utm-dwm-setup

Reproducible Ubuntu 24.04 ARM64 dwm environment for UTM on Apple Silicon.

Architecture

• Host: macOS on Apple Silicon (M1)
• Guest: Ubuntu 24.04 ARM64 in UTM
• WM stack: dwm + st + slstatus + picom
• Config model: repo-managed configs are installed into $HOME (some are symlinked)

File Structure

utm-dwm-setup/
├── .gitignore
├── README.md
├── install.sh
└── configs/
    ├── autostart.sh
    ├── dmenu-killproc
    ├── dmenu-runapps
    ├── dwm_config.h
    ├── lpassmenu
    ├── notes
    ├── nvim_init.vim
    ├── picom.conf
    ├── qutebrowser/config.py
    ├── qutebrowser/css/dark-all-sites.css
    ├── slstatus_config.h
    ├── st_config.h
    ├── youtube-search-dmenu
    ├── youtube-subs-dmenu
    ├── youtube-subs-scan
    └── youtube-subs.txt

What Each File Does

• install.sh: bootstrap script. Updates apt packages, removes Snap/services, installs dependencies, clones suckless repos, applies config files, sets up symlinks, and builds/install dwm, st, and slstatus.
• configs/dwm_config.h: dwm behavior (MOD key, layouts, tags, rules, keybindings, launcher hooks).
• configs/st_config.h: st build-time config injected into upstream st/config.h.
• configs/slstatus_config.h: status bar modules and format (CPU, RAM, and datetime).
• configs/picom.conf: compositor config (xrender backend, vsync, terminal transparency rule).
• configs/autostart.sh: session startup (slstatus, wallpaper via ~/.fehbg, picom, terminal).
• configs/dmenu-runapps: app launcher menu used by MOD + p.
• configs/dmenu-killproc: dmenu process picker/killer helper.
• configs/notes: notes utility entrypoint exposed in ~/.local/bin/notes.
• configs/nvim_init.vim: Neovim config symlinked to ~/.config/nvim/init.vim.
• configs/lpassmenu: LastPass CLI dmenu helper.
• configs/youtube-search-dmenu: YouTube search flow.
• configs/youtube-subs-dmenu: YouTube subscriptions flow.
• configs/youtube-subs-scan: discovery/cache refresh script for subscriptions list.
• configs/youtube-subs.txt: static seed list for subscriptions.
• configs/qutebrowser/config.py: qutebrowser settings.
• configs/qutebrowser/css/dark-all-sites.css: qutebrowser stylesheet.
• .gitignore: excludes machine-local files and artifacts.
• README.md: project documentation.

Setup Theory (Why It Is Structured This Way)

• Keep upstream suckless repos in ~/src/suckless/*, and keep custom behavior in this repo.
• Inject headers (*_config.h) at build-time so runtime stays deterministic.
• Symlink user-level scripts/configs to repo files to prevent config drift.
• Keep VM lean by removing unused desktop services.

Useful Keybindings (configs/dwm_config.h)

MOD is Super (Mod4Mask).

Action	Keys
Launcher menu (dmenu-runapps)	Super + p
Process killer (dmenu-killproc)	Super + Shift + p
Notes launcher	Super + Shift + n
Help command	Super + Shift + ?
Toggle bar	Super + b
Focus next / previous window	Super + j / Super + k
Increase / decrease master clients	Super + i / Super + d
Increase / decrease master area	Super + l / Super + h
Promote focused window to master	Super + Enter
Tile / Float / Monocle	Super + t / Super + f / Super + m
Toggle floating	Super + Shift + Space
Close focused window	Super + Shift + c
View tag 1..9	Super + 1..9
Move window to tag 1..9	Super + Shift + 1..9
Quit dwm	Super + x

Install

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git
git clone https://github.com/AxelrodAsaf/utm-dwm-setup.git
cd utm-dwm-setup
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh
startx

Usage Tips

• Before pushing, use git status and ensure only intended files changed.
• Rebuild after header changes:
  • cd ~/src/suckless/dwm && sudo make clean install
  • cd ~/src/suckless/st && sudo make clean install
  • cd ~/src/suckless/slstatus && sudo make clean install
• If launcher behavior changes, verify ~/.local/bin/* symlinks still point into this repo.