diff --git a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/default.nix b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/default.nix
index 79641714..ce52ce5e 100644
--- a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/default.nix
+++ b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/default.nix
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ in
       ];
 
       sane.user.fs = lib.mkIf cfg.installConfigs {
-        ".config/sway/config".symlink.text =
+        ".config/sway/config".symlink.target =
           import ./sway-config.nix { inherit pkgs; };
 
         ".config/waybar/config".symlink.target =
diff --git a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52c6a5cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+# xwayland enable|disable|force
+# - enable: lazily launch xwayland on first client connection
+# - disable: never launch xwayland
+# - force: launch xwayland immediately on boot
+# XWayland exposes a X11 server that translates the protocol to a wayland backend, allowing legacy x11-only GUI apps.
+# XWayland uses about 35MB RSS even when idle
+xwayland @xwayland@
+
+set $mod @mod@
+set $term @terminal_cmd@
+set $menu @launcher_cmd@
+set $emoji_picker @emoji_cmd@
+set $locker @lock_cmd@
+set $snippets_picker @snip_cmd@
+set $screenshot @screenshot_cmd@
+set $brightness_up @brightness_up_cmd@
+set $brightness_down @brightness_down_cmd@
+set $volume_up @vol_up_cmd@
+set $volume_down @vol_down_cmd@
+set $mute @mute_cmd@
+
+### default font
+font pango:monospace 8
+
+### pixel boundary between windows
+default_border pixel 3
+default_floating_border pixel 2
+hide_edge_borders smart
+
+#### focus_wrapping: behavior when trying to focus past the edge of a container
+####   no  => preserve last focus. helpful mostly when `focus_follows_mouse yes`
+focus_wrapping no
+focus_follows_mouse yes
+#### workspace_layout default  => workspaces use splits by default (as opposed to e.g. tabbed)
+workspace_layout default
+
+### default colors (#border #background #text #indicator #childBorder)
+client.focused #4c7899 #285577 #ffffff #2e9ef4 #285577
+client.focused_inactive #333333 #5f676a #ffffff #484e50 #5f676a
+client.unfocused #333333 #222222 #888888 #292d2e #222222
+client.urgent #2f343a #900000 #ffffff #900000 #900000
+client.placeholder #000000 #0c0c0c #ffffff #000000 #0c0c0c
+client.background #ffffff
+
+### key bindings
+floating_modifier $mod
+## media keys
+bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec $volume_up
+bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec $volume_down
+bindsym $mod+Page_Up exec $volume_up
+bindsym $mod+Page_Down exec $volume_down
+bindsym XF86AudioMute exec $mute
+bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec $brightness_up
+bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec $brightness_down
+## special functions
+bindsym $mod+Print exec $screenshot
+bindsym $mod+l exec $locker
+bindsym $mod+s exec $snippets_picker
+bindsym $mod+slash exec $emoji_picker
+bindsym $mod+d exec $menu
+bindsym $mod+Return exec $term
+bindsym $mod+Shift+q kill
+bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec swaynag -t warning -m 'You pressed the exit shortcut. Do you really want to exit sway? This will end your Wayland session.' -b 'Yes, exit sway' 'swaymsg exit'
+bindsym $mod+Shift+c reload
+## layout
+bindsym $mod+b splith
+bindsym $mod+v splitv
+bindsym $mod+f fullscreen toggle
+bindsym $mod+a focus parent
+bindsym $mod+w layout tabbed
+bindsym $mod+e layout toggle split
+bindsym $mod+Shift+space floating toggle
+bindsym $mod+space focus mode_toggle
+bindsym $mod+r mode resize
+## movement
+bindsym $mod+Up focus up
+bindsym $mod+Down focus down
+bindsym $mod+Left focus left
+bindsym $mod+Right focus right
+bindsym $mod+Shift+Up move up
+bindsym $mod+Shift+Down move down
+bindsym $mod+Shift+Left move left
+bindsym $mod+Shift+Right move right
+## workspaces
+bindsym $mod+1 workspace number 1
+bindsym $mod+2 workspace number 2
+bindsym $mod+3 workspace number 3
+bindsym $mod+4 workspace number 4
+bindsym $mod+5 workspace number 5
+bindsym $mod+6 workspace number 6
+bindsym $mod+7 workspace number 7
+bindsym $mod+8 workspace number 8
+bindsym $mod+9 workspace number 9
+bindsym $mod+Shift+1 move container to workspace number 1
+bindsym $mod+Shift+2 move container to workspace number 2
+bindsym $mod+Shift+3 move container to workspace number 3
+bindsym $mod+Shift+4 move container to workspace number 4
+bindsym $mod+Shift+5 move container to workspace number 5
+bindsym $mod+Shift+6 move container to workspace number 6
+bindsym $mod+Shift+7 move container to workspace number 7
+bindsym $mod+Shift+8 move container to workspace number 8
+bindsym $mod+Shift+9 move container to workspace number 9
+## "scratchpad" = ??
