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i3 avatar

i3/i3

0
View on GitHub↗
10,489 stars·810 forks·C·BSD-3-Clause·42 viewsi3wm.org↗

I3

i3 is a configurable tiling window manager for the X11 window system. It organizes application windows into non-overlapping tiles to maximize screen real estate, utilizing a dynamic layout engine that removes the need for manual positioning or resizing.

The system is designed for keyboard-driven desktop workflows, where window organization and behavior are defined through a plain text configuration file. It enables X11 desktop customization by allowing users to programmatically define layouts and keybindings.

The manager provides inter-process communication via a Unix domain socket, allowing external programs to control window organization and subscribe to state changes. Additional utilities include a setup wizard for initial configuration generation and an automated process for converting older configuration files to newer versions.

Features

  • Tiling Window Managers - Organizes application windows on an X11 desktop using a tiling layout to maximize screen space and efficiency.
  • Keyboard-Driven Workflows - Enables controlling window organization and desktop behavior using keyboard shortcuts and a programmable configuration file.
  • Window Managers - Provides a software layer for the X Window System that controls the placement and behavior of application windows.
  • X11 Protocol Implementations - Interacts with the X Window System via a client-server protocol to intercept window mapping and resize events.
  • X11 Window Tracking - Listens for X11 property changes and window events to trigger automatic layout recalculations.
  • Tiling Layout Engines - Calculates non-overlapping window coordinates by dividing screen space into recursive splits based on a tree structure.
  • Hierarchical Container Layouts - Implements a recursive window tree that organizes hierarchies into containers and leaves to manage complex split layouts.
  • Unix Domain Socket Support - Uses a Unix domain socket to receive external commands and broadcast state changes to third party clients.
  • Configuration State Managers - Uses a plain text configuration file to initialize the window manager's behavior and keybindings at startup.
  • Desktop Environment Customizers - Allows defining specific window behaviors and layouts through a configuration file to create a personalized X11 environment.
  • Inter-Process Communication Controllers - Provides a Unix domain socket for external programs to programmatically control window organization and subscribe to state changes.
  • Window Management - Keyboard-driven tiling window manager for Linux environments.
  • Window Managers - Standard tiling window manager for X11.

Star history

Star history chart for i3/i3Star history chart for i3/i3

How this analysis was created: This summary and feature list are AI-generated from collected project material and can contain mistakes. Stars, license and language are imported from GitHub. Inclusion does not mean that we have tested or audited this project. Check the source documentation for any feature you depend on. Learn more on our About page.

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Frequently asked questions

What does i3/i3 do?

i3 is a configurable tiling window manager for the X11 window system. It organizes application windows into non-overlapping tiles to maximize screen real estate, utilizing a dynamic layout engine that removes the need for manual positioning or resizing.

What are the main features of i3/i3?

The main features of i3/i3 are: Tiling Window Managers, Keyboard-Driven Workflows, Window Managers, X11 Protocol Implementations, X11 Window Tracking, Tiling Layout Engines, Hierarchical Container Layouts, Unix Domain Socket Support.

Which projects share features with i3/i3?

Projects with overlapping indexed features include: awesomewm/awesome — Awesome is a programmable tiling window manager for the X11 Window System. It functions as a dynamic window manager… baskerville/bspwm — bspwm is an X11 tiling window manager that organizes application windows into non-overlapping rectangular tiles using… ianyh/amethyst — Amethyst is a tiling window manager for macOS designed to automate the arrangement of application windows. It… nikitabobko/aerospace — AeroSpace is a tiling window manager for macOS that automatically arranges application windows into grid-based… swaywm/sway — Sway is a Wayland compositor and tiling window manager for Linux. It functions as a display server that manages window… airblader/i3 — i3 is an X11 tiling window manager for Linux that organizes application windows into a non-overlapping grid to…

Projects sharing features with I3

These projects share indexed features with I3. Shared tags can include platform or build tooling; verify the primary use case before treating a result as a replacement.
  • awesomewm/awesomeawesomeWM avatar

    awesomeWM/awesome

    6,905View on GitHub↗

    Awesome is a programmable tiling window manager for the X11 Window System. It functions as a dynamic window manager that automatically arranges application windows into non-overlapping tiles based on predefined layout rules to maximize screen space. The project provides a scriptable desktop environment where system behaviors and layouts are defined through an embedded Lua interpreter. This allows for the creation of a personalized interface and a keyboard-driven workflow for managing application windows. The system covers dynamic window layout management and the configuration of system behav

    Lua
    View on GitHub↗6,905
  • baskerville/bspwmbaskerville avatar

    baskerville/bspwm

    8,274View on GitHub↗

    bspwm is an X11 tiling window manager that organizes application windows into non-overlapping rectangular tiles using binary space partitioning. It treats the screen as a tree of rectangular regions to automatically manage window placement and is compliant with Extended Window Manager Hints. The project is distinguished by a socket-based window controller, which allows layout changes and configuration settings to be updated via a communication socket rather than through a built-in configuration file. It provides independent window tree management for each detected monitor, treating every dis

    C
    View on GitHub↗8,274
  • ianyh/amethystianyh avatar

    ianyh/Amethyst

    16,009View on GitHub↗

    Amethyst is a tiling window manager for macOS designed to automate the arrangement of application windows. It functions as a productivity utility that organizes windows into non-overlapping layouts, allowing users to manage their desktop environment through keyboard-driven controls rather than manual mouse interaction. The application distinguishes itself by providing a state-machine engine that calculates window geometry based on user-defined tiling patterns. It maintains an accurate representation of the desktop by monitoring system-level notifications for window events, enabling it to auto

    Swiftmacmacoswindow-manager
    View on GitHub↗16,009
  • nikitabobko/aerospacenikitabobko avatar

    nikitabobko/AeroSpace

    21,242View on GitHub↗

    AeroSpace is a tiling window manager for macOS that automatically arranges application windows into grid-based layouts. It functions as a keyboard-driven controller, allowing users to manage window positioning, workspace navigation, and display assignments entirely through customizable keyboard commands. The project distinguishes itself by operating as a background daemon that utilizes system-level accessibility frameworks and low-level window server hooks to enforce tiling behavior. It employs a declarative configuration system to define layout rules and maintains workspace consistency throu

    Swiftapplei3i3wm
    View on GitHub↗21,242
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