TOML Conversion

mangowm reads .conf and .toml with the same option names and values; only the syntax differs. This page only explains how to move a conf file to TOML, not what each option does — see the other configuration pages for that.

The format is picked from the file extension (.conf / .toml); a file with another extension is sniffed (a leading [ means TOML). A sourced file is parsed with the reader that matches its own extension, so the two can be mixed.

Reference example: a complete, working TOML config lives in the mango-config toml branch.

How conf maps to TOML

Plain options → [global]

Everything that is a single key=value line goes into [global]. Keep the same key names and values.

blur=1
border_radius=8
root_color=0x201b14ff
animation_curve_open=0.46,1.0,0.29,1

[global]
blur = 1
border_radius = 8
root_color = 0x201b14ff
animation_curve_open = [0.46, 1.0, 0.29, 1]

env and var → tables

In conf the name and value are packed into one comma string; in TOML they become two keys.

env=QT_IM_MODULE,fcitx
env=XMODIFIERS,@im=fcitx
var=term,foot

[env]
"QT_IM_MODULE" = "fcitx"
"XMODIFIERS" = "@im=fcitx"

[var]
term = "foot"

Variables are still referenced as $name / ${name}, in values and in bind key combinations (e.g. "$Mod+Return" = "spawn,$term").

Values in [env] and [var] are always treated as strings: if you write a bare number or boolean ("DPI" = 140, "FLAG" = true), it is read as the literal text "140" / "true". Quoting them is still recommended.

Bindings

In conf, key_mode is a state line and bind=mod,key,func,args follows it. In TOML the key_mode becomes a table suffix and the modifier and key are joined with + on the left of =.

key_mode=default
bind=Alt,Return,spawn,foot

key_mode=resize
bind=SUPER,Left,resizewin,-10,0

[bind.default]
"Alt+Return" = "spawn,foot"

[bind.resize]
"SUPER+Left" = "resizewin,-10,0"

The key_mode segment is required (default when there is no key_mode line). A binding with no modifier is just the key: "XF86AudioMute" = "spawn,...". code:N works too: "code:24" = "killclient".

The bind flag (the letters in bindl / bindc / ...) becomes a further suffix:

bindc=SUPER,a,resizewin,+10,0
bindl=CTRL,comma,spawn,brightness.sh down

[bind.default.conflict]
"SUPER+a" = "resizewin,+10,0"

[bind.default.lock]
"CTRL+comma" = "spawn,brightness.sh down"

Flags can be combined, e.g. bindrc → [bind.default.release.conflict].

The other binding kinds follow the same pattern:

mousebind=SUPER,btn_left,moveresize,curmove
axisbind=SUPER,UP,viewtoleft_have_client
gesturebind=none,left,3,focusdir,left
switchbind=fold,spawn,external-monitor on

[mousebind.default]
"SUPER+btn_left" = "moveresize,curmove"

[axisbind.default]
"SUPER+UP" = "viewtoleft_have_client"

[gesturebind.default]
"none+left+3" = "focusdir,left"

[switchbind.default]
"fold" = "spawn,external-monitor on"

Rules

Every xxxrule= line becomes one [[rule.xxx]] element, and the k:v,k:v pairs become k = v.

window_rule=is_floating:1,width:800,height:900,app_id:mpv
tag_rule=id:1,layout_name:tile
layer_rule=animation_type_open:zoom,layer_name:rofi
monitor_rule=name:eDP-1,width:1920,height:1080,refresh:60,x:0,y:0,scale:1
device_rule=type:trackpad,tap_to_click:1,natural_scrolling:0

[[rule.window_rule]]
is_floating = 1
width = 800
height = 900
app_id = "mpv"

[[rule.tag_rule]]
id = 1
layout_name = "tile"

[[rule.layer_rule]]
animation_type_open = "zoom"
layer_name = "rofi"

[[rule.monitor_rule]]
name = "eDP-1"
width = 1920
height = 1080
refresh = 60
x = 0
y = 0
scale = 1

[[rule.device_rule]]
type = "trackpad"
tap_to_click = 1
natural_scrolling = 0

Repeated lines → arrays

TOML forbids repeating a key inside one table, so conf keys that appear on many lines become one key with an array value. This applies to source, source_optional, exec and exec_once.

source=./env.conf
source=./bind.conf
exec_once=waybar
exec_once=swaybg -i wall.png

[global]
source = ["./env.toml", "./bind.toml"]
exec_once = ["waybar", "swaybg -i wall.png"]

Repeated rules (window_rule, tag_rule, ...) use array-of-tables instead, so each [[rule.<type>]] is a new rule. Repeating the same key combination in one bind table is the one remaining case: put the actions in an array.

[bind.default]
"SUPER+r" = ["spawn_shell,config-check.sh", "reload_config"]

Values

• Strings are quoted ("foot", 'foot'); numbers and booleans stay bare (8, 0.9, true, false).
• Colors stay 0xRRGGBBAA (0x201b14ff).
• Comma lists (animation_curve_*, scroller_proportion_preset, circle_layout) become arrays: 0.5,0.8,1.0 → [0.5, 0.8, 1.0].
• A value that is itself a string ("us,ru", a command line) is quoted, so it may contain commas.

Note: In TOML a table runs until the next header. All top-level options (source, exec, plain settings, [env], [var]) must come before the first binding or rule table; put rules and [bind.*] tables after them.