Xmonad

Xmonad is a tiling window manager for X. Windows are arranged automatically to tile the screen without gaps or overlap, maximizing screen use. Xmonad is written, configured and extensible in Haskell. Custom layout algorithms, key bindings and other extensions may be written by the user in configuration files. Layouts are applied dynamically, and different layouts may be used on each workspace. Xinerama is fully supported, allowing windows to be tiled on several physical screens.

Installation

Once you finish installing Archcraft, Xmonad can be installed on the top of it. It's pre-configured and ready to go. Open a terminal and run the following command to install Xmonad :

$ sudo pacman -Sy archcraft-xmonad

Configuration

Xmonad is pre-configured in Archcraft. In this section, We'll see how the Xmonad window manager is configured, what tools and utilities are used to make it look and work like a complete desktop environment.

Config Structure

The configuration structure of Xmonad in Archcraft looks something like this:

~/.xmonad        : xmonad config directory
├── alacritty    : terminal config
├── scripts      : scripts used for xmonad
├── theme        : desktop theme (polybar, rofi configs) 
├── dunstrc      : dunst config for notifications
├── picom.conf   : compositor config
├── xmonad.hs    : main xmonad config file
└── xsettingsd   : gtk themes, icons and fonts config file

Terminal

Alacritty is the default terminal. In the Xmonad window manager, alacritty is launched with an alternative config file. If you need to change anything, make sure you modify the config files in ~/.xmonad/alacritty directory. These are the following config files you can modify to change the behaviour of your terminal:

~/.xmonad/alacritty/alacritty.toml : Main configuration file
~/.xmonad/alacritty/colors.toml : Colors configurations
~/.xmonad/alacritty/fonts.toml : Fonts configurations

If you need any help with alacritty config, run : man 5 alacritty in terminal.

Notification

Dunst is used as a notification daemon for notifications in Xmonad. In the Xmonad window manager, dunst is launched with an alternative config file, which is ~/.xmonad/dunstrc. So, If you need to modify anything, make sure you edit this file.

If you need any help with dunst config, run : man 5 dunst in terminal.

Wallpaper

hsetroot sets the wallpaper in the Xmonad. If you want to change the wallpaper, Edit ~/.xmonad/scripts/xmonad_autostart script and add the path to your wallpaper :

# Restore wallpaper
hsetroot -cover '/path/to/your/wallpaper'

Statusbar

Polybar is used as the statusbar in Archcraft's Xmonad window manager.

The configurations for polybar can be found inside the theme directory directory of Xmonad ~/.xmonad/theme

If you want to modify the polybar settings, or perhaps want to add/remove modules, then you need to edit the following files :

~/.xmonad/theme/polybar/config.ini : Main config file
~/.xmonad/theme/polybar/colors.ini : Colors config file
~/.xmonad/theme/polybar/modules.ini : Modules config file

If you need any help with polybar config, visit : polybar wiki

Launchers and Applets

Rofi is used for application launchers, command runner and various applets. To modify the rofi config, edit ~/.config/rofi/config.rasi file.

If you need any help with rofi config, run : man rofi in terminal.

The scripts for rofi that are used in Xmonad can be found it ~/.xmonad/scripts directory. These are the following scripts that uses rofi to provide the launchers and applets in Xmonad :

rofi_askpass : rofi based sudo frontend to get root password
rofi_asroot : applet to open apps as root
rofi_bluetooth : bluetooth applet to quickly connect to BT devices
rofi_launcher : an application launcher, cmd runner, file manager and task manager
rofi_music : music applet, that controls MPD with mpc
rofi_powermenu : power menu, with confirmation dialog
rofi_runner : quickly lets you run a command
rofi_screenshot : screenshot applet that works with maim
rofi_windows : applet to manage opened windows

If you want to modify any applet or perhaps want to extend the functionality of the applet, just edit these scripts above.

The configuration of each script can be found inside the theme directory of Xmonad ~/.xmonad/theme

Let's say you want to modify the looks of launcher, then you need to edit the ~/.xmonad/theme/rofi/launcher.rasi file. Same goes for every other applet, Edit the respective file in the same directory.

If you need any help with rofi theming, run : man rofi-theme in terminal.

To change the colors and fonts of the launchers and applets, Edit the ~/.xmonad/theme/rofi/shared/colors.rasi and ~/.xmonad/theme/rofi/shared/fonts.rasi files.

Compositor

Picom is used for compositing. It's a lightweight compositor with shadowing, advanced blurring and fading. In Xmonad, picom is launched with an alternative config file, which is ~/.xmonad/picom.conf.

If you need to change anything related to picom, Edit this picom config file.

If you need any help with picom config, check the picom's default config file in /etc/xdg/picom.conf

info

If you're having screen-tearing issues, using glx backend can solve this issue.
If you're facing lagging, hangs and freezes, try switching between xrender and glx backend.

Window Manager

The configuration of Xmonad is available in ~/.xmonad. To configure Xmonad window manager, this is the main file that is used :

xmonad.hs : main configuration file responsible for determining the behaviour and settings of the overall session. Edit this file to set window rules, configure workspaces, layouts, and xmonad appearance.

