Difference between revisions of "Spectrwm"
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Here are some other ideas for status bar items : ethernet, email notification, disk space, mounts. | Here are some other ideas for status bar items : ethernet, email notification, disk space, mounts. | ||
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+ | ==Alternative status bar== | ||
+ | |||
+ | An alternative is to use [[i3|i3status]] and [[dzen]] to create a status bar. This has the advantage that different colors may be used. This lies over the standard one so choose the same font for an exact size match. For example | ||
+ | $ i3status | dzen2 -fn -*-fixed-medium-r-*-*-10-*-*-*-*-*-*-* & | ||
==Usage== | ==Usage== |
Revision as of 02:13, 7 January 2010
scrotwm is a small dynamic tiling window manager for Xorg. It tries to stay out of the way so that valuable screen real estate can be used for much more important content. It has sane defaults and does not require one to learn a language to do any configuration. It was written by hackers for hackers and it strives to be small, compact and fast.
It is written in C and configured with a text configuration file. It is not the poster-boy for any minority language, either for programming or configuration.
Contents
Installation
scrotwm is not yet available in the main repositories.
Two PKGBUILDs are available in AUR: Template:Package AUR, the last snapshot release, and Template:Package AUR, the latest development repository.
The modkey (the main key to issue commands with) is set to Mod4, which is usually the Windows key.
scrotwm can make use of the dmenu package, so install that too:
# pacman -S dmenu
Template:Codeline is also useful:
# pacman -S xscreensaver
See Xdefaults for details of how to set up fonts, colours and other settings for Template:Codeline and Template:Codeline. Run Template:Codeline to select the animation (or blank) and display power management (recommended).
Configuration
scrotwm first tries to open the user specific file, Template:Filename. If that file is unavailable, it tries to open the global configuration file, Template:Filename. The initial configuration provides a good set of defaults.
Optionally, scrotwm can call Template:Filename (in the user's path), which should output a text status message to stdout for the status bar at the top of the screen.
Starting scrotwm
To start scrotwm via startx or the SLIM login manager, simply append the following to Template:Filename:
exec scrotwm
Starting scrotwm with CDM
For CDM, create Template:Filename like this:
logger "Starting scrotwm from /usr/bin/startscrotwm." xrandr --dpi 96 xscreensaver -no-splash & # and start the window manager exec scrotwm
And add startscrotwm to Template:Filename:
... wmbinlist=(startscrotwm ... ) ... wmdisplist=(Scrotwm ...)
Starting scrotwm with KDM
For KDM, create Template:Filename like this:
[Desktop Entry] Type=XSession Exec=/usr/bin/startwm scrotwm TryExec=/usr/bin/startwm Name=Scrotwm Comment=The scrotwm window manager
Create Template:Filename like this, and set execute permission.
#!/bin/sh $HOME/.xsession_$1
For each user create Template:Filename, and set execute permission.
logger "Starting scrotwm from ~/.xsession_scrotwm." xrandr --dpi 96 xscreensaver -no-splash & # and start the window manager exec scrotwm
Log out and new entry "Scrotwm" will appear in KDM's list of window managers.
This technique can be used to run other window managers from KDM of course. Just create a Template:Filename file and a Template:Filename file for each one.
Statusbar configuration
To enable the statusbar, uncomment these two items in Template:Filename (or Template:Filename). By default they are commented out and the statusbar is disabled.
bar_action = baraction.sh bar_delay = 5
To test the status bar, place the following simple Template:Filename in a Template:Filename (or Template:Filename) directory which you have previously added to your $PATH in your ~/.bashrc file.
#!/bin/bash # baraction.sh script for scrotwm status bar SLEEP_SEC=5 # set bar_delay = 5 in /etc/scrotwm.conf COUNT=0 #loops forever outputting a line every SLEEP_SEC secs while :; do let COUNT=$COUNT+1 echo -e " Hello World! $COUNT" sleep $SLEEP_SEC done
Press Modkey+Q to restart scrotwm and after a few seconds you should see the output in the status bar. If you have problems at this stage, make sure the script is executable, test it from the command line, and check the path/filename you specified in bar_action.
