i3-layouts 0.13.2
Dynamics layouts for i3wm
License: MIT

# i3-layouts

![test](https://github.com/eliep/i3-layouts/workflows/Test/badge.svg)
![pipy](https://github.com/eliep/i3-layouts/workflows/Publish/badge.svg)

`i3-layouts` is a small program that enforces dynamic layout on i3 workspace. 

![vstack](./img/vstack.gif)

`i3-layouts` comes with 6 configurable layouts:
 
- `vstack`: one main windows with a vertical stack of windows.
- `hstack`: one main windows with an horizontal stack of windows.
- `spiral`: each new windows split the previous one, split direction alternates between
horizontal and vertical.  
- `2columns`: two vertical stacks of equally sized windows.
- `3columns`: one main windows with two vertical stacks of windows.
- `companion`: each columns is made of one main window and one smaller window.
- `autosplit`: automatically choose between vsplit/hsplit depending on the focused windows 
(inspired by [autotiling](https://github.com/nwg-piotr/autotiling)).

Parameters for each one of these layouts is detailed in the [Layout section](#layouts). 

* [Installation](#installation)
  - [Requirements](#requirements)
  - [Installation with pip](#installation-with-pip)
  - [Update with pip](#update-with-pip)
* [Running](#running)
* [Configuration](#configuration)
  - [Assigning a layout to a workspace](#assigning-a-layout-to-a-workspace)
  - [Switching layout](#switching-layout)
  - [Moving windows inside the layout](#moving-windows-inside-the-layout)
  - [Swapping windows](#swapping-windows)
* [Layouts](#layouts)
  - [vstack](#vstack)
  - [hstack](#hstack)
  - [spiral](#spiral)
  - [2columns](#2columns)
  - [3columns](#3columns)
  - [companion](#companion)
  - [autosplit](#autosplit)
* [Limitations](#limitations)

## Installation

### Requirements
Before installing `i3-layouts` be sure to have the following installed on your system:

* python >= 3.7
* [xdotool](https://www.semicomplete.com/projects/xdotool/)
* [i3wm](https://i3wm.org/) or [i3-gaps](https://github.com/Airblader/i3)


### Installation with pip
To install, simply use `pip`

```
$ pip install --user i3-layouts
```


### Update with pip
To update, again use `pip`

```
$ pip install --user i3-layouts -U
```

## Running
`i3-layouts` can be started from a terminal
or better yet, launched from the i3 config file:

```
exec i3-layouts
```

## Configuration
Configuration is done directly in the i3 config file (usually `$HOME/.config/i3/config`).

`i3-layouts` reads the entire config file, filter all `$i3l` variables and 
keeps the associated values as configuration. Note that user defined variables can be used
within `$i3l` variables, as they will be replaced by their own value.

### Assigning a layout to a workspace
To assign a layout to a workspace, use the name of the layout as value for the `$i3l` variable, 
followed by its parameters and then the targeted workspace name.

Note that parameters are optional. However, if given, they must respect the order described 
in the [Layouts](#layouts) section.

**Syntax:**

```
set $i3l [vstack|hstack|spiral|3columns|2columns|companion|autosplit] <param> ... to workspace [workspace name]
```

Standard layouts from i3 can also be used:

```
set $i3l [tabbed|splitv|splith|stacking] to workspace [workspace name]
```


**Examples:**

```
set $ws1 1
...
set $i3l vstack to workspace $ws1
set $i3l hstack 0.6 up to workspace $ws2
set $i3l spiral 0.6 to workspace $ws3
set $i3l 3columns 0.66 0.5 2 left to workspace $ws4
set $i3l 2columns right to workspace $ws5
set $i3l companion 0.3 0.4 up to workspace $ws6
set $i3l autosplit to workspace $ws7
```


### Switching layout

It's also possible to dynamically switch the current workspace layout 
via the provided `i3l` command with the layout name and its parameters as argument.

- If a layout name is given, and windows are already present, 
they will be rearranged to match the selected layout.   
- If `none` is `i3l` first argument, `i3-layouts` will stop managing the current workspace layout. 

**Syntax:**

```
i3l [vstack|hstack|spiral|3columns|2columns|companion|autosplit|none] <param> ...
```
 
**Examples:**

```
i3l vstack 0.6
i3l none
```

Layout can also be switched with a key binding via `i3l`, for example:
 
```
bindsym $mod+s exec i3l vstack 0.6
```

Use `notify-send` after the previous command to receive a quick notification of the current layout:

```
bindsym $mod+s exec i3l vstack 0.6 && notify-send 'Layout vstack'
```

### Moving windows inside the layout

![move](./img/move.gif)

By default, when moving windows, chances are their position will not match the selected layout.
To keep windows within the layout possible positions, `i3-layouts` must manage all `move` command.