If you need any help with xmonad configuration, visit : xmonad.org

Keybindings

Here's a list of some important keybinds you need to know for operating Xmonad easily. If you want to view, modify or add new keybinds, Edit ~/.xmonad/xmonad.hs file.

Applications

Keys	Action
super + Return	Open terminal (alacritty)
super + shift + Return	Open floating terminal
super + alt + Return	Open fullscreen terminal
super + shift + F	Open file manager (thunar)
super + shift + E	Open text editor (geany)
super + shift + W	Open web browser (firefox)

Menu and Applets

Keys	Action
super	Open application launcher
alt + F1	Open application launcher
alt + F2	Open command runner
super + N	Open network manager applet
super + B	Open bluetooth applet
super + M	Open music applet
super + X	Open powermenu applet
super + S	Open screenshots applet
super + R	Open apps as root applet
super + W	Open window applet

Hardware Keys

Keys	Action
Print	Take screenshot
alt + Print	Take screenshot in 5 seconds delay
shift + Print	Take screenshot in 10 seconds delay
ctrl + Print	Take screenshot of currently focused window
super + Print	Take screenshot of selected area
XF86AudioRaiseVolume	Increase volume
XF86AudioLowerVolume	Decrease volume
XF86AudioMute	Toggle mute speakers
XF86AudioMicMute	Toggle mute microphone
XF86Audio + Next/Prev/Play/Stop	Media controls (MPD)
XF86MonBrightnessUp	Increase display brightness
XF86MonBrightnessDown	Decrease display brightness

Workspaces

Keys	Action
super + 1..9,0	Switch to respective workspace
super + shift + 1..9,0	Send focused client to respective workspace
super + Y/U/I	Switch to physical/Xinerama screens 1, 2, or 3
super + shift + Y/U/I	Move client to screen 1, 2, or 3

Window Management

Keys	Action
super + C	Close focused window
super + ctrl + G	Toggle all gaps
super + shift + G	Reset the gaps
super + ctrl + T	Increase the left-hand gap
super + shift + T	Decrease the left-hand gap
super + ctrl + Y	Increase the top gap
super + shift + Y	Decrease the top gap
super + ctrl + U	Increase the bottom gap
super + shift + U	Decrease the bottom gap
super + ctrl + I	Increase the right-hand gap
super + shift + I	Decrease the right-hand gap
super + shift + R	Resize viewed windows to the correct size
super + shift + M	Move focus to the master window
super + shift + S	Swap the focused window and the master window
super + shift + T	Push window back into tiling
super + Space	Rotate through the available layout algorithms
super + shift + Space	Reset the layouts on the current workspace to default
super + Tab	Move focus to the next window
super + Left/J	Move focus to the next window
super + Right/K	Move focus to the previous window
super + shift + Left/J	Swap the focused window with the next window
super + shift + Right/K	Swap the focused window with the previous window
super + H	Shrink the master area
super + ctrl + Left	Shrink the master area
super + L	Expand the master area
super + ctrl + Right	Expand the master area
super + Comma	Increase the number of windows in the master area
super + Period	Decrease the number of windows in the master area
super + Q	Recompile and restart xmonad

Misc Keys

Keys	Action
ctrl + alt + L	Trigger lockscreen
super + P	Run colorpicker
super + Escape	Run xkill

Screenshots

Here's few screenshots of Xmonad desktop. These'll give you an idea of the experience of Xmonad in Archcraft.

Desktop 1	Desktop 2	Desktop 3	Desktop 4

Desktop 5	Desktop 6	Desktop 7	Desktop 8

Desktop 9	Desktop 10	Desktop 11	Desktop 12

Desktop 13	Desktop 14	Desktop 15	Desktop 16

FAQs

How to update my config to new configs?

When a new version of Archcraft Xmonad get released, And you update the system by sudo pacman -Syu or you update the Xmonad package by sudo pacman -S archcraft-xmonad, New config files get installed as ~/.xmonad_pacnew_YYYY-MM-DD in your home directory.

To use new configs, backup your old ~/.xmonad directory and move ~/.xmonad_pacnew_YYYY-MM-DD to ~/.xmonad and login again.

How to change GTK theme, icons and cursor?

To change GTK theme, icons and cursor in Xmonad session, Edit ~/.xmonad/xsettingsd file and restart Xmonad to apply the changes.

Net/ThemeName "Rick"
Net/IconThemeName "Zafiro-Red"
Gtk/CursorThemeName "Qogirr-Dark"

How to manage multiple monitors and resolution in Xmonad?

If you use multiple monitors with Xmonad window manager, you can manage them by running Manager Monitors or archcraft-randr app.

Why Alacritty is not working on my computer?

Since Alacritty is a OpenGL based terminal emulator, It may not work on some computer hardwares. You can make it work on such computers by following these methods :

1. Open alacritty with LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 variable. Edit the keybindings/script launching alacritty and replace alacritty with LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 alacritty
2. Edit /usr/share/applications/Alacritty.desktop desktop file and replace Exec=alacritty with Exec=env LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 alacritty