2 :man version: {revnumber}
3 :man manual: Bspwm Manual
11 bspwm - Binary space partitioning window manager
16 *bspwm* [*-h*|*-v*|*-c* 'CONFIG_PATH'|*-s* 'PANEL_FIFO'|*-p* 'PANEL_PREFIX']
18 *bspc* 'COMMAND' ['ARGUMENTS']
23 *bspwm* is a tiling window manager that represents windows as the leaves of a full binary tree.
25 It is controlled and configured via *bspc*.
32 Print the synopsis and exit.
35 Print the version and exit.
38 Use the given configuration file.
41 Write the internal state to the given FIFO.
44 Start every line written to the 'PANEL_FIFO' with the given prefix.
50 *bspwm* has only two sources of informations: the X events it receives and the messages it reads on a dedicated socket.
52 The default configuration file is '$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bspwm/bspwmrc'.
54 Keyboard and pointer bindings are defined with https://github.com/baskerville/sxhkd[sxhkd].
56 Example configuration files can be found in the *examples* directory.
61 New windows are inserted in the tree as close as possible to the focused window.
63 There is only two splitting modes: 'automatic' and 'manual'.
65 The default mode is 'automatic'. The 'manual' mode is entered by sending a *preselection* message.
67 Example: insertion of a new node (number 4) into the given tree in 'automatic' mode:
77 +-------------------------+ +-------------------------+
81 | 3 |------------| --> | 4 |------------|
85 +-------------------------+ +-------------------------+
88 Same departure, but the mode is 'manual', and a *window --presel up* message was sent beforehand:
97 +-------------------------+ +-------------------------+
101 | 3 |------------| --> |------------|------------|
105 +-------------------------+ +-------------------------+
111 Each monitor contains at least one desktop.
113 Each desktop contains at most one tree.
119 DIR := left | right | up | down
120 CYCLE_DIR := next | prev
126 Selectors are used to select a target window, desktop, or monitor. A selector
127 can either describe the target relatively or name it globally.
129 Descriptive (relative) selectors consist of a primary selector and any number
130 of non-conflicting modifiers as follows:
132 PRIMARY_SELECTOR[.MODIFIER]*
134 For obvious reasons, neither desktops nor monitors names may be valid
135 descriptive selectors.
143 WINDOW_SEL := <window_id>
144 | (DIR|CYCLE_DIR|biggest|last|focused|older|newer)[.floating|.tiled][.like|.unlike][.manual][.urgent][.local]
151 Selects the window in the given (spacial) direction relative to the active
155 Selects the window in the given (cyclic) direction.
158 Selects the biggest window on the current desktop.
161 Selects the previously focused window.
164 Selects the currently focused window.
167 Selects the window older than the focused window in the history.
170 Selects the window newer than the focused window in the history.
176 Only consider floating windows.
179 Only consider tiled windows.
182 Only consider windows that have the same class as the current window.
185 Only consider windows that have a different class than the current window.
188 Only consider windows in manual splitting mode (see *--presel*).
191 Only consider windows of the current desktop.
194 Only consider urgent windows.
202 DESKTOP_SEL := <desktop_name>
204 | (CYCLE_DIR|last|focused|older|newer)[.occupied|.free][.urgent][.local]
211 Selects the desktop with the given name.
214 Selects the nth desktop.
217 Selects the desktop in the given direction relative to the active desktop.
220 Selects the previously focused desktop.
223 Selects the currently focused desktop.
226 Selects the desktop older than the focused desktop in the history.
229 Selects the desktop newer than the focused desktop in the history.
235 Only consider occupied desktops.
238 Only consider free desktops.
241 Only consider urgent desktops.
244 Only consider desktops of the current monitor.
252 MONITOR_SEL := <monitor_name>
254 | (DIR|CYCLE_DIR|last|primary|focused|older|newer)[.occupied|.free]