+bindsym $mod+Shift+minus move scratchpad
+bindsym $mod+minus scratchpad show
+
+### defaults
+mode "resize" {
+  bindsym Down resize grow height 10 px
+  bindsym Escape mode default
+  bindsym Left resize shrink width 10 px
+  bindsym Return mode default
+  bindsym Right resize grow width 10 px
+  bindsym Up resize shrink height 10 px
+  bindsym h resize shrink width 10 px
+  bindsym j resize grow height 10 px
+  bindsym k resize shrink height 10 px
+  bindsym l resize grow width 10 px
+}
+
+### lightly modified bars
+bar {
+  mode dock
+  hidden_state hide
+  position top
+  status_command @status@
+  swaybar_command @waybar@
+  workspace_buttons yes
+  strip_workspace_numbers no
+  tray_output primary
+  colors {
+    background #000000
+    statusline #ffffff
+    separator #666666
+    #  #border #background #text
+    focused_workspace #4c7899 #285577 #ffffff
+    active_workspace #333333 #5f676a #ffffff
+    inactive_workspace #333333 #222222 #888888
+    urgent_workspace #2f343a #900000 #ffffff
+    binding_mode #2f343a #900000 #ffffff
+  }
+}
+
+### displays
+## DESKTOP
+output "Samsung Electric Company S22C300 0x00007F35" {
+  pos 0,0
+  res 1920x1080
+}
+output "Goldstar Company Ltd LG ULTRAWIDE 0x00004E94" {
+  pos 1920,0
+  res 3440x1440
+}
+
+## LAPTOP
+# sh/en TV
+output "Pioneer Electronic Corporation VSX-524 0x00000101" {
+  pos 0,0
+  res 1920x1080
+}
+# internal display
+output "Unknown 0x0637 0x00000000" {
+  pos 1920,0
+  res 1920x1080
+}
+
+# XXX: needed for xdg-desktop-portal-* to work.
+# this is how we expose these env vars to user dbus services:
+# - DISPLAY
+# - WAYLAND_DISPLAY
+# - SWAYSOCK
+# - XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
+# for more, see: <repo:nixos/nixpkgs:nixos/modules/programs/wayland/sway.nix>
+include /etc/sway/config.d/*
diff --git a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config.nix b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config.nix
index b879a1b4..6bd8afa6 100644
--- a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config.nix
+++ b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config.nix
@@ -3,200 +3,45 @@ let
   fuzzel = "${pkgs.fuzzel}/bin/fuzzel";
   sed = "${pkgs.gnused}/bin/sed";
   wtype = "${pkgs.wtype}/bin/wtype";
-  launcher-cmd = fuzzel;
-  terminal-cmd = "${pkgs.xdg-terminal-exec}/bin/xdg-terminal-exec";
-  lock-cmd = "${pkgs.swaylock}/bin/swaylock --indicator-idle-visible --indicator-radius 100 --indicator-thickness 30";
-  vol-up-cmd = "${pkgs.pulsemixer}/bin/pulsemixer --change-volume +5";
-  vol-down-cmd = "${pkgs.pulsemixer}/bin/pulsemixer --change-volume -5";
-  mute-cmd = "${pkgs.pulsemixer}/bin/pulsemixer --toggle-mute";
-  brightness-up-cmd = "${pkgs.brightnessctl}/bin/brightnessctl set +2%";
-  brightness-down-cmd = "${pkgs.brightnessctl}/bin/brightnessctl set 2%-";
-  screenshot-cmd = "${pkgs.sway-contrib.grimshot}/bin/grimshot copy area";
+  launcher_cmd = fuzzel;
+  terminal_cmd = "${pkgs.xdg-terminal-exec}/bin/xdg-terminal-exec";
+  lock_cmd = "${pkgs.swaylock}/bin/swaylock --indicator-idle-visible --indicator-radius 100 --indicator-thickness 30";
+  vol_up_cmd = "${pkgs.pulsemixer}/bin/pulsemixer --change-volume +5";
+  vol_down_cmd = "${pkgs.pulsemixer}/bin/pulsemixer --change-volume -5";
+  mute_cmd = "${pkgs.pulsemixer}/bin/pulsemixer --toggle-mute";
+  brightness_up_cmd = "${pkgs.brightnessctl}/bin/brightnessctl set +2%";
+  brightness_down_cmd = "${pkgs.brightnessctl}/bin/brightnessctl set 2%-";
+  screenshot_cmd = "${pkgs.sway-contrib.grimshot}/bin/grimshot copy area";
   # "bookmarking"/snippets inspired by Luke Smith:
   # - <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_11QaTlf1I>
-  snip-file = ../snippets.txt;
-  list-snips = "cat ${snip-file} ~/.config/sane-sway/snippets.txt";
-  strip-comments = "${sed} 's/ #.*$//'";
-  snip-cmd = "${wtype} $(${list-snips} | ${fuzzel} -d -i -w 60 | ${strip-comments})";
