2bwm

2bwm is a fast floating WM, with the particularity of having 2 borders, written over the XCB library and derived from mcwm written by Michael Cardell. In 2bwm everything is accessible from the keyboard but a pointing device can be used for move, resize and raise/lower.

Installation

Once you finish installing Archcraft, 2bwm 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 2bwm :

$ sudo pacman -Sy archcraft-2bwm

Configuration

2bwm is pre-configured in Archcraft. In this section, We'll see how the 2bwm 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 2bwm in Archcraft looks something like this:

/opt
└── 2bwm-source               : 2bwm source code
    └── config.h              : 2bwm config file
/usr
└── share
    └── archcraft
        └── 2bwm
            ├── alacritty     : terminal config
            ├── scripts       : scripts used for 2bwm
            ├── theme         : desktop theme (polybar, rofi configs) 
            ├── dunstrc       : dunst config for notifications
            ├── picom.conf    : compositor config
            └── xsettingsd    : gtk themes, icons and fonts config file

Terminal

Alacritty is the default terminal. In 2bwm window manager, alacritty is launched with an alternative config file. If you need to change anything, make sure you modify the config files in /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/alacritty directory. These are the following config files you can modify to change the behaviour of your terminal:

/usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/alacritty/alacritty.toml : Main configuration file
/usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/alacritty/colors.toml : Colors configurations
/usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/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 2bwm. In 2bwm window manager, dunst is launched with an alternative config file, which is /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/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 2bwm. If you want to change the wallpaper, Edit /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/scripts/2bwm_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 2bwm window manager.

The configurations for polybar can be found inside the theme directory directory of 2bwm /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/theme

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

/usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/theme/polybar/config.ini : Main config file
/usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/theme/polybar/colors.ini : Colors config file
/usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/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 2bwm can be found it /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/scripts directory. These are the following scripts that uses rofi to provide the launchers and applets :

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

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 2bwm /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/theme

Let's say you want to modify the looks of launcher, then you need to edit the /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/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 /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/theme/rofi/shared/colors.rasi and /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/theme/rofi/shared/fonts.rasi files.

Compositor

Picom is used for compositing. It's a lightweight compositor with shadowing, advanced blurring and fading. In 2bwm, picom is launched with an alternative config file, which is /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/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

/opt/2bwm-source/config.h is the main configuration file of 2bwm. If you need to change anything or perhaps you want to add/remove/change keybindings, Edit this file and recompile 2bwm and then install the new binary.

If you need any help with 2bwm configuration and customisation, run : man 2bwm

Keybindings

Here's a list of some important keybinds you need to know for operating 2bwm easily. If you want to view, modify or add new keybinds, Edit /opt/2bwm-source/config.h file.

Applications

Keys	Action
super + Return	Open terminal (alacritty)
super + shift + Return	Open fullscreen terminal
super + F	Open file manager (thunar)
super + E	Open text editor (geany)
super + 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

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
XF86MonBrightnessUp	Increase display brightness
XF86MonBrightnessDown	Decrease display brightness

Workspaces

Keys	Action
super + 1..9,0	Switch to respective workspace
super + ctrl + Right/Left	Next/Previous workspace
super + ctrl + shift + Right/Left	Move window to Next/Previous workspace
super + Comma/Period	Next/Previous screen

Window Management

Keys	Action
super + C/Q	Close focued window
super + Tab	Focus to next/previous window
super + Up/Down/Left/Right	Move window directionally
super + shift + Up/Down/Left/Right	Resize window directionally
super + alt + Left/Right	Resize while keeping the window's aspect ratio
super + G	Teleport the window to center of the screen
super + shift + G	Teleport the window to centerY of the screen
super + ctrl + G	Teleport the window to centerX of the screen
super + H	Teleport the window to Top left of the screen
super + K	Teleport the window to Top right of the screen
super + J	Teleport the window to Bottom left of the screen
super + L	Teleport the window to Bottom right of the screen
super + shift + M	Maximize window
super + shift + F	Fullscreen window
super + V	Maximize vertically
super + shift + V	Maximize horizontally
super + shift + H	Maximize and move vertically to the left
super + shift + L	Maximize and move vertically to the right
super + shift + J	Maximize and move horizontally to the left
super + shift + K	Maximize and move horizontally to the right
super + shift + ctrl + K	Maximize and move : fold half vertically
super + shift + ctrl + H	Maximize and move : fold half horizontally
super + shift + ctrl + J	Maximize and move : unfold vertically
super + shift + ctrl + L	Maximize and move : unfold horizontally
super + I	Iconify the window
super + A	Make the window unkillable
super + Z	Raise or lower a window
super + T	Make the window appear always on top
super + D	Make the window stay on all workspaces
super + Y	Toggle sloppy
super + Space	Make window half and centered

Window Manager

Keys	Action
super + ctrl + R	Restart 2bwm
super + ctrl + Q	Quit 2bwm

Misc Keys

Keys	Action
ctrl + alt + M	Open ncmpcpp with album art in terminal
ctrl + alt + L	Trigger lockscreen
super + P	Run colorpicker

Screenshots

Here's few screenshots of 2bwm desktop. These'll give you an idea of the experience of 2bwm 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

FAQs

How to change GTK theme, icons and cursor?

To change GTK theme, icons and cursor in 2bwm session, Edit /usr/share/archcraft/2bwm/xsettingsd file and restart 2bwm to apply the changes.

Net/ThemeName "Nordic"
Net/IconThemeName "Zafiro"
Gtk/CursorThemeName "Qogirr"

How to manage multiple monitors and resolution in 2bwm?

If you use multiple monitors with 2bwm 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