dotfiles/Desktop.org

Desktop

• i3wm
  • General settings
  • Managing windows
  • Workspaces
  • Rules
  • Scratchpad
    • Launch script
    • i3 config
  • Gaps & borders
    • Keybindings
  • Move & resize windows
  • [OFF] Intergration with dmenu
  • Integration with rofi
  • Launching apps & misc keybindings
    • Apps
    • Media controls & brightness
    • Screenshots
  • Colors
  • [OFF] i3blocks
  • Keyboard Layout
  • Autostart

My general desktop environment configuration.

Parts prefexed with [OFF] are not used, but kept for historic purposes. For some reason GitHub's org renderer ignores TODO status, hence such a prefix.

Most of the colors are from the Palenight theme. Colorcodes are taken from this repo:

Color	Default	Lighter
Black	#292d3e	#434758
Red	#f07178	#ff8b92
Green	#c3e88d	#ddffa7
Yellow	#ffcb6b	#ffe585
Blue	#82aaff	#9cc4ff
Magenta	#c792ea	#e1acff
Cyan	#89ddff	#a3f7ff
White	#d0d0d0	#ffffff

i3wm

i3wm is a manual tiling window manager, which is currently my window manager of choice. I've tried several alternatives, including xmonad & EXWM, but i3 seems to fit my workflow best.

i3-gaps is a i3 fork with a few features like window gaps. I like to enable inner gaps when there is at least one container in a workspace.

References:

• i3wm docs
• i3-gaps wiki

General settings

set $mod Mod4
font pango:monospace 10

# Use Mouse+$mod to drag floating windows to their wanted position
floating_modifier $mod

# Move cursor between monitors
mouse_warping output

# Apply XFCE Settings
exec xfsettingsd
exec xiccd

# Most needed keybindigs
# reload the configuration file
bindsym $mod+Shift+c reload

# restart i3 inplace (preserves your layout/session, can be used to upgrade i3)
bindsym $mod+Shift+r restart

# exit i3 (logs you out of your X session)
bindsym $mod+Shift+e 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'"

Managing windows

# kill focused window
bindsym $mod+Shift+q kill

# change focus
bindsym $mod+h focus left
bindsym $mod+j focus down
bindsym $mod+k focus up
bindsym $mod+l focus right

# alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym $mod+Left focus left
bindsym $mod+Down focus down
bindsym $mod+Up focus up
bindsym $mod+Right focus right

# move focused window
bindsym $mod+Shift+h move left
bindsym $mod+Shift+j move down
bindsym $mod+Shift+k move up
bindsym $mod+Shift+l move right

# alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym $mod+Shift+Left move left
bindsym $mod+Shift+Down move down
bindsym $mod+Shift+Up move up
bindsym $mod+Shift+Right move right

# split in horizontal orientation
bindsym $mod+s split h

# split in vertical orientation
bindsym $mod+v split v

# enter fullscreen mode for the focused container
bindsym $mod+f fullscreen toggle

# change container layout (stacked, tabbed, toggle split)
bindsym $mod+w layout stacking
bindsym $mod+t layout tabbed
bindsym $mod+e layout toggle split

# toggle tiling / floating
bindsym $mod+Shift+f floating toggle

bindsym $mod+Tab move workspace to output right
bindsym $mod+q focus output right

# change focus between tiling / floating windows
# bindsym $mod+space focus mode_toggle

# focus the parent container
bindsym $mod+a focus parent

# focus the child container
bindsym $mod+Shift+A focus child

Workspaces

set $w1 "1 🚀"
set $w2 "2 🌍"
set $w3 "3 💬"
set $w4 "4 🛠️️"
set $w7 "7 🛰️"
set $w8 "8 📝"
set $w9 "9 🎵"
set $w10 "10 📦"

bindsym $mod+1 workspace $w1
bindsym $mod+2 workspace $w2
bindsym $mod+3 workspace $w3
bindsym $mod+4 workspace $w4
bindsym $mod+5 workspace 5
bindsym $mod+6 workspace 6
bindsym $mod+7 workspace $w7
bindsym $mod+8 workspace $w8
bindsym $mod+9 workspace $w9
bindsym $mod+0 workspace $w10