So instead of configuring i3 with something like:

```
bindsym $mod+j move left
bindsym $mod+k move down
bindsym $mod+l move up
bindsym $mod+semicolon move right
```

`move` commands can be forwarded to `i3-layouts` via `i3l`:

```
bindsym $mod+j exec i3l move left
bindsym $mod+k exec i3l move down
bindsym $mod+l exec i3l move up
bindsym $mod+semicolon exec i3l move right
```

With this configuration, if a `move` command is executed on a workspace managed by `i3-layouts`, 
the moved window will stay within the layout. If the workspace is not managed by `i3-layout`,
 `i3-layout` will forward the `move` command to `i3`


### Swapping windows

Because `i3-layout` uses marks to keep track of container position, it must know about all
swap commands occurring within a layout.

Like `move` commands, `swap` commands can be forwarded to `i3-layouts` via `i3l`:

```
bindsym $mod+s exec i3l swap container with mark <arg>
```

Note that currently, only the swap command `with mark` is implemented
(so `swap container with id <arg>` or `swap container with con_id <arg>` will not work).
 
To swap the focused container with the previously focused one, a custom command is also provided:

```
bindsym $mod+p exec i3l swap container with previous
```

## Layouts
Each layout accept some specific parameters. 
These parameters must be given is the order described below.

#### vstack
One main windows with a vertical stack of windows.

![vstack](./img/vstack.gif)

* **main window ratio** (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.5`): ratio of screen width used 
by the main window
* **secondary stack position** (`right` or `left`, default `right`): vertical stack position 
relative to the main window

### hstack
One main windows with an horizontal stack of windows.

![hstack](./img/hstack.gif)

* **main window ratio** (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.5`): ratio of screen height used 
by the window stack
* **secondary stack position** (`up` or `down`, default `down`): horizontal stack position 
relative to the main window

### spiral
Each new windows split the previous one, split direction alternates between
horizontal and vertical.

![spiral](./img/spiral.gif)

* **split ratio** (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.5`): 
ratio of width or height used by the previous container at each split, 
the remaining is used by the new container.
* **screen direction** (`inside` or `outside`, default `inside`): 
whether new container should be added towards the inside of the screen or the outside.

### 2columns
Two vertical stacks of equally sized windows.
New window position alternates between the first and second stack.

![2columns](./img/2columns.gif)

* **first stack position** (`right` or `left`, default `left`): first stack position 
relative to the second stack.

### 3columns
One main windows with two vertical stacks of windows.

![3columns](./img/3columns.gif)

* **main window ratio** [two columns] (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.5`): 
ratio of screen width used by the main window when only two columns are present
* **main window ratio** [three columns] (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.5`): 
ratio of screen width used by the main window when three columns are present. Width left
is distributed equally between the second and third columns
* **max number of row in the second columns** (int, default `0`): 
the third columns is created only when the second column reach this number of container. 
If `0` is given new container position alternate between the second and third columns.
* **second column position** (`right` or `left`, default `right`): second column position 
relative to the main window. Note that the third column will have the opposite position 
(if the second columns is on the left of the main window, the third one will be on the right of 
the main window)

### companion
Each columns is made of one main window and one smaller window (called companion container below).

![companion](./img/companion.gif)

* **odd companion ratio** (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.3`): 
ratio of screen height used by the companion container for odd column index
* **even companion ratio** (float between `0` and `1`, default `0.3`): 
ratio of screen height used by the companion container for even column index
* **companion position** (`up`, `down`, `alt-up`, `alt-down`, default `up`): 
position of the companion container relative to the main window. `alt-up` and `alt-down`
alternate this position for each column, starting respectively at `up` and `down` for
the first column.

### autosplit
Windows are automatically split either vertically or horizontally depending on 
the focused window dimension.

![autosplit](./img/autosplit.gif)

This layout has no parameters.

## Limitations

* **Redraw**: when container are closed or moved between workspace, `i3-layouts` needs to reposition
some if not all containers of a given workspace. `i3-layouts` use `xdotool` 
to simulate the recreation of these containers.
* **Marks**: to keep track of container position, `i3-layouts` use i3wm marks. 
More precisely, `i3-layouts` marks the first and last container of each workspace.