i3 - ulises-jeremias/dotfiles GitHub Wiki
๐งฑ i3 Window Manager Guide
i3 is a tiling window manager built to provide an efficient and highly customizable user experience. It allows you to manage your windows using simple keyboard shortcuts and scripting tools.
[!TIP] The i3 setup in this dotfiles project is fully configurable. You can personalize layouts, autostart programs, keybindings, and integrations with other tools like Polybar, Rofi, or EWW.
๐ Configuration Files Location
All i3-related configurations live in:
~/.config/i3
To edit using chezmoi:
chezmoi edit ~/.config/i3 --source ~/.dotfiles
Apply changes:
chezmoi apply
After editing, restart i3 (Mod+Shift+r) to reload the configuration.
๐ Official documentation: i3 User Guide
๐ Autostart Applications
Autostart programs are defined in:
~/.config/i3/autostart.sh
This script runs when the i3 session starts. You can add anything here:
picom --experimental-backends &
feh --bg-scale ~/wallpapers/mywall.jpg &
Make sure the script is executable:
chmod +x ~/.config/i3/autostart.sh
โจ๏ธ i3 Keybindings
Weโve predefined a set of intuitive keybindings in your i3/config file to help you get productive fast. You can modify or extend them as needed.
๐ Default Keybindings
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
$Mod+Shift+q |
Kill the current window |
Mod1+F1 |
Launch Rofi using dots rofi-run -r |
$Mod+d |
Launch EWW dashboard (~/.config/eww/dashboard/launch.sh) |
$Mod+x |
Launch EWW power menu (~/.config/eww/powermenu/launch.sh) |
$Mod+Ctrl+p |
Toggle Polybar menus (dots toggle -p -t &) |
$Mod+w |
Launch default browser (exo-open --launch WebBrowser) |
$Mod+f |
Launch file manager (exo-open --launch FileManager) |
$Mod+t or $Mod+Return |
Launch terminal (exo-open --launch TerminalEmulator) |
XF86MonBrightnessUp |
Brightness +10% (dots brightness "*" + 0.1) |
XF86MonBrightnessDown |
Brightness -10% (dots brightness "*" - 0.1) |
Shift+XF86MonBrightnessUp |
Brightness +1% (dots brightness "*" + 0.01) |
Shift+XF86MonBrightnessDown |
Brightness -1% (dots brightness "*" - 0.01) |
Print |
Screenshot tool (dots screenshooter) |
Shift+Print |
Screenshot region (dots screenshooter -r) |
XF86AudioPlay |
Play/Pause music (playerctl play-pause) |
XF86AudioNext |
Next track (playerctl next) |
XF86AudioPrev |
Previous track (playerctl previous) |
XF86AudioStop |
Stop music (playerctl stop) |
XF86AudioMute |
Toggle mute (pamixer -t) |
XF86AudioRaiseVolume |
Volume up +1% (pamixer -i 1) |
XF86AudioLowerVolume |
Volume down -1% (pamixer -d 1) |
๐ง Customization Tips
- Mix i3 with Polybar, Rofi, EWW, or Picom for a complete and modern setup
- Use workspace-specific rules and gaps for better layout control
- Define window-specific behavior (e.g., floating, no border)
๐งช Experiment with changes in a testing environment before applying them to your main config
๐ Need Help?
Enjoy the power and flexibility of i3, and build your ideal window management experience! ๐ปโจ