+  # TODO: snip_cmd is complex enough it should be its own package and not embedded -- pipes and all -- into the sway config
+  snip_file = ../snippets.txt;
+  list_snips = "cat ${snip_file} ~/.config/sane-sway/snippets.txt";
+  strip_comments = "${sed} 's/ #.*$//'";
+  snip_cmd = "${wtype} $(${list_snips} | ${fuzzel} -d -i -w 60 | ${strip_comments})";
   # TODO: splatmoji release > 1.2.0 should allow `-s none` to disable skin tones
-  emoji-cmd = "${pkgs.splatmoji}/bin/splatmoji -s medium-light type";
+  emoji_cmd = "${pkgs.splatmoji}/bin/splatmoji -s medium-light type";
 
   # mod = "Mod1";  # Alt
   mod = "Mod4";  # Super (Logo key)
   xwayland = "disable";
-in ''
-  # xwayland enable|disable|force
-  # - enable: lazily launch xwayland on first client connection
-  # - disable: never launch xwayland
-  # - force: launch xwayland immediately on boot
-  # XWayland exposes a X11 server that translates the protocol to a wayland backend, allowing legacy x11-only GUI apps.
-  # XWayland uses about 35MB RSS even when idle
-  xwayland ${xwayland}
-
-  set $mod ${mod}
-  set $term ${terminal-cmd}
-  set $menu ${launcher-cmd}
-  set $emoji_picker ${emoji-cmd}
-  set $locker ${lock-cmd}
-  set $snippets_picker ${snip-cmd}
-  set $screenshot ${screenshot-cmd}
-  set $brightness_up ${brightness-up-cmd}
-  set $brightness_down ${brightness-down-cmd}
-  set $volume_up ${vol-up-cmd}
-  set $volume_down ${vol-down-cmd}
-  set $mute ${mute-cmd}
-
-  ### default font
-  font pango:monospace 8
-
-  ### pixel boundary between windows
-  default_border pixel 3
-  default_floating_border pixel 2
-  hide_edge_borders smart
-
-  #### focus_wrapping: behavior when trying to focus past the edge of a container
-  ####   no  => preserve last focus. helpful mostly when `focus_follows_mouse yes`
-  focus_wrapping no
-  focus_follows_mouse yes
-  #### workspace_layout default  => workspaces use splits by default (as opposed to e.g. tabbed)
-  workspace_layout default
-
-  ### default colors (#border #background #text #indicator #childBorder)
-  client.focused #4c7899 #285577 #ffffff #2e9ef4 #285577
-  client.focused_inactive #333333 #5f676a #ffffff #484e50 #5f676a
-  client.unfocused #333333 #222222 #888888 #292d2e #222222
-  client.urgent #2f343a #900000 #ffffff #900000 #900000
-  client.placeholder #000000 #0c0c0c #ffffff #000000 #0c0c0c
-  client.background #ffffff
-
-  ### key bindings
-  floating_modifier $mod
-  ## media keys
-  bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec $volume_up
-  bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec $volume_down
-  bindsym $mod+Page_Up exec $volume_up
-  bindsym $mod+Page_Down exec $volume_down
-  bindsym XF86AudioMute exec $mute
-  bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec $brightness_up
-  bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec $brightness_down
-  ## special functions
-  bindsym $mod+Print exec $screenshot
-  bindsym $mod+l exec $locker
-  bindsym $mod+s exec $snippets_picker
-  bindsym $mod+slash exec $emoji_picker
-  bindsym $mod+d exec $menu
-  bindsym $mod+Return exec $term
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+q kill
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec swaynag -t warning -m 'You pressed the exit shortcut. Do you really want to exit sway? This will end your Wayland session.' -b 'Yes, exit sway' 'swaymsg exit'
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+c reload
-  ## layout
-  bindsym $mod+b splith
-  bindsym $mod+v splitv
-  bindsym $mod+f fullscreen toggle
-  bindsym $mod+a focus parent
-  bindsym $mod+w layout tabbed
-  bindsym $mod+e layout toggle split
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+space floating toggle
-  bindsym $mod+space focus mode_toggle
-  bindsym $mod+r mode resize
-  ## movement
-  bindsym $mod+Up focus up
-  bindsym $mod+Down focus down
