----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- | -- Module : XMonad.Doc.Extending -- Copyright : (C) 2007 Andrea Rossato -- License : BSD3 -- -- Maintainer : andrea.rossato@unibz.it -- Stability : unstable -- Portability : portable -- -- This module documents the xmonad-contrib library and -- how to use it to extend the capabilities of xmonad. -- -- Reading this document should not require a deep knowledge of -- Haskell; the examples are intended to be useful and understandable -- for those users who do not know Haskell and don't want to have to -- learn it just to configure xmonad. You should be able to get by -- just fine by ignoring anything you don't understand and using the -- provided examples as templates. However, relevant Haskell features -- are discussed when appropriate, so this document will hopefully be -- useful for more advanced Haskell users as well. -- -- Those wishing to be totally hardcore and develop their own xmonad -- extensions (it's easier than it sounds, we promise!) should read -- the documentation in "XMonad.Doc.Developing". -- -- More configuration examples may be found on the Haskell wiki: -- -- -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- module XMonad.Doc.Extending ( -- * The xmonad-contrib library -- $library -- ** Actions -- $actions -- ** Configurations -- $configs -- ** Hooks -- $hooks -- ** Layouts -- $layouts -- ** Prompts -- $prompts -- ** Utilities -- $utils -- * Extending xmonad -- $extending -- ** Editing key bindings -- $keys -- *** Adding key bindings -- $keyAdding -- *** Removing key bindings -- $keyDel -- *** Adding and removing key bindings -- $keyAddDel -- ** Editing the layout hook -- $layoutHook -- ** Editing the manage hook -- $manageHook -- ** The log hook and external status bars -- $logHook ) where -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- -- The XmonadContrib Library -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- {- $library The xmonad-contrib (xmc) library is a set of extension modules contributed by xmonad hackers and users, which provide additional xmonad features. Examples include various layout modes (tabbed, spiral, three-column...), prompts, program launchers, the ability to manipulate windows and workspaces in various ways, alternate navigation modes, and much more. There are also \"meta-modules\" which make it easier to write new modules and extensions. This is a concise yet complete overview of the xmonad-contrib modules. For more information about any particular module, just click on its name to view its Haddock documentation; each module should come with extensive documentation. If you find a module that could be better documented, or has incorrect documentation, please report it as a bug ()! -} {- $actions In the @XMonad.Actions@ namespace you can find modules exporting various functions that are usually intended to be bound to key combinations or mouse actions, in order to provide functionality beyond the standard keybindings provided by xmonad. See "XMonad.Doc.Extending#Editing_key_bindings" for instructions on how to edit your key bindings. * "XMonad.Actions.Commands": running internal xmonad actions interactively. * "XMonad.Actions.ConstrainedResize": an aspect-ratio-constrained window resizing mode. * "XMonad.Actions.CopyWindow": duplicating windows on multiple workspaces. * "XMonad.Actions.CycleWS": move between workspaces. * "XMonad.Actions.DeManage": cease management of a window without unmapping it. * "XMonad.Actions.DwmPromote": dwm-like master window swapping. * "XMonad.Actions.DynamicWorkspaces": add and delete workspaces. * "XMonad.Actions.FindEmptyWorkspace": find an empty workspace. * "XMonad.Actions.FlexibleManipulate": move\/resize windows without warping the mouse. * "XMonad.Actions.FlexibleResize": resize windows from any corner. * "XMonad.Actions.FloatKeys": move\/resize floating windows with keybindings. * "XMonad.Actions.FocusNth": focus the nth window on the screen. * "XMonad.Actions.MouseGestures": bind mouse gestures to actions. * "XMonad.Actions.RotSlaves": rotate non-master windows. * "XMonad.Actions.RotView": cycle through non-empty workspaces. * "XMonad.Actions.SimpleDate": display the