i3 is one of the most popular and well documented tiling window managers available for Linux. It comes with it’s own status bar, screen locker and menu, with very sane default configs that are easy to edit and add to. i3 is very lightweight, making it great for everything from older PCs, all the way up to super-performant workstations. The steps below work well with a Debian base installation as I covered in a previous post, and will install i3 with my custom configurations and theming, along with a good base set of applications. The default configuration is for use with HiDPI monitors (192 dpi settings) and desktop-type computers, but there are options at the end of the script that let you change to 96 dpi settings for use with non-HiDPI monitors, and/or change to laptop-type (battery powered) computer settings.
Step 1: Install Git
sudo apt install gitStep 2: Clone my custom scripts
git clone https://git.sr.ht/~e33io/scriptsStep 3: Change the directory to the scripts directory
cd scriptsStep 4: Run the i3 script
sh deb-post-install-i3.shStep 5: At the end of the script you will see the option below, and answer n (for no) to keep the default HiDPI settings or y (for yes) to change to non-HiDPI settings
NOTE: The configs that were installed with this script are based on using HiDPI monitors (192 dpi settings). The option below lets you change to 96 dpi settings for use with non-HiDPI monitors. --------------------------------------------------------- Do you want to change to 96 dpi non-HiDPI settings? (y/n)
Step 6: After the option above, you will see the option below, and answer n (for no) to keep the default desktop-type computer settings or y (for yes) to change to laptop-type computer settings, then you will see “All done, you can now run other commands or reboot the PC” when the script is finished
NOTE: The configs that were installed with this script are based on using a desktop-type computer. The option below lets you change to laptop configs for use with a laptop-type (battery powered) computer. --------------------------------------------------------- Do you want to change to laptop configs? (y/n)
Step 7: Reboot the PC
systemctl rebooti3 Keybindings
Modifier keys: Mod4 Windows (Super) key Mod1 Alt key ctrl Control key Shift Shift key Return Enter key space Space bar Left Left arrow key Right Right arrow key Up Up arrow key Down Down arrow key equal Equal key minus Minus key Print PrtSc (Print Screen) key button1 Left mouse button button3 Right mouse button
Custom keybindings: $mod = Mod4 $mod+d Program launcher (app menu) $mod+Return Launch terminal $mod+Shift+Return Launch file manager $mod+1 Switch to workspace 1 $mod+2 Switch to workspace 2 $mod+3 Switch to workspace 3 $mod+4 Switch to workspace 4 $mod+5 Switch to workspace 5 $mod+6 Switch to workspace 6 $mod+7 Switch to workspace 7 $mod+8 Switch to workspace 8 $mod+9 Switch to workspace 9 $mod+0 Switch to workspace 10 ctrl+Mod1+Right Switch to next workspace ctrl+Mod1+Left Switch to previous workspace $mod+u Switch to workspace with urgent window $mod+Shift+1 Move active window to workspace 1 $mod+Shift+2 Move active window to workspace 2 $mod+Shift+3 Move active window to workspace 3 $mod+Shift+4 Move active window to workspace 4 $mod+Shift+5 Move active window to workspace 5 $mod+Shift+6 Move active window to workspace 6 $mod+Shift+7 Move active window to workspace 7 $mod+Shift+8 Move active window to workspace 8 $mod+Shift+9 Move active window to workspace 9 $mod+Shift+0 Move active window to workspace 10 $mod+h Split container horizontal for next window $mod+v Split container vertical for next window $mod+Right Change active window focus right $mod+Left Change active window focus left $mod+Up Change active window focus up $mod+Down Change active window focus down $mod+Shift+Right Move active window right $mod+Shift+Left Move active window left $mod+Shift+Up Move active window up $mod+Shift+Down Move active window down Shift+Right Resize (grow) active window wider Shift+Left Resize (shrink) active window narrower Shift+Up Resize (shrink) active window shorter Shift+Down Resize (grow) active window taller $mod+Shift+space Toggle active window floating $mod+button1 Move active floating window $mod+button3 Resize active floating window, non-proportionally $mod+Shift+button3 Resize active floating window, proportionally $mod+Shift+f Toggle active window fullscreen $mod+equal Resize (increase) window gaps $mod+minus Resize (decrease) window gaps $mod+o Show list of open windows $mod+Shift+q Close active window $mod+e Toggle container split direction and/or change layout to split $mod+w Change container layout to tabbed $mod+s Change container layout to stacking Print Screenshot entire desktop Shift+Print Screenshot selected area $mod+x Lock screen $mod+p Power menu (lock, logout, reboot, shutdown)
View the ~/.config/i3/config file to see all the configured keybindings that aren’t indicated in the box above.