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| howtos:i3wm [2012/09/04 18:57 (UTC)] – [i3status] Added a link to TaskWarrior sycamorex | howtos:i3wm [2012/09/24 14:48 (UTC)] – [i3status] fixed a link sycamorex |
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| ===== i3 Tiling Window Manager ===== | ===== i3 Tiling Window Manager ===== |
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| i3 is a very lightweight, flexible and customisable tiling [[slackware:window_manager|window manager]] with excellent multi-monitor support. Tiling window managers aim at maximising the screen space by tiling all opened windows in a non-overlapping mode. As all the bells and whistles of traditional desktops are virtually non-existent in tiling window managers, they have a very minimalist look and are mostly keyboard-focused. If the concept of tiling window managers is still puzzling, please check the i3 official [[http://www.i3wm.org/screenshots/|screencast]]. | i3 is a very lightweight, flexible and customisable tiling [[slackware:window_manager|window manager]] with excellent multi-monitor support. Tiling window managers aim at maximising the screen space by tiling all opened windows in a non-overlapping mode. As all the bells and whistles of traditional desktops are virtually non-existent in tiling window managers, they have a very minimalist look and are mostly keyboard-focused. If the concept of tiling window managers is still puzzling, please check the official i3 [[http://www.i3wm.org/screenshots/|screencast]]. |
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| ==== i3 in Slackware==== | ==== i3 in Slackware==== |
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| Slackware does not come with the i3 window manager. The installation process, however, is a quick an easy one. i3 is available from [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/desktop/i3/|SlackBuilds]].You can build and install the dependencies using [[http://docs.slackware.com/howtos:lets_build_a_slackbuild|this]] tutorial or via [[http://www.sbopkg.org/|sbopkg]], a SlackBuild browser. | Slackware does not come with the i3 window manager. The installation process, however, is a quick an easy one. i3 is available from [[http://slackbuilds.org/desktop/i3/|SlackBuilds]].You can build and install the dependencies using [[http://docs.slackware.com/howtos:lets_build_a_slackbuild|this]] tutorial or via [[http://www.sbopkg.org/|sbopkg]], a SlackBuild browser. |
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| ==== i3 Dependencies ==== | ==== i3 Dependencies ==== |
| All i3's dependencies are also available from [[http://slackbuilds.org|SlackBuilds]]: | All i3's dependencies are also available from [[http://slackbuilds.org|SlackBuilds]]: |
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| * [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/libraries/libev/|libev]] | * [[http://slackbuilds.org/libraries/libev/|libev]] |
| * [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/libraries/yajl/|yajl]] | * [[http://slackbuilds.org/libraries/yajl/|yajl]] |
| * [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/desktop/dmenu/|dmenu]] | * [[http://slackbuilds.org/desktop/dmenu/|dmenu]] |
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| It is also highly recommended to install [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/desktop/i3status/|i3status]] and its dependency [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/libraries/confuse/|confuse]]. | It is also highly recommended to install [[http://slackbuilds.org/desktop/i3status/|i3status]] and its dependency [[http://slackbuilds.org/libraries/confuse/|confuse]]. |
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| ==== Starting i3 ==== | ==== Starting i3 ==== |
| <Esc> No, I will use the defaults</code> | <Esc> No, I will use the defaults</code> |
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| Let the wizard generate the config file. You'll then face another dillema: | Let the wizard generate the config file. You'll then face another dilemma: |
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| <code>Please choose either: | <code>Please choose either: |
| <ESC> to abort</code> | <ESC> to abort</code> |
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| Use the ''Win'' and ''Alt'' keys to switch between the modifiers and choose one of them. In this tutorial I use Alt as the default modifier (I use ''Win'' for all sorts of custom keybindigs to avoid and clashes with i3 or other applications). | Use the <key>Win</key> and <key>Alt</key> keys to switch between the modifiers and choose one of them. In this tutorial I use <key>Alt</key> as the default modifier (I use <key>Win</key> for all sorts of custom keybindigs to avoid any clashes with i3 or other applications). |
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| <note>Please note that if you've changed the keyboard layout since the wizard automatically generated the config file, you might have to revisit the config file and manually modify the keybindings</note> | <note>Please note that if you have changed the keyboard layout since the wizard automatically generated the config file, you might have to revisit the config file and manually modify the keybindings</note> |
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| === Changing i3 Modifier Key(s) === | === Changing i3 Modifier Key(s) === |
| It is easy to change or add i3 modifiers. Right at the top of the ''~/.i3/config'' file you'll see: | It is easy to change or add i3 modifiers. Right at the top of the ''~/.i3/config'' file you'll see: |
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| ''Alt'' as the default modifier: | <key>Alt</key> as the default modifier: |
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| <code> set $mod Mod1</code> | <code>set $mod Mod1</code> |
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| Or ''Win'' as the default modifier: | Or <key>Win</key> as the default modifier: |
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| <code> set $mod Mod4</code> | <code>set $mod Mod4</code> |
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| You can also configure a secondary modifier assigning it to a variable (eg. $ms): | You can also configure a secondary modifier assigning it to a variable (eg. ''$ms''): |
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| <code>set $mod Mod1 | <code>set $mod Mod1 |
| === Keybindings for Most Common Activities and Applications === | === Keybindings for Most Common Activities and Applications === |
