that I had to uncomment lines in config.mk for it to run with Xwayland support. I uncommented the lines and now urxvt opens in Fedora. Figured I'd mention it here as well, in case someone in the future winds up on this thread while trying to figure that out, perhaps searching with keywords like fedora urxvt dwl, or something.

 

[NapoleonWils0n]

i used Fedora for a while and you have to add about half a dozen repositories
so when you want to use dnf to search for something it has to sync all the repos first

which meant having to wait 30 seconds to a minute just for a simple search

 

[scottro]

Heh don't get me started. I consider RH the MS of Linux, and feel it should be written R€dHat, but in fairness, Fedora's gotten a lot better since Adam Williamson took over. RedHat itself, to put the nicest interpretation on it, does supposedly do a good job of not breaking things during upgrades, etc.