Next replace Template:Filename with the more useful file below. Note it needs these packages, and whatever you need for WiFi:
pacman -S bc lm_sensors
You should configure lm_sensors.
#!/bin/bash #baraction.sh for scrotwm status bar SLEEP_SEC=5 #loops forever outputting a line every SLEEP_SEC secs while :; do eval $(cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT0/state | awk '/charging state/ {printf "BAT_CHGSTATE=%s;", $3}; /remaining capacity/ {printf "BAT_REMNG=%s;",$3}; /present rate/ {printf "BAT_RATE=%s;",$3};' -) eval $(cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT0/info | awk '/present/ {printf "BAT_PRESENT=%s;", $2}; /last full capacity/ {printf "BAT_LASTFULL=%s;",$4};' -) BAT_REMNG_WH=`echo "scale=1; a=($BAT_REMNG+50)/1000; print a" | bc -l` BAT_RATE_W=`echo "scale=1; a=($BAT_RATE+50)/1000; print a" | bc -l` BCSCRIPT="scale=0; a=(100*$BAT_REMNG / $BAT_LASTFULL); print a" BAT_PCT=`echo $BCSCRIPT | bc -l`% case $BAT_PRESENT in no) POWER_STR="AC, NO BATTERY" ;; yes) case $BAT_CHGSTATE in charged) #on ac AC_STATUS="ON AC" TIME_REMNG="N/A" POWER_STR="$AC_STATUS $BAT_CHGSTATE $BAT_PCT" ;; charging) #on ac AC_STATUS="ON AC" BCSCRIPT="scale=1; a=(60*($BAT_LASTFULL - $BAT_REMNG) / $BAT_RATE); print a" TIMETOFULL_MIN=`echo $BCSCRIPT | bc -l` POWER_STR="$AC_STATUS $BAT_CHGSTATE $BAT_PCT C="$BAT_REMNG_WH"Wh Rate="$BAT_RATE_W"W TTF="$TIMETOFULL_MIN"min" ;; discharging) AC_STATUS="ON BATT" TIME_REMNG_MIN=`echo "scale=0; a=(60*$BAT_REMNG / $BAT_RATE); print a" | bc -l` TIME_REMNG_HH=`echo "scale=0; a=($BAT_REMNG / $BAT_RATE); if (a<10) {print "0"; print a} else {print a}" | bc -l` TIME_REMNG_MM=`echo "scale=0; a=($TIME_REMNG_MIN-60*$TIME_REMNG_HH); if (a<10) {print "0"; print a} else {print a}" | bc -l` POWER_STR="$AC_STATUS $BAT_PCT C="$BAT_REMNG_WH"Wh P="$BAT_RATE_W"W R="$TIME_REMNG_HH":"$TIME_REMNG_MM ;; *) POWER_STR=$BAT_CHGSTATE ;; esac ;; *) POWER_STR="error" ;; esac #scrotwm bar_print can't handle UTF-8 characters, such as degree symbol #Core 0: +67.0°C (crit = +100.0°C) eval $(sensors 2>/dev/null | sed s/[°+]//g | awk '/^Core 0/ {printf "CORE0TEMP=%s;", $3}; /^Core 1/ {printf "CORE1TEMP=%s;",$3}; /^fan1/ {printf "FANSPD=%s;",$2};' -) TEMP_STR="Tcpu=$CORE0TEMP,$CORE1TEMP F=$FANSPD" WLAN_ESSID=$(iwconfig wlan0 | awk -F "\"" '/wlan0/ { print $2 }') eval $(cat /proc/net/wireless | sed s/[.]//g | awk '/wlan0/ {printf "WLAN_QULTY=%s; WLAN_SIGNL=%s; WLAN_NOISE=%s", $3,$4,$5};' -) BCSCRIPT="scale=0;a=100*$WLAN_QULTY/70;print a" WLAN_QPCT=`echo $BCSCRIPT | bc -l` WLAN_POWER=`iwconfig 2>/dev/null| grep "Tx-Power"| awk {'print $4'}|sed s/Tx-Power=//` WLAN_STR="$WLAN_ESSID: Q=$WLAN_QPCT% S/N="$WLAN_SIGNL"/"$WLAN_NOISE"dBm T="$WLAN_POWER"dBm" CPUFREQ_STR=`echo "Freq:"$(cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep 'cpu MHz' | sed 's/.*: //g; s/\..*//g;')` CPULOAD_STR="Load:$(uptime | sed 's/.*://; s/,//g')" eval $(awk '/^MemTotal/ {printf "MTOT=%s;", $2}; /^MemFree/ {printf "MFREE=%s;",$2}' /proc/meminfo) MUSED=$(( $MTOT - $MFREE )) MUSEDPT=$(( ($MUSED * 100) / $MTOT )) MEM_STR="Mem:${MUSEDPT}%" echo -e "$POWER_STR $TEMP_STR $CPUFREQ_STR $CPULOAD_STR $MEM_STR $WLAN_STR" sleep $SLEEP_SEC done
Here are some other ideas for status bar items : ethernet, email notification, disk space, mounts.
