Discovering great i3wm : got some hints ?

Tonus · 01-07-2016, 02:43 PM

Hi,

I just discovered i3wm and haven't wait a day to make it my daily wm.

Since comming from plasma / kde5, the jump is quite huge and I was wondering if i3 users could give advices on few subjects :

What config hints do you use (hard to elaborate, easy ones are in the documentation ;-) ) ?

How did you customize your bar (what apps have valuable tray icons, what infos did you add / removed) ?

Did you replaced some apps or found well fitting ones ? For instance, I still use Kontact / Korganizer but not satisfied...

For information, I run Slackware current and use i3-4.8 slackbuild from sbo.

sycamorex · 01-07-2016, 04:45 PM

Hi,

i3wm is indeed a great environment to work in. I have written a few posts about it. You might find something useful there:
http://www.slackword.net/?cat=26

Tonus · 01-07-2016, 05:51 PM

Thanks for your answer sycamorex, good to know you noticed the thread.

I am already digging in your blog that I've found following your signature :-)

I've got one preoccupation for now : make qt windows look smarter...

But I'm already investigating the save/restore layouts thing following your blog post !

Myk267 · 01-13-2016, 03:07 PM

I greatly improved my i3 experience by disabling the tabbed and stacked modes.

Code:

bindsym $mod+s mode "default"
bindsym $mod+w mode "default"

sycamorex · 01-13-2016, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myk267

I greatly improved my i3 experience by disabling the tabbed and stacked modes.

Code:

bindsym $mod+s mode "default"
bindsym $mod+w mode "default"

I must say I do use the tabbed mode quite often. On some workspaces as the main mode, on others as a part of a bigger tiled arrangement.

Tonus · 01-14-2016, 02:55 PM

I haven't yet used those.

I think I solved my main problems :
Got saving and restoring layouts to works (had to undertstand I had to delete all comments)
Sound Keys work (now use % instead of dB)
Use xfce4-power-manager to at least suspend again when closing the laptop's lid

But I'm still looking after some improvements :
$mod + shift + s doesn't work
I'd like to have a conky style display of my todo.txt and what I 've got in a terminal window isn' t good enough (not refreshing)
Have to investigate further i3blocks and i3status
Have to have a close look at slock and the power management to get rid of the ugly white screen
Have to test telinit 4

If you have some ideas on how to do those tasks a smarter way, feel free to comment !

Btw, do you considered testing some i3 fork ?

BW-userx · 01-14-2016, 03:43 PM

Two, 2, count them 2 HOT Keys

Code:

#Mod key is left ALT key
set $mod Mod1

# sup is windows key
set $sup Mod4

for systray I use i3status Modded to my needs

Code:

####################################
# SYSTEM TRAY                      #
####################################
# system tray items
exec --no-startup-id xfce4-power-manager
exec --no-startup-id volumeicon
exec --no-startup-id radiotray
exec --no-startup-id dropbox start
exec --no-startup-id nm-applet

to place dmenu on bottom of screen

Code:

# start dmenu (a program launcher)
bindcode $mod+40 exec dmenu_run "-b"

if you want to get rid of that "do you really want to exit message, and be able to just exit i3 then comment this line out.

Code:

# exit i3 (logs you out of your X session)

#bindcode $mod+Shift+26 exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'You pressed the exit shortcut. Do you really want to exit i3? This will end your X session.' -b 'Yes, exit i3' 'i3-msg exit'"

then add this one

Code:

## CHANGED TO JUST GET OUT OF SESSION
bindcode $mod+Shift+26 exit

to always have a window open in float mode

Code:

###################################
# enable floating mode for windows
###################################
#for_window [class=" "] floating enable
for_window [class="MPlayer"] floating enable
for_window [class="VirtualBox"] floating enable
for_window [class="Lazarus"] floating enable

Notice first letter of app name is not always lowercase to get it to work. so if it doesn't work for an app one way try changing the first letter from cap to lower case ot visa versa -- I've found it needs to be spelled how ever it shows up in the title bar of the app.

change default terminal is easy too, just install what ever one you want to use then replace it from the old one.

Code:

# start a terminal
#bindcode $mod+36 exec i3-sensible-terminal
bindcode  $mod+36 exec terminator

using your F keys

Code:

bindsym F5  exec --no-startup-id terminology
bindsym F12 exec --no-startup-id pavucontrol
bindsym F4  exec --no-startup-id avidemux

Just be sure that the system is not using an F key for something else before you program it for another app.

with your two HOT keys you can set your personal apps with $sup to help not get confused and/or add more avalable keyboard short cuts keys to use

Code:

#$sup keys 

bindsym $sup+a exec --no-startup-id audacious
bindsym $sup+Shift+s exec --no-startup-id xfce4-screenshooter

#$mod keys, default system setup
# change focus
bindcode $mod+44 focus left
bindcode $mod+45 focus down
bindcode $mod+46 focus up
bindcode $mod+47 focus right

BW-userx · 01-14-2016, 03:55 PM

i3status bar example

Code:

general {
        
        colors = true
        interval = 1
}

## to set what order shows
order += "cpu_usage"
order += "disk /"
order += "disk /home/userx"
order += "disk /media/data"
#swap drive
order += "disk /dev/sda1"
order += "battery 0"
order += "load"
order += "wireless wlp3s0"
order += "tztime local"

# functions can be written in any order whatsoever
# as long as syntext is correct it will work

cpu_usage {
         format = "CPU: usage"
         }
  
battery 0 {
# format = "status %percentage %remaining %emptytime"
        format = "%status %percentage"
        path = "/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/uevent"
        low_threshold = 10
}

wireless wlp3s0 {
        format_up = "WiFi: (%quality at %essid, %bitrate) %ip"
        format_down = "WiFi: down"
}

run_watch VPNC {
        # file containing the PID of a vpnc process
        pidfile = "/var/run/vpnc/pid"
}

path_exists VPN {
        # path exists when a VPN tunnel launched by nmcli/nm-applet is active
        path = "/proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/tun0"
}

tztime local {
        format = "%a %Y-%m-%d %I:%M:%S %P"
}
 
load {
        format = "Load: %5min"
}
#Swap
disk "/dev/sda1" {
		format = "SWaP: %percentage_used used"
}

#Root disk #%percentage_free
disk "/" {
        format = "Rt: %avail free"
}
#user space #%percentage_free
disk "/home/userx" {
		format = "U: %avail free"
		}
#disk two space # %percentage_free
disk "/media/data" {
		format = "sdb1: %avail free"
		}

to set up i3statusBar. save it as .i3status.conf I keep mine in my ~/.i3status.conf -- then add it to .i3/config

Code:

# Start i3bar to display a workspace bar (plus the system information i3status

bar {
         
        #status_command $HOME/.i3/conkey-i3statusbar

        status_command i3status 

        position top        

        font Tetminus 
       
    colors {
       background #000000     
       statusline #FFFFFF
       separator  #2F4F4F

       # class              border  backgrd text

        focused_workspace  #FF0000 #000000 #FFFFFF
        inactive_workspace #000000 #000000 #FF0000
              
        urgent_workspace   #d72f6b #d70a53 #FFFF50
        active_workspace   #ff2f6b #FFFAFA #000000
     }
}

color code is to set color of them blocks that show which VdeskTop number has an app opened on it.