261 Selects the monitor with the given name.
264 Selects the nth monitor.
267 Selects the monitor in the given (spacial) direction relative to the active monitor.
270 Selects the monitor in the given (cyclic) direction relative to the active monitor.
273 Selects the primary monitor.
276 Selects the previously focused monitor.
279 Selects the currently focused monitor.
282 Selects the monitor older than the focused monitor in the history.
285 Selects the monitor newer than the focused monitor in the history.
291 Only consider monitors where the focused desktop is occupied.
294 Only consider monitors where the focused desktop is free.
306 window ['WINDOW_SEL'] 'OPTIONS'
310 *-f*, *--focus* ['WINDOW_SEL']::
311 Focus the selected or given window.
313 *-d*, *--to-desktop* 'DESKTOP_SEL'::
314 Send the selected window to the given desktop.
316 *-m*, *--to-monitor* 'MONITOR_SEL'::
317 Send the selected window to the given monitor.
319 *-w*, *--to-window* 'WINDOW_SEL'::
320 Transplant the selected window to the given window.
322 *-s*, *--swap* 'WINDOW_SEL'::
323 Swap the selected window with the given window.
325 *-p*, *--presel* 'DIR'|cancel::
326 Preselect the splitting area of the selected window (or cancel the preselection).
328 *-r*, *--ratio* 'RATIO'::
329 Set the splitting ratio of the selected window (0 < 'RATIO' < 1).
331 *-e*, *--edge* 'DIR' 'RATIO'|pull|push::
332 Set the splitting ratio (or pull, or push) the edge located in the given direction in relation to the selected window.
334 *-R*, *--rotate* 'DIR' '90|270|180'::
335 Rotate the tree holding the edge located in the given direction in relation to the selected window.
337 *-t*, *--toggle* floating|fullscreen|locked|sticky|visible[=on|off]::
338 Set or toggle the given state for the selected window.
341 Close the selected window.
344 Kill the selected window.
352 desktop ['DESKTOP_SEL'] 'OPTIONS'
356 *-f*, *--focus* ['DESKTOP_SEL']::
357 Focus the selected or given desktop.
359 *-m*, *--to-monitor* 'MONITOR_SEL'::
360 Send the selected desktop to the given monitor.
362 *-l*, *--layout* 'CYCLE_DIR'|monocle|tiled::
363 Set or cycle the layout of the selected desktop.
365 *-n*, *--rename* <new_name>::
366 Rename the selected desktop.
368 *-s*, *--swap* 'DESKTOP_SEL'::
369 Swap the selected desktop with the given desktop.
372 Remove the selected desktop.
374 *-c*, *--cancel-presel*::
375 Cancel the preselection of all the windows of the selected desktop.
377 *-F*, *--flip* 'horizontal|vertical'::
378 Flip the tree of the selected desktop.
380 *-R*, *--rotate* '90|270|180'::
381 Rotate the tree of the selected desktop.
384 Adjust the split ratios of the tree of the selected desktop so that all windows occupy the same area.
386 *-C*, *--circulate* forward|backward::
387 Circulate the leaves of the tree of the selected desktop.
395 monitor ['MONITOR_SEL'] 'OPTIONS'
399 *-f*, *--focus* ['MONITOR_SEL']::
400 Focus the selected or given monitor.
402 *-a*, *--add-desktops* <name>...::
403 Create desktops with the given names in the selected monitor.
405 *-r*, *--remove-desktops* <name>...::
406 Remove desktops with the given names.
408 *-n*, *--rename* <new_name>::
409 Rename the selected monitor.
411 *-d*, *--reset-desktops* <name>...::
412 Rename, add or remove desktops depending on whether the number of given names is equal, superior or inferior to the number of existing desktops.
414 *-s*, *--swap* 'MONITOR_SEL'::
415 Swap the selected monitor with the given monitor.
430 *-a*, *--add* <name>...::
431 Create tags with the given names.
433 *-r*, *--remove* <name>|^<n>...::
434 Remove tags with the given names or indexes.
436 *-e*, *--enumerate-tags* <name>...::
437 Rename, add or remove tags depending on whether the number of given names is equal, superior or inferior to the number of existing tags.
439 *-d*, *--desktop* 'DESKTOP_SEL'::
440 Select the given desktop as target for the *-s* and *-t* options.
442 *-w*, *--window* 'WINDOW_SEL'::
443 Select the given window as target for the *-s* and *-t* options.
445 *-s*, *--set-tags* (<name>|^<n>...)|all::
446 Set the tags of the selected object.
448 *-t*, *--toggle-tags* (<name>|^<n>)[=on|off]...::