date in a popup menu. * "XMonad.Actions.SinkAll": sink all floating windows. * "XMonad.Actions.Submap": create key submaps, i.e. the ability to bind actions to key sequences rather than being limited to single key combinations. * "XMonad.Actions.SwapWorkspaces": swap workspace tags. * "XMonad.Actions.TagWindows": tag windows and select by tag. * "XMonad.Actions.Warp": warp the pointer. * "XMonad.Actions.WindowBringer": bring windows to you, and you to windows. * "XMonad.Actions.WmiiActions": wmii-style actions. -} {- $configs In the @XMonad.Config@ namespace you can find modules exporting the configurations used by some of the xmonad and xmonad-contrib developers. You can look at them for examples while creating your own configuration; you can also simply import them and use them as your own configuration, possibly with some modifications. * "XMonad.Config.Arossato" * "XMonad.Config.Dons" * "XMonad.Config.Droundy" * "XMonad.Config.Sjanssen" -} {- $hooks In the @XMonad.Hooks@ namespace you can find modules exporting hooks. Hooks are actions that xmonad performs when certain events occur. The two most important hooks are: * 'XMonad.Core.manageHook': this hook is called when a new window xmonad must take care of is created. This is a very powerful hook, since it lets us examine the new window's properties and act accordingly. For instance, we can configure xmonad to put windows belonging to a given application in the float layer, not to manage dock applications, or open them in a given workspace. See "XMonad.Doc.Extending#Editing_the_manage_hook" for more information on customizing 'XMonad.Core.manageHook'. * 'XMonad.Core.logHook': this hook is called when the stack of windows managed by xmonad has been changed, by calling the 'XMonad.Operations.windows' function. For instance "XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog" will produce a string (whose format can be configured) to be printed to the standard output. This can be used to display some information about the xmonad state in a status bar. See "XMonad.Doc.Extending#The_log_hook_and_external_status_bars" for more information. Here is a list of the modules found in @XMonad.Hooks@: * "XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog": for use with 'XMonad.Core.logHook'; send information about xmonad's state to standard output, suitable for putting in a status bar of some sort. See "XMonad.Doc.Extending#The_log_hook_and_external_status_bars". * "XMonad.Hooks.EwmhDesktops": support for pagers in panel applications. * "XMonad.Hooks.ManageDocks": handle DOCK and STRUT windows appropriately. * "XMonad.Hooks.SetWMName": set the WM name. Useful when e.g. running Java GUI programs. * "XMonad.Hooks.UrgencyHook": configure an action to occur when a window sets the urgent flag. * "XMonad.Hooks.XPropManage": match on XProperties in your 'XMonad.Core.manageHook'. -} {- $layouts In the @XMonad.Layout@ namespace you can find modules exporting contributed tiling algorithms, such as a tabbed layout, a circle, a spiral, three columns, and so on. You will also find modules which provide facilities for combining different layouts, such as "XMonad.Layout.Combo", or "XMonad.Layout.LayoutCombinators". Layouts can be also modified with layout modifiers. A general interface for writing layout modifiers is implemented in "XMonad.Layout.LayoutModifier". For more information on using those modules for customizing your 'XMonad.Core.layoutHook' see "XMonad.Doc.Extending#Editing_the_layout_hook". * "XMonad.Layout.Accordion": put non-focused windows in ribbons at the top and bottom of the screen. * "XMonad.Layout.Circle": an elliptical, overlapping layout. * "XMonad.Layout.Combo": combine multiple layouts into one. * "XMonad.Layout.Dishes": stack extra windows underneath the master windows. * "XMonad.Layout.DragPane": split the screen into two windows with a draggable divider. * "XMonad.Layout.Grid": put windows in a square grid. * "XMonad.Layout.LayoutCombinators": general layout combining. * "XMonad.Layout.LayoutHints": make layouts respect window size hints. * "XMonad.Layout.LayoutModifier": a general framework for creating layout \"modifiers\"; useful for creating new layout