My own i3 cheatsheet.

Basics

The mod key ($mod) - is the primary key that is part of pretty much every hotkey in i3. Usually the $mod key is Super (Win), and it's recommended to leave it as it is. I tried using the L Alt key, but at the time i3 key had some problems.

Arrow heys

In i3, besides of the arrow keys you can use the following keys:

`J`	`K`	`L`	`;`
`←`	`↓`	`↑`	`→`

It's kinda like arrow keys in Vim, but shifted by one key to the right.

Apps (basics)

$mod+Enter - terminal. By default it's gonna try to open urxvt
$mod+D - dmenu (app menu)

Window management

$mod+Shift+Q - close the current window.
$mod+V - vertical mode. All windows will be arranged vertically.
$mod+E - tiling mode. All window well be arranged in their own tiles.
$mod+W - tab mode. New windows will be opened in the horizontal tabs in one pane.
$mod+S - stacking mode. Same as mode, but the arrangement will be vertical - as a stack.
$mod+R - resize mode.
$mod+Shift+←/↓/↑/→ - move the window to specified direction.
$mod+←/↓/↑/→ - focus on the window at the specified direction.

Resize mode

there will be the label resize in the left corner of the statusbar
$mod+← - expand the window to the left
$mod+→ - expand the window to the right
$mod+↑ - expand the window upwards
$mod+↓ - expand the window downwards
Esc - quit the resize mode

Session

$mod+Shift+E - quit the session
$mod+Shift+R - reload the i3 config
```
i3lock # locks the screen
```
To unlock the screen, you have to just type your password on the keyboard.

Workspaces

$mod+Shift+0-9 - create a workplace on the specified slot
$mod+0-9 - switch to a workplace on the specified slot

Configuration

When you launch i3 for the first time, the setup wizard will be opened, and it will propose to create a config file. If you somehow skipped it, you can do it re-launch the wizard:

i3-config-wizard

The new configuration will be located at ~/.config/i3/config.

Now you have to edit the config to your preference and, when you're done, reload the config by pressing $mod+Shift+R.

bindsym $mod+shift+l exec i3lock - binds the hotkey on executing a shell command.
exec rhythmbox - executes a shell command on creating the i3 session. You can use it for apps auto-start.
exec_always rhythmbox - executes a shell command on every i3 config reload.

Font

You can change the font of the title bars and i3bar with the following line.

font pango:JetBrainsMono Nerd Font 8

Wallpaper

`feh`

Install feh

# ubuntu, debian
sudo apt install feh
# fedora
sudo dnf install feh
# archlinux
sudo pacman -S feh

In i3 config, add the line

exec_always feh --bg-scale /home/$USER/Pictures/wallpaper.jpg

`nitrogen`

# ubuntu, debian
sudo apt install nitrogen
# fedora
sudo dnf install nitrogen
# archlinux
sudo pacman -S nitrogen

In i3 config, add the line

exec --no-startup-id nitrogen --restore

Now launch nitrogen via terminal or dmenu and choose a wallpaper for each monitor you have, choose the filling mode and press the "Apply" button.

HiDPI

Source

Just create a file ~/.Xresources add a line

Xft.dpi: 144 ## Or 192 for the 200% scale (perfect for 4K monitors)

Keyboard layout switch

In the i3 config, add a line

exec --no-startup-id "setxkbmap -layout us,ru -option grp:win_space_toggle"

In the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf, find the InputClass section and add a line to its end:

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "system-keyboard"
    MatchIsKeyboard "on"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us,ru"
    Option "XkbVariant" ","
+   Option "XkbOptions" "grp:win_space_toggle,terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp,grp_led:scroll,numpad:microsoft"
EndSection

If you'd like to use Alt + Shift instead ofWin + Spacebar, replace the win_space_toggle part with alt_shift_toggle. You can see the full list of hotkeys in xkeyboard-config manual.

man xkeyboard-config

Change the default terminal

By default, i3-sensible-terminal is launched. It basically tries to launch multiple terminals you could have. Here's the list of those terminals.

You can just set a $TERMINAL variable and use exec $TERNINAL in every hotkey where you need to launch a terminal.

set $TERMINAL alacritty
bindsym $mod+Return exec $TERMINAL

Lock scren

bindsym $mod+l exec i3lock

If you want to use a default $mod + L hotkey, you will have to disable the JKL: keys for navigation between the windows.
You can also use i3-nagbar for a prompt with Mod + Shift + E.

-bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'Do you really want to exit i3?' -B 'Yes, exit i3' 'i3-msg exit'"
+bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'Do you really want to exit i3?' -B 'Yes, exit i3' 'i3-msg exit' -B 'Lock screen' 'i3lock'"

You can use the following flags with i3lock:

-c #ff0000 - background color (it's white by default)
-i path/to/image.png - background image
-u - removes the password indicator

man i3lock for more information.

i3wm cheatsheet