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=                        I3_(window_manager)                         =
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                            Introduction
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i3 is a tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii and
written in C. It supports tiling, stacking, and tabbing layouts, which
are handled manually. Its configuration is achieved via a plain text
file and extending i3 is possible using its Unix domain socket and
JSON based IPC interface from many programming languages.

Like wmii, i3 uses a control system very similar to that of vi and
Vim. By default, window focus is controlled by what the documentation
refers to as the 'Mod1' key (Alt key/Windows key) in addition to the
right-hand home row keys (Mod1+J,K,L,Semicolon), while window movement
is controlled by the addition of the Shift key
(Mod1+Shift+J,K,L,Semicolon).


                            Design goals
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i3's primary design goals are to possess well-written, documented code
that encourages user contribution; to use XCB instead of Xlib; to
implement multi-monitor features correctly, so that each workspace is
assigned to a virtual screen, and monitor additions and removals are
non-destructive of windows; to implement different modes, in a manner
similar to that of the text editors vi and vim; to use a tree as the
abstraction (and underlying data structure) for window management; and
to implement UTF-8 character encoding.


                              Features
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i3's configuration is done via a plain text file (usually found in
~/.config/i3/config), which can be customized without any
sophisticated programming knowledge. Contrary to other popular tiling
window managers, such as dwm, awesome, and xmonad, window management
is left to the user in i3. Windows are held inside containers, which
can be split vertically or horizontally. They can also optionally be
resized. There are also options for stacking the windows, as well as
tabbing them (similar to the interface that web browsers use). i3 uses
dmenu as the default program launcher, but it can be replaced. i3 also
has an associated program called i3bar that displays information about
the system at the bottom of the screen.

i3 also supports the use of multiple monitors.


Floating pop-up windows
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Even though i3 is a tiling window manager, specific windows, such as
password pop-ups, are not displayed as new tiles by default; they are
always stacked in front of tiled windows, unless in full screen mode.
These floating windows can be moved and resized freely, just as they
can in stacking window managers and popular desktop environments like
GNOME or KDE Plasma.

The authors of i3 intend floating windows to be used for pop-up
windows only.


                              Gallery
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File:i3 window manager with stacking layout.png|i3 with stacked layout
File:i3 window manager with tabbed layout.png|i3 with tabbed layout
File:i3 window manager with floating window.png|i3 with floating
window


                              See also
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* Comparison of X window managers
* Sway - Window manager for Wayland that is similar to i3


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