Waydog is a lightweight Linux distro based on Debian Trixie. Waydog uses the new Wayland protocol for its display server.

Labwc and Sway are installed by default, with separate installation options for Niri and Wayfire compositors. Both are also customized for Waydog use. These can be found in the Waydog installers.

Initial login will allow either Labwc or Sway to be selected. Niri and Wayfire can also be installed and tested during live session use.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/lilidog/files/Releases/

Current Release:

The version number shown is the date of the release beginning with the year, followed by the month, and then the day. So as an example, release 25.12.20 stands for the 20th of Dec, 2025.

To identify a Waydog build date after installation, in a terminal, try: cat /usr/share/lilidog/GPL/current-build

Updating:

Waydog uses the 'stable' version of Debian, which is currently Trixie. Updates to Debian packages are gained by using apt:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Directions for Installation:

One easy way to install Waydog is to grab the live-usb-maker app: https://github.com/MX-Linux/lum-qt-appimage/releases/tag/19.11.02 Download the AppImage.tar.gz and open a terminal:

tar -xaf live-usb-maker-qt-19.11.02.x86_64.AppImage.tar.gz Then:
sudo ./live-usb-maker-qt-19.11.02.x86_64.AppImage

Use "image mode" in the live-usb maker when burning the image.

The boot screen for Waydog gives a choice of using as a live session or installing if you like what you see.

Exploring Waydog:

For live login use: Live Username = 'user', and Live Password = 'live' The live session starts in the SDDM display manager after boot.

Waydog can be run in a VM, but not very well due to apparent Wayland requirements. Ample video memory is a must.

Features:

• Keybinds. All window managers use 'Super + F1' to show the list.
• Labwc and Sway window managers installed by default. Choose at login.
• Niri and Wayfire WMs also install options. Try in a live session.
• SDDM display manager for logging in. An installer for Ly is included.
• Waybar provides the panel top bar.
• NWG Look provides an interface for GTK settings.
• Labwc Tweaks provides for common Labwc adjustments.
• Usbimager to create USB images.
• Waypicker color picker for Wayland use. Copies selection to clipboard.
• Kernel remover for those that build their own, or just to clean up.
• Waypaper wallpaper setter for both wallpaper and SDDM login screen.
• Random background changer. Toggle with a keybind.
• Grimshot screenshot. Adds screenshots directly to ~/Pictures.
• Fuzzel menu. (dmenu equivalent) (Super + F5)
• Mako provides the system notifications.
• Sway has gaps!
• Optional installers for a few different items. Kernels, VirtualBox, extra themes, Conky, Dropbox, and others.

There are only a few more programs to get you started. Firefox, Geany, Thunar, and Xfce4-terminal are standard for the main programs. It is up to the user to select others.

Notes:

Logging out of the different compositors requires different commands. If you have issues logging out to either SDDM or Ly, you may need to change the command used in /usr/local/bin/ld-logout. Best practice here is to copy ld-logout to ~/bin and make your changes there.

Building Waydog:

No need to wait for a new release if wanting to keep up with the latest. In fact, this is a great way to make personal changes, and to help with testing new features.

How to build Waydog, Beardog, and Lilidog on your system.

Go to https://github.com/sleekmason to select the Trixie version you would like to build. Here, I am using the Waydog-Trixie release:

1. sudo apt install -y git live-build
2. git clone https://github.com/sleekmason/Waydog-Trixie.git
3. cd Waydog-Trixie
4. sudo lb build

Wait for the build to finish and look for the ISO in the top folder.

To make it your own:
Change stuff!

Then:
lb clean (cleans the configuration for the next build)
lb build

Items to possibly change:
Waydog-Trixie/config/package-lists/my.list.chroot (package list)
Waydog-Trixie/config/includes.chroot_after_packages/ (main files)

Of course there are other files that can also be changed in the build, but maybe keep it simple for a run or two.

To follow the current development of Waydog:
Github Site