PYWAL is a highly popular tool that automatically generates a color scheme from any image (usually your wallpaper) and then applies it across your Linux or Unix desktop. It analyzes the input image, extracts a palette, and builds theme files for terminals, window managers, and various desktop applications so everything looks coordinated. The magic is that it’s not just a one-off script: it supports many terminals, shells, and launchers, and can export the colors in multiple formats (JSON, Xresources, CSS) for other programs to consume. It also includes a set of predefined themes if you don’t want to generate from an image. Many users integrate PYWAL into their login or wallpaper-change workflows so the desktop “breathes” with whatever image they set. It’s lightweight, fast, and fits perfectly into the r/unixporn workflow of building cohesive, themed desktops.
Features
- Generate full desktop color schemes from any image
- Apply colors to terminals, WM/DEs, and other apps automatically
- Export palettes in many formats (Xresources, JSON, CSS)
- Support for predefined themes in addition to image-based ones
- Easy to script and integrate into dotfiles/workflows
- Lightweight, fast, and popular in theming/customization circles