Tutorials/Using Other Window Managers with Plasma

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Introduction

KWin is the default window manager (WM) in Plasma and has lot of features, but only support floating windows. Plasma let you use another window manager for example i3, bspwm or any other tilling window manager.

Most window managers require few, if any, changes to their configuration files.

Some considerations to be aware of when using another window manager:

• Tiling window managers may have problems with components like panels. For some configuration options will help alleviate issues

• Most window managers do not have their own compositors, and therefore lack such features as animations and transparency. If such effects are desired, a compositor, such as compton, is required

I3 configuration

Installation

Before starting the configuration, you should make sure i3 or i3-gaps are installed on your system. If not use your packet manager or Discover to install one of this two packages. You should also install a compositor, because unlike KWin, i3 don't ship with an integrated compositor. I recommend the use of compton.

Create a default i3 configuration

Note

If you already have an i3 configuration file (usually at .i3/config or .config/i3/config), you can skip this step.

Open a console and type i3-config-wizard. This command open a small windows that will help you create a configuration file.

Using another Window Manager with Plasma through System Settings

• Create a shell script (kde-i3.sh as an example), containing the following

  #!/bin/sh
  export KDEWM=/usr/bin/i3
  

Replace /usr/bin/i3 with the path to the window manager desired.

• Start System Settings

• Select Startup and Shutdown

• Select "Autostart"

• Click the "Add script" button below the list

• Enter the location of the script created earlier, or use the folder icon to use a dialog to find it. Click OK, the script will be added to the list

• In the Run On column, select Before Session Startup from the drop down list

• The chosen window manager will be used the next time you log in