putting this here so I don't forget before I actually write the full page

first, install dependencies as specified by the ly github, including the CORRECT VERSION OF ZIG

git clone repo

change directory to ly folder

run ./zig build, but not before putting in a dummy 'main' flag in the ly build.zig file

run sudo ./zig build installsystemd

disable previous login manager if needed (i.e. sudo systemctl disable sddm.service)

enable ly with sudo systemctl enable ly.service

run ./zig build run to test

and if it brings it up, you're good to go. optionally edit config.ini

KEEP IN MIND:

reference the official github page's instructions wherever possible. my instructions are just what worked for me when the official instructions resulted in errors

if zig is not in your $path, you should just point to it with directory indicators, e.g. ~/Downloads/zig/ and then follow the last slash with a ./zig to run the program directly. wherever this tutorial specifies the action of "./zig", this is what you do. (e.g. ~/Downloads/zig/./zig)