Ly is a lightweight TUI display manager for Linux and BSD that operates without requiring systemd.
The tool addresses the need for a minimal login manager by providing a terminal user interface built with ncurses-like capabilities. It handles session launching and authentication through PAM, supporting both X11 and Wayland environments. The design prioritizes portability and low resource consumption compared to heavier display managers.
Ly suits users who prefer minimal dependencies, run non-systemd init systems, or work on resource-constrained machines. It works with any desktop environment or window manager that provides a .desktop file in the standard session directories, and allows custom session definitions through configuration files. The project supports FreeBSD alongside Linux distributions, though users on SELinux-enforcing systems like Fedora may need to create custom security policies to permit the display manager's process transitions. X11 support is included by default but can be disabled at compile time.
The project maintains active development with regular bug fixes and feature additions. Community engagement occurs through a dedicated Matrix channel. Documentation includes troubleshooting guidance for environment detection and SELinux policy configuration. The codebase is written in Zig and accepts contributions addressing compatibility issues across different distributions and init systems.
