Kakodemon

Kakodemon is an OpenGL-based GUI for Kakoune written in C++

Usage

• Create new splits with :kakodemon-new-client <commands> (aliased to :new)
• Focus splits with :kakodemon-focus <kakoune_client> (aliased to :focus)
• Cycle between splits using the keybindings <c-s-j> and <c-s-k>
• Adjust the master ratio with <c-s-h> and <c-s-l>
• Adjust the number of masters with <c-s-i> and <c-s-d>
• Toggle full layout with <c-s-ret>
• Set the layout with :kakodemon-layout <layout>. Possible options are:
  • tall: the master is to the left, and the stack is stacked vertically to the right
  • wide: the master is on the top, and the stack is stacked horizontally below
  • full: the focused split takes up the entire window

Install from source

1. Install the necessary build dependencies

sudo apt install -y git build-essential cmake libwayland-dev libxkbcommon-dev xorg-dev libfreetype-dev libfontconfig-dev

2. Clone the repository

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/falbru/kakodemon

3. Build and install the project

cd into the newly cloned kakodemon project.

If you have just installed:

sudo just install-rel

Otherwise:

mkdir build
cd build
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release ..
make
sudo install -D ./kakod /usr/local/bin

4. Add the following line to your kakrc

eval %sh{ kakod --init }

You can then run the application with the command kakod

Important

Make sure Kakoune version>=2026.04.12 is installed on your system!

Configuration

Kakodemon is configured by setting the option ui_options in Kakoune. The following options are implemented:

Font Options

• kakodemon_font <font_name>: Set the default font for all components
• kakodemon_font_content <font_name>: Set the font for editor content
• kakodemon_font_menu <font_name>: Set the font for menus
• kakodemon_font_infobox <font_name>: Set the font for info boxes
• kakodemon_font_statusbar <font_name>: Set the font for the status bar

Color Options

• kakodemon_color_<color_name> <color_value>: Set terminal colors
  • Standard colors: black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, white
  • Bright colors: bright_black, bright_red, bright_green, bright_yellow, bright_blue, bright_magenta, bright_cyan, bright_white
• kakodemon_color_border <color_value>: Set the color of UI borders

Spacing Options

• kakodemon_line_height_scale: Set the line height as a percentage (default: 100)

Example Configuration

set-option global ui_options \
    'kakodemon_font=JetBrains Mono 10' \
    'kakodemon_font_content=JetBrains Mono 14' \
    'kakodemon_color_red=rgb:FF5555' \
    'kakodemon_color_green=rgb:50FA7B' \
    'kakodemon_color_border=rgb:44475A'