-  bindsym $mod+Left focus left
-  bindsym $mod+Right focus right
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+Up move up
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+Down move down
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+Left move left
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+Right move right
-  ## workspaces
-  bindsym $mod+1 workspace number 1
-  bindsym $mod+2 workspace number 2
-  bindsym $mod+3 workspace number 3
-  bindsym $mod+4 workspace number 4
-  bindsym $mod+5 workspace number 5
-  bindsym $mod+6 workspace number 6
-  bindsym $mod+7 workspace number 7
-  bindsym $mod+8 workspace number 8
-  bindsym $mod+9 workspace number 9
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+1 move container to workspace number 1
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+2 move container to workspace number 2
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+3 move container to workspace number 3
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+4 move container to workspace number 4
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+5 move container to workspace number 5
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+6 move container to workspace number 6
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+7 move container to workspace number 7
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+8 move container to workspace number 8
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+9 move container to workspace number 9
-  ## "scratchpad" = ??
-  bindsym $mod+Shift+minus move scratchpad
-  bindsym $mod+minus scratchpad show
-
-  ### defaults
-  mode "resize" {
-    bindsym Down resize grow height 10 px
-    bindsym Escape mode default
-    bindsym Left resize shrink width 10 px
-    bindsym Return mode default
-    bindsym Right resize grow width 10 px
-    bindsym Up resize shrink height 10 px
-    bindsym h resize shrink width 10 px
-    bindsym j resize grow height 10 px
-    bindsym k resize shrink height 10 px
-    bindsym l resize grow width 10 px
-  }
-
-  ### lightly modified bars
-  bar {
-    mode dock
-    hidden_state hide
-    position top
-    status_command ${pkgs.i3status}/bin/i3status
-    swaybar_command ${pkgs.waybar}/bin/waybar
-    workspace_buttons yes
-    strip_workspace_numbers no
-    tray_output primary
-    colors {
-      background #000000
-      statusline #ffffff
-      separator #666666
-      #  #border #background #text
-      focused_workspace #4c7899 #285577 #ffffff
-      active_workspace #333333 #5f676a #ffffff
-      inactive_workspace #333333 #222222 #888888
-      urgent_workspace #2f343a #900000 #ffffff
-      binding_mode #2f343a #900000 #ffffff
-    }
-  }
-
-  ### displays
-  ## DESKTOP
-  output "Samsung Electric Company S22C300 0x00007F35" {
-    pos 0,0
-    res 1920x1080
-  }
-  output "Goldstar Company Ltd LG ULTRAWIDE 0x00004E94" {
-    pos 1920,0
-    res 3440x1440
-  }
-
-  ## LAPTOP
-  # sh/en TV
-  output "Pioneer Electronic Corporation VSX-524 0x00000101" {
-    pos 0,0
-    res 1920x1080
-  }
-  # internal display
-  output "Unknown 0x0637 0x00000000" {
-    pos 1920,0
-    res 1920x1080
-  }
-
-  # XXX: needed for xdg-desktop-portal-* to work.
-  # this is how we expose these env vars to user dbus services:
-  # - DISPLAY
-  # - WAYLAND_DISPLAY
-  # - SWAYSOCK
-  # - XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
-  # for more, see: <repo:nixos/nixpkgs:nixos/modules/programs/wayland/sway.nix>
-  include /etc/sway/config.d/*
-''
+in pkgs.substituteAll {
+  src = ./sway-config;
+  inherit
+    brightness_down_cmd
+    brightness_up_cmd
+    emoji_cmd
+    launcher_cmd
+    lock_cmd
+    mod
+    mute_cmd
+    screenshot_cmd
+    snip_cmd
+    terminal_cmd
+    vol_down_cmd
+    vol_up_cmd
+    xwayland
+  ;
+  status = "${pkgs.i3status}/bin/i3status";
+  waybar = "${pkgs.waybar}/bin/waybar";
+}