Where Is the herbstluftwm Config File?
Where herbstluftwm keeps its autostart script on Linux, and how the herbstclient workflow works.
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herbstluftwm has no static config file. Everything is a herbstclient command inside an executable shell script called autostart at ~/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart. The system default at /etc/xdg/herbstluftwm/autostart is only a fallback.
The workflow is try, then persist. Test a setting in the terminal, watch the frames change, then append it to autostart. Reloading re-runs the whole script, so keep it idempotent and ordered.
Where herbstluftwm stores this, by platform
~/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart
Executable shell script of herbstclient calls. Copy from /etc/xdg/herbstluftwm/autostart. Reload with herbstclient reload. A -c flag can point at an alternate file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up herbstluftwm config from scratch?
Run mkdir -p ~/.config/herbstluftwm, then copy /etc/xdg/herbstluftwm/autostart there and make it executable. Try settings live with herbstclient first, then paste working commands into autostart so the file only holds proven lines.
How do I reload the config?
Run herbstclient reload, or execute ~/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart directly to see errors. Mod+Shift+r is bound to reload in the default config. A blocking command early in the script freezes the rest, so keep it linear and simple.
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