Title: Wayland on OpenBSD (2024)
Author: Alexander Arkhipov <aa@manpager.org>
Created: 2024-12-29
Modified: 2024-12-29

Since recently, OpenBSD can run wayland. However, this is not very well
documented or advertised, and it's all in ports. So, this is just a
quick introduction.


INSTALLING AND RUNNING

First, *very importantly*, kill any running X server:

	# rcctl stop xenodm

I emphasise the importance here because if you don't you might very well
lock your computer and have to reboot by pressing the power button.

Now, install a compositor. Several are in ports. We'll be using sway:

	# pkg_add sway

Run with /usr/local/bin/startsway.sh. Unless you are running sway as
root (don't), it's is almost guaranteed to complain about being unable
to open some device files. If you are in the group wheel, the following
should more than suffice (but feel free to experiment.)

	# chmod g+rw /dev/dri/* /dev/wskbd* /dev/wsmouse*
	$ startsway.sh


WHAT WORKS

Xwayland is enabled by default, so you should be able to run most
software. There's some software made specifically for wayland available,
like the terminal emulator foot. Unfortunately, it seems on OpenBSD,
Firefox still works poorly under wayland, while chromium doesn't even
start.