CLI Flags
Zenkai provides a full set of command-line flags for customization and control.
General
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --help, -h | - | Show help and exit |
Window & Display
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --size | N | Icon size in pixels (default: 32) |
| --width | N | Window width in pixels (default: 600) |
| --height | N | Window height in pixels (default: 500) |
| --fullscreen | - | Start in fullscreen mode |
| --monitor | N | Open on a specific monitor (0-based) |
| --list-monitors | - | List all available monitors and exit |
| --no-icons | - | Hide icons in the list |
| --no-bottom-bar | - | Hide the bottom bar |
Theme
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --theme | NAME or path | Set theme by name or path to .qss file |
| --list-themes | - | List all 65+ built-in themes and exit |
| --theme-reloader | - | Watch .qss files and apply changes on the fly (requires --debug) |
Desktop Actions
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --menu | name|cmd|icon | Add a custom menu entry (repeatable) |
| --show-actions | - | Parse and show [Desktop Action] entries |
| --actions-bottombar | - | Show desktop actions in the bottom bar |
| --no-dapps | - | Skip scanning .desktop files |
Plugins
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --no-plugins | - | Skip loading all plugins |
| --plugin | NAME | Only load matching plugin (repeatable) |
| --clipboard | CMD | Clipboard command for plugin results (e.g. wl-copy) |
| --url-handler | CMD | URL handler for plugin open_url (e.g. firefox --new-tab) |
Behavior
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --close-on-focus-out | - | Close when launcher loses focus |
| --no-close-on-focus-out | - | Keep open when focus is lost |
| --show-backdrop | - | Show transparent backdrop, click to close |
| --language | CODE | Translation language code (e.g. fr, de) |
Debugging
| Flag | Value | Description |
|---|
| --debug | - | Enable debug timer and verbose logging |
| --benchmark-all | - | Print timing for every startup stage |
| --verbose, -v | - | Verbose logging |
Examples
# Everyday launch
zenkai
# Dracula theme, bigger icons, wider window
zenkai --theme=dracula --size=48 --width=800
# Fullscreen icon grid on second monitor
zenkai --theme=launchpad --fullscreen --monitor=1
# Custom menu entries, skip desktop scanning
zenkai --menu="Firefox|firefox|firefox" --menu="Terminal|alacritty|terminal"
# Minimal look
zenkai --no-icons --no-bottom-bar
# Copy URLs to clipboard instead of opening
zenkai --clipboard="wl-copy"
# Plugin-only mode
zenkai --no-dapps --plugin=calculator
# Hot-reload a theme you're working on
zenkai --debug --theme-reloader --theme=./my-theme.qss
# Low memory mode
./zenkai.sh
# See all monitors
zenkai --list-monitors
# See all themes
zenkai --list-themes