449 Toggle the tags of the selected object.
462 List matching windows.
465 List matching desktops.
468 List matching monitors.
471 Print tree rooted at query.
474 Print the history as it relates to the query.
477 Print the window stacking order.
479 [*-m*,*--monitor* ['MONITOR_SEL']] | [*-d*,*--desktop* ['DESKTOP_SEL']] | [*-w*, *--window* ['WINDOW_SEL']]::
480 Constrain matches to the selected monitor, desktop or window.
493 *-T*, *--tree* <file_path>::
494 Load the desktop trees from the given file.
496 *-H*, *--history* <file_path>::
497 Load the focus history from the given file.
499 *-S*, *--stack* <file_path>::
500 Load the window stacking order from the given file.
514 Manage all the unmanaged windows remaining from a previous session.
517 Write the current internal state to the panel FIFO.
519 *--toggle-visibility*::
520 Toggle the visibility of all the windows.
533 *-t*, *--track* <x> <y>::
534 Pass the pointer root coordinates for the current pointer action.
536 *-g*, *--grab* focus|move|resize_side|resize_corner::
537 Perform the given pointer action.
550 *-a*, *--add* <class_name>|<instance_name> [-d 'DESKTOP_SEL' [--follow]] [--tags <name>|^<n>[,...]][--floating] [--fullscreen] [--locked] [--sticky] [--focus] [--unmanage] [--one-shot]::
553 *-r*, *--remove* <name>|^<n>|tail|head...::
554 Remove the rules with the given names or indexes.
556 *-l*, *--list* [<name>]::
565 config [-m 'MONITOR_SEL'|-d 'DESKTOP_SEL'] <key> [<value>]::
566 Get or set the value of <key>.
575 Quit with an optional exit status.
579 Colors are either http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X11_color_names[X color names] or '#RRGGBB', booleans are 'true' or 'false'.
581 All the boolean settings are 'false' by default.
586 'focused_border_color'::
587 Color of the border of a focused window of a focused monitor.
589 'active_border_color'::
590 Color of the border of a focused window of an unfocused monitor.
592 'normal_border_color'::
593 Color of the border of an unfocused window.
595 'presel_border_color'::
596 Color of the *presel* message feedback.
598 'focused_locked_border_color'::
599 Color of the border of a focused locked window of a focused monitor.
601 'active_locked_border_color'::
602 Color of the border of a focused locked window of an unfocused monitor.
604 'normal_locked_border_color'::
605 Color of the border of an unfocused locked window.
607 'focused_sticky_border_color'::
608 Color of the border of a focused sticky window of a focused monitor.
610 'active_sticky_border_color'::
611 Color of the border of a focused sticky window of an unfocused monitor.
613 'normal_sticky_border_color'::
614 Color of the border of an unfocused sticky window.
616 'urgent_border_color'::
617 Color of the border of an urgent window.
623 Intensity of the growth involved in pulling or pushing an edge.
625 'history_aware_focus'::
626 Give priority to the focus history when focusing nodes.
628 'borderless_monocle'::
629 Remove borders for tiled windows in monocle mode.
632 Remove gaps for tiled windows in monocle mode.
634 'focus_follows_pointer'::
635 Focus the window under the pointer.
637 'pointer_follows_monitor'::
638 When focusing a monitor, put the pointer at its center.
641 Interpret two consecutive identical *use* messages as an *alternate* message.
644 Interpret two consecutive identical *presel* messages as a *cancel* message.
646 'apply_floating_atom'::
647 Set the value of the '_BSPWM_FLOATING_WINDOW' atom of each window according to its floating state.
650 Honor EWMH requests to focus a window.
659 Padding space added at the sides of the monitor.
665 Size of the gap that separates windows.
671 Environment Variables
672 ---------------------
675 The path of the socket used for the communication between *bspc* and *bspwm*. If it isn't defined, then the following path is used: '/tmp/bspwm-socket'.
680 * Any EWMH compliant panel (e.g.: 'tint2', 'bmpanel2', etc.).
681 * A custom panel if the '-s' flag is used (have a look at the files in 'examples/panel').
686 * Configured and controlled through messages.
687 * Multiple monitors support (via 'RandR').
688 * EWMH support (*tint2* works).
694 * Steven Allen <steven at stebalien.com>
695 * Thomas Adam <thomas at xteddy.org>
696 * Ivan Kanakarakis <ivan.kanak at gmail.com>
701 Bastien Dejean <nihilhill at gmail.com>
706 bspwm at librelist.com
709 vim: set ft=asciidoc: