Getting to Know the i3 Window Manager

[Brightflash64]

Interacting with the system through i3 is a bit different from basic MATE or Gnome. Yes, you still have some of the excellent MATE applications, but you'll find them and work with the windows via the keyboard. Demo videos are available to show workflow in Skywave Linux v4 and the special Skywave-Flashback version.

First, right click on the workspace number or use "Super + r" to bring up the Rofi, the app launcher / start menu. It lists applications according to how frequently you open them. The search bar is a fuzzy finder - start entering the name and it will offer applications according to spelling. Click to open the application.

Depending on the version you have (between 4.0 - 4.2), apps come up in tabbed or tiled format. Toggle any active window between floating and tabbed with "Shift + Super + Space."

Close an active window with "Shift + Super + q."

Pretty soon you will have muscle memory for floating / tabbing windows and closing apps.

Alacritty is your terminal, bound to "Super + Enter" or "CTRL + Alt + t"

To end your session, use either "Ctrl + Alt + Del" or "Shift + Super + e" The former is MATE's way of bringing up the shutdown dialog, while the latter is the i3 way.

Many other key combinations are given in the readme file linked in Firefox.

i3 documentation at i3wm.org/ is thorough and well written. To see a real i3 whiz in action, visit the Budlabs Youtube page.

Hope this helps / try not to get hurt in that fast workflow!

[davod]

Skywave is very cool, thanks for making it available. I'll probably use Skywave in a VM or booting from a flash drive. I haven't been using Linux all that long, a year or two. So as a new user, I wanted something that was familiar and comfortable. I chose Mint/Cinnamon and later moved to Manjaro/KDE Plasma.

i3 is neither familiar nor comfortable for most people. I may be mistaken, but it seems to me most people running tiling window managers are the long-time neck-beard Linux-using nerds.

I wonder if you've considered how many people may be completely alienated from Skywave when they boot it up and can't find a start menu? I'm sure i3 is a great thing if you spend the time learning it and need that sort of 'fast workflow'. But maybe it would be nice if you could continue to offer Mate, XFCE, or other more traditional DE, too?

[Brightflash64]

Welcome to Skywave Linux, Davod. You have arrived some time after the storm when version 4 came out and a few people hated i3. My position has always been that anyone can copy what they like into a setup they find more favorable. This one, with i3, works and proudly stands apart from the other Linux flavors trying to be the next Windows.

Here is a demo, with my response to the critics: Skywave Linux 4.1

I must ask: have you actually booted the system yet? The application launcher / start menu pops up whenever you right click on the workspace number or the blank area to the right of those numbers. Super + r also brings it up. Everything else is one or two keystrokes away.

As to a more traditional DE, the Flashback version is GNOME-Flashback.
Here is a demo: Skywave Linux - 4.3 - Flashback.

When version 4.4 is ready, it will be switchable between GNOME 41 and i3. There are still some instabilities which need to be fixed before I upload it for the world to access.

Cheers
Phil C / AB9IL / Skywave Linux

[ken schwarz]

Good to hear that 4.4 will be able to switch desktop environments. I'm all for learning new things and I'm always up for the challenge of using tech that's possibly more efficient (and there's always cred to gain if others don't understand it :) ) I use the Flashback version now simply because I don't have time to fiddle with things right now. I'm busy with other technologies, and mastering i3 isn't compelling to me right now, compared to all the great stuff contained in Skywave. Thanks for taking your time and passion and making a great product Phil! :)