If you’re using i3, that tiling window manager, you’re probably lookin’ to make things quicker and easier, right? Well, let me tell ya, them hotkeys can make your life a whole lot simpler. I ain’t no tech wizard, but I know a thing or two about pressin’ a few keys and makin’ stuff work better. So, here’s a little rundown on how them i3 hotkeys can help ya.
Now, first thing’s first, i3 ain’t like them other window managers. It don’t come with no fancy desktop environment, so ya gotta do a lotta things with them hotkeys. If you’re just startin’ out, you might get a bit confused, but don’t worry, it’s real simple once you get the hang of it.
What’s that $mod key?
Well, that $mod key is just a fancy way of sayin’ “modifier key”. By default, it’s the “Alt” key, but some folks like to use the “Super” key (that’s the Windows key on most keyboards) for more comfort. You can change it if you like, but we’ll stick with what’s common for now.
Now, when you press $mod along with some other keys, you can make i3 do all sorts of things. Take $mod+Enter, for example. That one opens up a terminal. If you’re in the terminal and need to start somethin’, you don’t need to be messin’ around with menus and clicks. Just type your command, and bam, you’re off to the races.
Openin’ Programs with $mod+d
If you’re like me and hate clickin’ around in the menu, you’ll love this one. Press $mod+d, and it opens up dmenu. Now, what dmenu does is, it lets ya type the name of a program and launch it, all from your keyboard. Real handy when you got a bunch of stuff runnin’ and don’t wanna take your hands off the keyboard just to open somethin’ new.
Workspaces and Gaps
i3 uses somethin’ called “workspaces”. It’s like havin’ different rooms for your windows. You can switch between these workspaces with $mod+1, $mod+2, and so on, depending on how many workspaces you got. Each one’s got its own set of windows, so it don’t get too crowded. And if you want to mess with the gaps between your windows, press $mod+Shift+g. That’ll let you choose whether to adjust outer or inner gaps. You can press + or – to change the size, or even press 0 to get rid of ’em altogether. If you hold Shift, the changes will apply to all workspaces, so keep that in mind.
Resizing Windows with $mod+r
If you got a window that’s too big or too small, don’t worry. You can press $mod+r to enter resize mode. Once you’re in resize mode, you can use the arrow keys to adjust the size of the window. It’s like takin’ your time to fix up your old clothes or furniture—just a lil’ adjustment, and it fits just right.
Other Handy Shortcuts
- $mod+Shift+r: This reloads your i3 config file. If you’ve made changes to your config file, this’ll reload it without you havin’ to restart i3.
- $mod+q: Close the current window. If a program’s bein’ stubborn, just use this one to shut it down.
- $mod+Shift+q: Close all windows in the current workspace. Be careful with this one, though—ya don’t wanna lose everything!
Customizing Hotkeys
Now, if you feel like the defaults ain’t for ya, you can always change ’em. The config file for i3 is usually located in ~/.config/i3/config or ~/.i3/config. If you open up that file, you’ll see where you can change what keys do what. But don’t go messin’ with it unless you’re sure, ’cause one wrong move and you might end up makin’ things worse. Just take your time and read through it.
Why Use i3 Anyway?
Well, i3 might not be the prettiest window manager out there, but it sure gets the job done. If you’re like me and want things fast, efficient, and simple, then i3’s for you. The whole point of i3 is to make you more productive, and that’s what them hotkeys do. They let you navigate your system without ever takin’ your hands off the keyboard. If you’re tired of clickin’ around and want to get things done quicker, i3’s a great choice.
Conclusion
So, there ya have it. i3 hotkeys ain’t too hard to learn if ya take it slow. Once ya get used to ’em, you’ll wonder how ya ever lived without ’em. It’s all about makin’ your work easier, and that’s somethin’ we all want, right? So go ahead, give these shortcuts a try, and see how much time ya can save. Just remember, the more ya practice, the faster ya’ll get at usin’ ’em.
Tags：[i3, i3 hotkeys, window manager, keyboard shortcuts, Linux, productivity, dmenu, i3 configuration, tiling window manager, i3 shortcuts]