# move focused container to workspace
bindsym $mod+Shift+1 move container to workspace $w1
bindsym $mod+Shift+2 move container to workspace $w2
bindsym $mod+Shift+3 move container to workspace $w3
bindsym $mod+Shift+4 move container to workspace $w4
bindsym $mod+Shift+5 move container to workspace 5
bindsym $mod+Shift+6 move container to workspace 6
bindsym $mod+Shift+7 move container to workspace $w7
bindsym $mod+Shift+8 move container to workspace $w8
bindsym $mod+Shift+9 move container to workspace $w9
bindsym $mod+Shift+0 move container to workspace $w10

# Cycle workspaces
bindsym $mod+comma workspace prev
bindsym $mod+period workspace next

Rules

Rules to automatically assign applications to workspaces and do other stuff, like enable floating.

Most apps can be distinguished by a WM class (you can get one with xprop), but in some cases it doesn't work, e.g. for terminal applications. In that case rules can be based on a window title, for instance.

However, watch out for the following: rule such as for_window [title="ncmpcpp.*"] move to workspace $w9 will move any windows with a title, starting with ncmpcpp to workspace $w9, which, for instance, may move your browser there if you google "ncmpcpp".

assign [class="Emacs"] $w1
assign [class="qutebrowser"] $w2
assign [class="firefox"] $w2
assign [class="VK"] $w3
assign [class="Slack"] $w3
assign [class="discord"] $w3
assign [class="TelegramDesktop"] $w3
assign [class="Postman"] $w4
assign [class="Chromium-browse"] $w4
assign [class="chromium"] $w4
assign [class="google-chrome"] $w4
assign [title="Vue Developer Tools"] $w4
assign [class="Google Play Music Desktop Player"] $w9
assign [class="jetbrains-datagrip"] $w4
assign [class="zoom"] $w7
assign [class="skype"] $w7
assign [class="Mailspring"] $w8
assign [class="Thunderbird"] $w8
assign [class="Joplin"] $w8
assign [class="keepassxc"] $w10

for_window [title="VirtScreen"] floating enable

for_window [title="ncmpcpp.*"] move to workspace $w9
for_window [title="newsboat.*"] move to workspace $w9
for_window [title=".*run_wego"] move to workspace $w9
for_window [class="cinnamon-settings*"] floating enable
for_window [title="Picture-in-Picture"] sticky enable

Scratchpad

Scratch terminal, inspired by this Luke Smith's video.

Launch script

First of all, we have to distinguish scratchpad terminal from a normal one. To do that, one can create st with a required classname.

Then, it would be cool not to duplicate scratchpads, so the following script first looks for a window with a created classname. If it exists, the script just toggles the scratchpad visibilty. Otherwise, a new instance of a window is created.

CLASSNAME="dropdown_tmux"
COMMAND="st -n $CLASSNAME -e tmux new-session -s $CLASSNAME"
pid=$(xdotool search --classname "dropdown_tmux")
if [[ ! -z $pid  ]]; then
    i3-msg scratchpad show
else
    setsid -f ${COMMAND}
fi

i3 config

# Scratchpad
for_window [instance="dropdown_*"] floating enable
for_window [instance="dropdown_*"] move scratchpad
for_window [instance="dropdown_*"] sticky enable
for_window [instance="dropdown_*"] scratchpad show
for_window [instance="dropdown_*"] move position center

bindsym $mod+u exec ~/bin/scripts/dropdown

Gaps & borders

The main reason to use i3-gaps

# Borders
# for_window [class=".*"] border pixel 0
default_border pixel 3
hide_edge_borders both

# Gaps
set $default_inner 10
set $default_outer 0

gaps inner $default_inner
gaps outer $default_outer

smart_gaps on

Keybindings

mode "inner gaps" {
    bindsym plus gaps inner current plus 5
    bindsym minus gaps inner current minus 5
    bindsym Shift+plus gaps inner all plus 5
    bindsym Shift+minus gaps inner all minus 5
    bindsym 0 gaps inner current set 0
    bindsym Shift+0 gaps inner all set 0

    bindsym r gaps inner current set $default_inner
    bindsym Shift+r gaps inner all set $default_inner

    bindsym Return mode "default"
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
}

mode "outer gaps" {
    bindsym plus gaps outer current plus 5
    bindsym minus gaps outer current minus 5
    bindsym Shift+plus gaps outer all plus 5
    bindsym Shift+minus gaps outer all minus 5
    bindsym 0 gaps outer current set 0
    bindsym Shift+0 gaps outer all set 0

    bindsym r gaps outer current set $default_outer
    bindsym Shift+r gaps outer all set $default_outer

    bindsym Return mode "default"
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
}

bindsym $mod+g mode "inner gaps"
bindsym $mod+Shift+g mode "outer gaps"

Move & resize windows

More or less standard set of keybindings to move & resize floating windows.

