In my article 5 reasons the i3 window manager makes Linux better, I shared the highest 5 causes I exploit and advocate the i3 window manager instead Linux desktop expertise.
In this publish, I’ll stroll by means of the set up and primary configuration of i3 on Fedora 28 Linux.
1. Installation
Log right into a Fedora workstation and open up a terminal. Use dnf to put in the required package deal, like this:
[ricardo@f28i3 ~]$ sudo dnf set up -y i3 i3-ipc i3status i3lock dmenu terminator --exclude=rxvt-unicode
Last metadata expiration test: 1:36:15 in the past on Wed 08 Aug 2018 12:04:31 PM EDT.
Dependencies resolved.
================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
================================================================================================
Installing:
dmenu x86_64 Four.eight-1.fc28 fedora 33 okay
i3 x86_64 Four.15-1.fc28 fedora 323 okay
i3-ipc noarch zero.1.Four-12.fc28 fedora 14 okay
i3lock x86_64 2.9.1-2.fc28 fedora 33 okay
i3status x86_64 2.12-1.fc28 updates 62 okay
terminator noarch 1.91-Four.fc28 fedora 570 okay
Installing dependencies:
dzen2 x86_64 zero.eight.5-21.20100104svn.fc28 fedora 60 okay... Skipping dependencies/set up messages
Complete!
[ricardo@f28i3 ~]$
Note: In this command, I am explicitly excluding the package deal rxvt-unicode as a result of I desire terminator as my terminal emulator.
Depending on the standing of your system, it could set up many dependencies. Wait for the set up to finish efficiently after which reboot your machine.
2. First login and preliminary setup
After your machine restarts, you are able to log into i3 for the primary time. In the GNOME Display Manager (GDM) display, click on in your username however—earlier than typing the password to log in—click on on the small gear icon and alter the session to i3 as an alternative of GNOME, like this:
Type your password and click on Sign In. On your first login, you might be introduced with the i3 configuration display:
Press ENTER to generate a config file in your $HOME/.config/i3 listing. Later you should utilize this config file to additional customise i3’s habits.
On the following display, it’s good to choose your Mod key. This is necessary, because the Mod secret’s used to set off most of i3’s keyboard shortcuts. Press ENTER to make use of the default Win key because the Mod key. If you do not have a Win key in your keyboard or desire to make use of Alt as an alternative, use the arrow key to pick out it and press ENTER to substantiate.
You’re now logged into your i3 session. Because i3 is a minimalist window supervisor, you see a black display with the standing bar on the underside:
Next, let’s take a look at navigating in i3.
three. Basic shortcuts
Now that you just’re logged into an i3 session, you will want just a few primary keyboard shortcuts to get round.
The majority of i3 shortcuts use the Mod key you outlined in the course of the preliminary configuration. When I discuss with Mod within the following examples, press the important thing you outlined. This will often be the Win key, nevertheless it can be the Alt key.
First, to open up a terminal, use Mod+ENTER. Open multiple terminal and see how i3 robotically tiles them to occupy all out there house. By default, i3 splits the display horizontally; use Mod+v to separate vertically and press Mod+h to return to the horizontal cut up.
To begin different purposes, press Mod+d to open dmenu, a easy text-based utility menu. By default, dmenu presents a listing of all purposes out there in your $PATH. Select the applying you need to begin through the use of the arrow keys or slender down the search by typing elements of the applying’s title. Press ENTER to begin the chosen utility.
If your utility doesn’t present a strategy to shut it, you should utilize i3 to kill a window by urgent Mod+Shift+q. Be cautious, as you might lose unsaved work—this habits will depend on every utility.
Finally, to finish your session and exit i3, press Mod+Shift+e. You are introduced with a affirmation message on the prime of your display. Click on Yes, exit i3 to exit or X to cancel.
This is simply an preliminary listing of shortcuts you should utilize to get round i3. For many extra, seek the advice of i3’s official documentation.
Four. Replacing GDM
Using i3 window supervisor reduces the reminiscence utilization in your system; nevertheless, Fedora nonetheless makes use of the default GDM as its login display. GDM hundreds a number of GNOME-related libraries and purposes that devour reminiscence.
If you need to additional scale back your system’s reminiscence utilization, you may substitute GDM with a extra light-weight show supervisor, akin to lightdm, like this:
[ricardo@f28i3 ~]$ sudo dnf set up -y lightdm
[ricardo@f28i3 ~]$ sudo systemctl disable gdm
Removed /and many others/systemd/system/display-manager.service.
[ricardo@f28i3 ~]$ sudo systemctl allow lightdm
Created symlink /and many others/systemd/system/display-manager.service -> /usr/lib/systemd/system/lightdm.service.
[ricardo@f28i3 ~]$
Restart your machine to see the Lightdm login display.
Now you are able to log in and use i3.
