---
name: "phosh-session"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "phosh"
version: "0.57.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/phosh-session"
---

# phosh-session(1)

Session startup script for phosh

## Name

phosh-session - Session startup script for phosh

## SYNOPSIS

```
phosh-session [OPTIONS...]
```

## DESCRIPTION

**phosh-session** is the script to startup phosh including required components like the Wayland compositor **phoc** and an on screen keyboard like **stevia** or **squeekboard**. The script is rarely invoked by a user but rather activated by a display manager or systemd unit. However it's perfectly valid to e.g. log into a tty and run **phosh-session** to bring up phosh and needed components.

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  Print help and exit

- **--version**

  Print version and exit

## CONFIGURATION FILES

The session script looks at the following configuration files:

- •

  **/usr/share/phosh/phoc.ini**: Configuration passed to the compositor

- •

  **/etc/phosh/phoc.ini**: Used instead of the above if present

## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

**phosh-session** honors the following environment variables:

- •

  **WLR\_BACKENDS**: The backends the wlroots library should use when phoc launches. See \<https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/wlroots/wlroots/-/blob/master/docs/env\_vars.md\>

For debugging purposes you can put environment variables into **~/.phoshdebug** which is read at session startup.

## See also

**[phosh(1)](/phosh/1.md)** **[phoc(1)](/phoc/1.md)** **[phoc.ini(5)](/phoc.ini/5.md)** **phosh-osk-stevia(1)**