Just be careful to always make a way to return from these new modes, otherwise you'd end up in a rather precarious position.

# resize window (you can also use the mouse for that)
mode "resize" {
    # These bindings trigger as soon as you enter the resize mode

    bindsym h resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym j resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym k resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym l resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt

    bindsym Shift+h resize shrink width 100 px or 100 ppt
    bindsym Shift+j resize grow height 100 px or 100 ppt
    bindsym Shift+k resize shrink height 100 px or 100 ppt
    bindsym Shift+l resize grow width 100 px or 100 ppt

    # same bindings, but for the arrow keys
    bindsym Left resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym Down resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym Up resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym Right resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt

    bindsym Shift+Left resize shrink width 100 px or 100 ppt
    bindsym Shift+Down resize grow height 100 px or 100 ppt
    bindsym Shift+Up resize shrink height 100 px or 100 ppt
    bindsym Shift+Right resize grow width 100 px or 100 ppt

    # back to normal: Enter or Escape
    bindsym Return mode "default"
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
}

bindsym $mod+r mode "resize"

mode "move" {
    bindsym $mod+Tab focus right

    bindsym Left  move left
    bindsym Down  move down
    bindsym Up    move up
    bindsym Right move right

    bindsym h     move left
    bindsym j     move down
    bindsym k     move up
    bindsym l     move right

    # back to normal: Enter or Escape
    bindsym Return mode "default"
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
}

bindsym $mod+m mode "move" focus floating

OFF [OFF] Intergration with dmenu

dmenu is a dynamic menu program for X. I've opted out of using in favour of rofi, but here is a relevant bit of config.

Scripts are located in the bin/scripts folder.

# dmenu
bindsym $mod+d exec i3-dmenu-desktop --dmenu="dmenu -l 10"
bindsym $mod+apostrophe mode "dmenu"

mode "dmenu" {
    bindsym d exec i3-dmenu-desktop --dmenu="dmenu -l 10"; mode default
    bindsym p exec dmenu_run -l 10; mode default
    bindsym m exec dmenu-man; mode default
    bindsym b exec dmenu-buku; mode default
    bindsym f exec dmenu-explore; mode default
    bindsym t exec dmenu-tmuxp; mode default
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
}

bindsym $mod+b exec --no-startup-id dmenu-buku

Integration with rofi

Keybindings to launch rofi. For more detail, look the /sqrtminusone/dotfiles/src/commit/d869192bf14ab2ee9d68c633bb4644588d357a27/*Rofi section.

bindsym $mod+d exec "rofi -modi 'drun,run' -show drun"
bindsym $mod+b exec --no-startup-id rofi-buku-mine

bindsym $mod+apostrophe mode "rofi"

mode "rofi" {
    bindsym d exec "rofi -modi 'drun,run' -show drun"
    bindsym m exec rofi-man; mode default
    bindsym b exec rofi-buku-mine; mode default
    bindsym k exec rofi-keepassxc -d ~/MEGAsync/Passwords.kdbx; mode default
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
}

Launching apps & misc keybindings

I prefer to use a separate mode to launch most of my apps, with some exceptions.

Apps

# Launch apps
# start a terminal at workspace 1
bindsym $mod+Return exec "i3-msg 'workspace 1 🚀; exec st'"

bindsym $mod+p exec "copyq menu"
bindsym $mod+Shift+x exec "i3lock -f -i /home/pavel/Pictures/lock-wallpaper-2-1.png"

bindsym $mod+semicolon mode "apps"

mode "apps" {
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
    bindsym b exec firefox; mode default
    bindsym v exec vk-messenger; mode default
    bindsym s exec slack; mode default;
    bindsym m exec "st -e ncmpcpp"; mode default
    bindsym c exec "copyq toggle"; mode default
    bindsym k exec "keepassxc"; mode default
    # bindsym e exec mailspring; mode default
    bindsym a exec "bash /home/pavel/bin/emacs.sh"; mode default
    bindsym n exec "st -e newsboat"; mode default
    bindsym w exec "st /home/pavel/bin/scripts/run_wego"; mode default
    # bindsym a exec emacsclient -c; mode default
    # bindsym Shift+a exec emacs; mode default
}