Alternative status bar
An alternative is to use i3status and dzen to create a status bar. This has the advantage that different colors may be used. This lies over the standard one so choose the same font for an exact size match. For example
$ i3status | dzen2 -fn -*-fixed-medium-r-*-*-10-*-*-*-*-*-*-* &
Usage
- To save space, window title bars are not shown. Window borders are one pixel wide. The border changes colour to indicate focus.
- Layouts are handled dynamically and can be changed on the fly. There are three standard layouts (stacking algorithms): vertical, horizontal and maximized (indicated in the status bar as [|], [-] and [ ])
- There is the concept of a master area (a working area). Any window can be switched to become the master and will then be shown in the master area. The master area is the left (top) portion of the screen in vertical (horizontal) mode. The size of the master area can be adjusted with the keys. By default the master area holds one window, but this can be increased.
- The area excluding the master area is called the stacking area. New windows are added to the stacking area. By default the stacking area has one column (row) in vertical (horizontal) mode, but his can be increased.
- Windows may be moved to a floating layer -- i.e. removed from the tiling management. This is useful for programs which are not suitable for tiling.
Some of the most useful key bindings:
Meta+Shift+Return: open terminal Meta+p: dmenu (then type the start of the program name and return) Meta+1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/0: select workspaces 1-10 Meta+Shift+1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/0: move window to workspace 1-10 Meta+Right/Left: select next/previous workspace Meta+Shift+Right/Left: select next/previous screen Meta+Spacebar: cycle through layouts (vertical, horizontal, maximized) Meta+j/k: cycle through windows forwards/backwards Meta+Tab/Meta+Shft+Tab: same as Meta+j/k Meta+Return: move current window to master area Meta+h/l: increase/decrease size of master area
Advanced stacking
Meta+,/. : increase/decrease the number of windows in master area (default is 1) Meta+Shift+,/. : increase/decrease number of columns(rows) in stacking area in vertical(horizontal) mode (default is 1) Meta+Shift+j/k: swap window position with next/previous window Meta+t: float<->tile toggle
Mouse bindings
Mouseover: focus window Meta+LeftClick+Drag: move window (and float it if tiled) Meta+RightClick+Drag: resize floating window Meta+Shift+RightClick+Drag: resize floating window keeping it centred
Other useful bindings
Meta+x: close window Meta+Shift+x: kill window Meta+b: hide/show status bar Meta+q: restart scrotwm (reset desktops and reread scrotwm config without stopping running programs) Meta+Shift+q: exit scrotwm
Troubleshooting
- Q: Help, I just logged in and all I see is a blank screen.
- A: Press Shift + WindowsKey + Return and an xterm will start. Then read the manual (
man scrotwm
) to see the other default key bindings. Also check your configuration file.
See also
- scrotwm - scrotwm's official website
- #scrotwm at irc.freenode.net - (un)official IRC channel