Excerp from Ops/linuxGaming/Steam/MangoHud

MangoHud.md

Sections

Preface

MangoHud can be installed either as a system binary using Package Managers, or (perhaps more conveniently) using Flatpak's.

Certain Linux distributions do not allow* mutability in the system directories - as it is in case of my Fedora Silverblue.

Additionally, if the user happens to use Steam as Flatpak (which is a really solid choice and may result in better stability, with fewer issues to worry about system-wide), then it might be the easiest to install MangoHud the same way.

How to configure MangoHud as a Flatpak

1. Check the currently installed version of Steam
   • Use flatpak list --app --columns=application,name,version to list out all Flatpak applications
   • Use flatpak list --app --columns=application,name,version | grep Steam to find Steam Flatpak info specifically
     • e.g. mine is com.valvesoftware.Steam Steam 1.0.0.84
   • Get runtime information using flatpak info com.valvesoftware.Steam
     • e.g. mine is Runtime: org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/25.08 [[#^1|(1)]]
2. Install the COMPATIBLE version of MangoHud as indicated in the Freedesktop runtime!
   • Use flatpak install org.freedesktop.Platform.VulkanLayer.MangoHud [[#^2|(2)]] and select your runtime version
   • Alternatively use flatpak install org.freedesktop.Platform.VulkanLayer.MangoHud/x86_64/{version} [[#^2|(2)]]
3. Double check that proper MangoHud version is installed
   • Use flatpak info --show-location org.freedesktop.Platform.VulkanLayer.MangoHud
4. Use Goverlay [[#^3|(3)]] (Flatpak) to create and customize your MangoHud layout
   • Install Goverlay from FlatHub and make sure that you do not miss the MangoHud runtime. Goverlay displays it in the left bottom corner in case you do.
   • From my observations Goverlay (Flatpak) automatically creates a config file under ~/var/home/{user}/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/config/MangoHud
   • However, you can also run it in console and it will simply tell you where to look at. This line will point to the location: [DEBUG] SaveMangoHudConfig: Configuration also saved to Steam Flatpak location: /var/home/{user}/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/config/MangoHud/MangoHud.conf
5. (If Goverlay not used?) Create a personalised config file in ~/.config/MangoHud/MangoHud.conf and move it into /var/home/{user}/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/config/MangoHud manually.
   • Use the official template https://raw.githubusercontent.com/flightlessmango/MangoHud/master/data/MangoHud.conf
6. (If Goverlay not used?) Enable RO permissions
   • Use flatpak override --user --filesystem=xdg-config/MangoHud:ro
   • Although it's possible that Steam will find it automatically if you copied it into its own Flatpak's folder.
     • $XDG_CONFIG_HOME stands for $HOME/.config
     • You can later remove it using e.g. Flatseal under "All Applications" and "Filesystem" tab.
7. (optional) To enable MangoHud for all Steam games
   • Use flatpak override --user --env=MANGOHUD=1 com.valvesoftware.Steam
   • You can also select this option directly in Goverlay.
8. Run Steam games [[#^4|(4)]]
   • Use mangohud %command% for native (?)
   • Use MANGOHUD=1 %command% for Flatpak

Results

References

Section 1 - Preface

• https://fedoraproject.org/atomic-desktops/silverblue/

Section 2 - How to configure MangoHud as a Flatpak

• https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/available-runtimes.html ^1
• https://github.com/flathub/org.freedesktop.Platform.VulkanLayer.MangoHud ^2
• https://github.com/benjamimgois/goverlay ^3
• https://github.com/flightlessmango/MangoHud#flatpak ^4

GitHub Gist

https://gist.github.com/Matthew0x/e43aa00de47934e22366cde029f82105

Metadata

Date of creation: 2024.09.13

Date of revision: 2026.01.25

License: GPLv3