Scripts to make i3 more natural to use

config

# Move workspace left and right (swap if conflicting)
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Shift+Left exec $HOME/.i3/i3-swap.py left
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Shift+Right exec $HOME/.i3/i3-swap.py right

# Make the next free workspace number, whatever that is
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Return exec $HOME/.i3/i3-makews.py

# Rotate focus through visible workspaces on different monitors
bindsym $mod+x exec $HOME/.i3/i3-nextoutput.py

i3-makews.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Move to the next unused workspace number, without needing to think
"""

import json
import subprocess
import sys


def get_workspaces():
    result = subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "-t", "get_workspaces"],  check=True, capture_output=True)
    return json.loads(result.stdout.decode())


workspaces = get_workspaces()

# Find the first free workspace number (leaving workspace 0 for comms)
existing = set([ws['num'] for ws in workspaces])
target = 2
while target in existing:
    target += 1

subprocess.run(['i3-msg', 'workspace', str(target)], check=True)

i3-moveall.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Move all workspaces to the specified output
"""

import json
import subprocess
import sys


def get_workspaces():
    result = subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "-t", "get_workspaces"],  check=True, capture_output=True)
    return json.loads(result.stdout.decode())


for ws in get_workspaces():
    subprocess.run(['i3-msg', '[workspace="%s"]' % ws['num'], 'move', 'workspace', 'to', 'output', sys.argv[1]], check=True)

i3-nextoutput.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Focus the visible workspace on the next output

A reliable way to switch to the other monitor you're looking at, without
needing to prime or keep track of the "back_and_forth" buffer.
"""

import json
import subprocess
import sys


def get_workspaces():
    result = subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "-t", "get_workspaces"],  check=True, capture_output=True)
    return json.loads(result.stdout.decode())


display_workspace = {}
current_display = None

for ws in get_workspaces():
    if ws['visible']:
        display_workspace[ws['output']] = ws['num']

    if ws['focused']:
        current_display = ws['output']

displays = list(display_workspace.keys())
current_index = displays.index(current_display)
next_index = (current_index + 1) % len(displays)
next_display = displays[next_index]
next_ws = display_workspace[next_display]

subprocess.run(['i3-msg', 'workspace', str(next_ws)], check=True)

i3-swap.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Increment or decrement the workspace number, shifting other workspaces out of the way
"""

import argparse
import json
import subprocess
import sys


def rename_workspace(name, new_name):
    subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "rename", "workspace", name, "to", new_name], check=True)


def get_workspaces():
    result = subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "-t", "get_workspaces"],  check=True, capture_output=True)
    return json.loads(result.stdout.decode())


parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument("direction")
args = parser.parse_args()

workspaces = get_workspaces()

# Find focused workspace
for index, ws in enumerate(workspaces):
    if ws['focused']:
        focused = ws['num']
        break

# Get next workspace number
if args.direction == 'left':
    target = focused - 1
    if target < 0:
        print("Can't move any further left")
        sys.exit(1)

elif args.direction == 'right':
    target = focused + 1
else:
    raise AttributeError("Direction must be 'left' or 'right'. Got '%s'" % args.direction)

# Find any conflicting workspace to swap with
conflicting = [ws for ws in workspaces if ws['name'] == str(target)]

if len(conflicting):
    # Swap with conflicting workspace
    rename_workspace(str(target), 'tmp')
    rename_workspace(str(focused), str(target))
    rename_workspace('tmp', str(focused))
else:
    # Just rename as there's no conflict
    rename_workspace(str(focused), str(target))