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| The following are some basic keybindings to help you get started. | The following are some basic keybindings to help you get started. For a full map of default keybindings see [[http://www.i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#_default_keybindings|here]] or consult a very thoroughly commented ''config'' file located in ''~/.i3/''. |
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| == Terminal == | == Terminal == |
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| Pressing Alt+Return launches a terminal which in Slackware defaults to ''xterm''. If you want to change it, modify the following line: | Pressing <key>Alt+Return</key> launches a terminal which in Slackware defaults to ''xterm''. If you want to change it, modify the following line: |
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| <code>bindsym $mod+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal</code> | <code>bindsym $mod+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal</code> |
| == Close a Window == | == Close a Window == |
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| <code>Alt+Shift+Q</code> | <key>Alt+Shift+q</key> |
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| == Go to a Given Workspace == | == Go to a Given Workspace == |
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| <code>Alt+2</code> | <key>Alt+2</key> |
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| In this instance we go to Workspace 2. | In this instance we go to ''Workspace 2''. |
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| == Reload the Config == | == Reload the Config == |
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| <code>Alt+Shift+C</code> | <key>Alt+Shift+c</key> |
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| == Restart i3 == | == Restart i3 == |
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| <code>Alt+Shift+R</code> | <key>Alt+Shift+r</key> |
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| == Quit i3 == | == Quit i3 == |
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| <code>Alt+Shift+E</code> | <key>Alt+Shift+e</key> |
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| === Adding Your Own Keybindings === | === Adding Your Own Keybindings === |
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| If you want to launch Firefox using ''Alt+b'', add the following to ''~/.i3/config'': | If you want to launch Firefox using <key>Alt+b</key>, add the following to ''~/.i3/config'': |
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| <code>bindsym $mod+b exec /usr/bin/firefox</code> | <code>bindsym $mod+b exec /usr/bin/firefox</code> |
| === Opening Other Applications === | === Opening Other Applications === |
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| The ''Alt+d'' keybinding launches dmenu where you can type a program you want to run. | The <key>Alt+d</key> keybinding launches ''dmenu'' where you can type a program you want to run. |
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| === Keyboard Layout === | === Keyboard Layout === |
| ==== i3status ==== | ==== i3status ==== |
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| [[http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.37/desktop/i3status/|i3status]] is a status bar generator which will help you display all sorts of information. | [[http://slackbuilds.org/desktop/i3status/|i3status]] is a status bar generator which will help you display all sorts of information. |
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| Once you've started i3, you should see a status bar at the bottom of the screen. To start customising it, copy /etc/i3status.conf to ~/.i3status.conf where you can place your changes. The configuration is pretty straightforward. You can comment out any modules you don't want to be displayed: | Once you've started i3, you should see a status bar at the bottom of the screen. To start customising it, copy ''/etc/i3status.conf'' to ''~/.i3status.conf'' where you can place your changes. The configuration is pretty straightforward. You can comment out any modules you don't want to be displayed: |
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| <code># order = "ipv6" | <code># order = "ipv6" |
| }</code> | }</code> |
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| === Custom i3status Display === | ==== Custom i3status Display ==== |
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| By default ''i3status'' functionality is somewhat limited. The fact that the basic configuration offers only a handful of predefined functions does not, however, prevent you from customising it to include your own scripts. | By default ''i3status'' functionality is somewhat limited. The fact that the basic configuration offers only a handful of predefined functions does not, however, prevent you from customising it to include your own scripts. |
| ==== i3 Support ==== | ==== i3 Support ==== |
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| Apart from excellent [[http://www.i3wm.org/docs/|documentation]] both for i3 users and developers, you can also get support: | Apart from excellent [[http://www.i3wm.org/docs/|documentation]] both for i3 users and developers, you can also get support in the following places: |
| * Subscribe to the [[i3-discuss-subscribe@i3.zekjur.net|mailing list]] (Browse [[http://infra.in.zekjur.net/archives/i3-discuss/|archives]]) | * Subscribe to the [[i3-discuss-subscribe@i3.zekjur.net|mailing list]] (Browse [[http://infra.in.zekjur.net/archives/i3-discuss/|archives]]) |
| * Join i3 IRC channel (#i3 on irc.twice-irc.de) | * Join i3 IRC channel (#i3 on irc.twice-irc.de) |
| * Register with the recently created stackexchange-like [[http://faq.i3wm.org/questions/|FAQ section]] | * Register with the recently created stackexchange-like [[http://faq.i3wm.org/questions/|FAQ section]] |
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| ====== Sources ====== | ====== Sources ====== |
| * Originally written by [[wiki:user:sycamorex |sycamorex]] | * Originally written by [[wiki:user:sycamorex |Marcin Herda]] |
| <!-- * Contrbutions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] --> | <!-- * Contrbutions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] --> |
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| <!-- Please do not modify anything below, except adding new tags.--> | <!-- Please do not modify anything below, except adding new tags.--> |
| <!-- You must also remove the tag-word "template" below. Otherwise your page will not show up in the Table of Contents --> | <!-- You must also remove the tag-word "template" below. Otherwise your page will not show up in the Table of Contents --> |
| {{tag>howtos i3 i3status wm software}} | {{tag>howtos i3 i3status wm software author_sycamorex}} |
