Analysis updated 2026-07-26
Safely try out a new Hyprland desktop theme and revert to your previous setup if you don't like it.
Test an invasive desktop installer that changes system files in an isolated boot environment you can discard.
Preview configuration file changes with a dry run before applying them to your home directory.
Manage multiple Hyprland dotfile repositories and switch between them on demand.
| narukoshin/dotlab | abc3dz/mixxx | abyo-software/ferro-stash | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Language | Rust | Rust | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | hard | moderate | moderate |
| Complexity | 4/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Audience | ops devops | general | ops devops |
Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.
Metal slot mode requires a specific Btrfs subvolume layout with LUKS encryption, GRUB 2.x, UKI kernel, and Secure Boot disabled, profile mode works on any Arch home filesystem.
Dotlab is an experimental tool built in Rust that lets Arch Linux users try out different Hyprland desktop configurations, known as dotfiles, and roll back to their previous setup if things go wrong. It was developed with help from ChatGPT and carries an "experimental" label, meaning it comes with no warranty. The README is clear about the risks: the tool can modify home configuration files, system packages, Btrfs snapshots, GRUB boot entries, and UKI kernel files. A bug or interrupted operation could leave a machine unbootable or cause data loss. The tool offers two distinct modes. The first, called a "profile," swaps configuration files from a repository into your home directory without running that repository's installer script. This is the safer, everyday path. The second mode, called a "metal slot," is for cases where a desktop theme comes with an invasive installer that changes system files, installs packages, or enables services. Metal slots take Btrfs snapshots of your root and home directories, add guarded GRUB boot entries, and let you test an installer in an isolated boot environment before deciding whether to keep or discard it. Metal slots have strict system requirements. Your disk must use a specific Btrfs subvolume layout, LUKS encryption, GRUB 2.x, and a UKI kernel loaded by systemd-stub, with Secure Boot disabled. If your system does not match this layout, the tool refuses to proceed with metal mode. The profile mode, by contrast, works on any normal Arch home filesystem. Installation is done by extracting a release archive and running a provided shell script as a normal user, not with elevated privileges. The installer verifies the binary, places it in the system path, runs a diagnostic check, and optionally initializes a protected minimal profile. Profiles and rollback state are stored as ordinary JSON and TOML files, with no background daemon or database involved. The README includes detailed command examples for adding repositories, previewing changes with a dry run, and declaring custom file mappings for repositories with non-standard layouts. The project targets Arch Linux with Hyprland 0.56 and is released under the MIT license. The full README is longer than what was shown.
A Rust tool for Arch Linux users to safely try different Hyprland desktop setups and roll back if something breaks, using file swapping or isolated boot environments.
Mainly Rust. The stack also includes Rust, Arch Linux, Hyprland.
Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.
Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.
Mainly ops devops.
This repo across BitVibe Labs
Verify against the repo before relying on details.