Media controls & brightness

# Pulse Audio controls
bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id "pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +5%"
bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id "pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -5%"
bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id "pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle"

# Media player controls
bindsym XF86AudioPlay exec mpc toggle
bindsym XF86AudioPause exec mpc pause
bindsym XF86AudioNext exec mpc next
bindsym XF86AudioPrev exec mpc prev

# Screen brightness
bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec xbacklight -inc 5
bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec xbacklight -dec 5

Screenshots

# Screenshots
bindsym --release Print exec "flameshot gui"
bindsym --release Shift+Print exec "xfce4-screenshooter"

Colors

Application of the palenight theme to the WM.

# Colors
set $bg-color 	         #292d3e
set $active-color        #82aaff
set $inactive-bg-color   #434758
set $text-color          #f3f4f5
set $inactive-text-color #aaaaaa
set $urgent-bg-color     #f07178
set $urgent-text-color   #000000

# window colors
#                       border              background         text                 indicator       child border
client.focused          $active-color       $bg-color          $text-color          $bg-color       $active-color
client.unfocused        $bg-color           $inactive-bg-color $inactive-text-color $bg-color       $bg-color
client.focused_inactive $active-color  $inactive-bg-color $inactive-text-color $bg-color       $bg-color
client.urgent           $urgent-bg-color    $urgent-bg-color   $urgent-text-color   $bg-color       $urgent-bg-color

OFF [OFF] i3blocks

I've opted out of i3bar & i3blocks for polybar

bar {
    status_command i3blocks -c ~/.config/i3/i3blocks.conf
    i3bar_command i3bar
    font pango:monospace 12
    output HDMI-A-0
    tray_output none
    colors {
        background $bg-color
        separator #757575
        #                  border             background         text
        focused_workspace  $bg-color          $bg-color          $text-color
        inactive_workspace $inactive-bg-color $inactive-bg-color $inactive-text-color
        urgent_workspace   $urgent-bg-color   $urgent-bg-color   $urgent-text-color
    }
}

bar {
    status_command i3blocks -c ~/.config/i3/i3blocks.conf
    i3bar_command i3bar
    font pango:monospace 10
    output DVI-D-0
    colors {
        background $bg-color
        separator #757575
        #                  border             background         text
        focused_workspace  $bg-color          $bg-color          $text-color
        inactive_workspace $inactive-bg-color $inactive-bg-color $inactive-text-color
        urgent_workspace   $urgent-bg-color   $urgent-bg-color   $urgent-text-color
    }
}

Keyboard Layout

A script to set Russian-English keyboard layout:

setxkbmap -layout us,ru
setxkbmap -model pc105 -option 'grp:win_space_toggle' -option 'grp:alt_shift_toggle'

A script to toggle the layout

if setxkbmap -query | grep -q us,ru; then
    setxkbmap -layout us
    setxkbmap -option
else
    setxkbmap -layout us,ru
    setxkbmap -model pc105 -option 'grp:win_space_toggle' -option 'grp:alt_shift_toggle'
fi

And the relevant i3 settings:

# Layout
exec_always --no-startup-id set_layout
bindsym $mod+slash exec toggle_layout

Autostart

# Polybar
exec_always --no-startup-id "bash /home/pavel/bin/polybar.sh"

# PulseEffects
exec --no-startup-id pulseeffects --gapplication-service

# Sudo
exec --no-startup-id /usr/lib/polkit-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1

# Wallpaper
exec_always "feh --bg-fill ~/Pictures/wallpaper-2.jpg"

# Picom
exec picom

# Keynav
exec keynav

# Applets
exec --no-startup-id /usr/bin/nm-applet
exec --no-startup-id /usr/bin/blueman-applet

# MPD
exec --no-startup-id mpd

# Stuff
exec aw-qt
exec "vnstatd -d"
exec dunst
exec kde-connect-indicator
exec copyq
exec "xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap"
exec "bash ~/bin/autostart.sh"