modules. * "XMonad.Layout.LayoutScreens": divide the screen into multiple virtual \"screens\". * "XMonad.Layout.MagicFocus": automagically put the focused window in the master area. * "XMonad.Layout.Maximize": temporarily maximize the focused window. * "XMonad.Layout.MosaicAlt": give each window a specified relative amount of screen space. * "XMonad.Layout.MultiToggle": dynamically apply and unapply layout transformers. * "XMonad.Layout.Named": change the names of layouts (as reported by e.g. "XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog"). * "XMonad.Layout.NoBorders": display windows without borders. * "XMonad.Layout.PerWorkspace": configure layouts on a per-workspace basis. * "XMonad.Layout.ResizableTile": tiled layout allowing you to change width and height of windows. * "XMonad.Layout.Roledex": a \"completely pointless layout which acts like Microsoft's Flip 3D\". * "XMonad.Layout.Spiral": Fibonacci spiral layout. * "XMonad.Layout.Square": split the screen into a square area plus the rest. * "XMonad.Layout.Tabbed": a tabbed layout. * "XMonad.Layout.ThreeColumns": a layout with three columns instead of two. * "XMonad.Layout.TilePrime": fill gaps created by resize hints. * "XMonad.Layout.ToggleLayouts": toggle between two layouts. * "XMonad.Layout.TwoPane": split the screen horizontally and show two windows. * "XMonad.Layout.WindowNavigation": navigate around a workspace directionally instead of using mod-j\/k. * "XMonad.Layout.WorkspaceDir": set the current working directory in a workspace. -} {- $prompts In the @XMonad.Prompt@ name space you can find modules providing graphical prompts for getting user input and using it to perform various actions. The "XMonad.Prompt" provides a library for easily writing new prompt modules. These are the available prompts: * "XMonad.Prompt.Directory" * "XMonad.Prompt.Layout" * "XMonad.Prompt.Man" * "XMonad.Prompt.Shell" * "XMonad.Prompt.Ssh" * "XMonad.Prompt.Window" * "XMonad.Prompt.Workspace" * "XMonad.Prompt.XMonad" Usually a prompt is called by some key binding. See "XMonad.Doc.Extending#Editing_key_bindings", which includes examples of adding some prompts. -} {- $utils In the @XMonad.Util@ namespace you can find modules exporting various utility functions that are used by the other modules of the xmonad-contrib library. There are also utilities for helping in configuring xmonad or using external utilities. A non complete list with a brief description: * "XMonad.Util.CustomKeys" or "XMonad.Util.EZConfig" can be used to configure key bindings (see "XMonad.Doc.Extending#Editing_key_bindings"); * "XMonad.Util.Dzen" "XMonad.Util.Dmenu" provide useful functions for running dzen as a xmonad status bar and dmenu as a program launcher; * "XMonad.Util.XSelection" provide utilities for using the mouse selection; * "XMonad.Util.XUtils" and "XMonad.Util.Font" are libraries for accessing Xlib and XFT function in a convenient way. -} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- -- Extending Xmonad -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- {- $extending #Extending_xmonad# Since the @xmonad.hs@ file is just another Haskell module, you may import and use any Haskell code or libraries you wish, such as extensions from the xmonad-contrib library, or other code you write yourself. -} {- $keys #Editing_key_bindings# Editing key bindings means changing the 'XMonad.Core.XConfig.keys' record of the 'XMonad.Core.XConfig' data type, like: > main = xmonad defaultConfig { keys = myKeys } and providing a proper definition of @myKeys@ such as: > myKeys x = > [ ((modMask x, xK_F12), xmonadPrompt defaultXPConfig) > , ((modMask x, xK_F3 ), shellPrompt defaultXPConfig) > ] This particular definition also requires importing "Graphics.X11.Xlib" (for the symbols such as @xK_F12@), "XMonad.Prompt", "XMonad.Prompt.Shell", and "XMonad.Prompt.XMonad": > import Graphics.X11.Xlib > import ... Sometimes, more than completely redefining the key bindings, as we did above, we may want to add some new bindings, or\/and remove existing ones. -} {- $keyAdding #Adding_key_bindings# Adding key bindings can be done in different ways. The type signature of "XMonad.Core.XConfig.keys" is: > keys :: XConfig Layout -> M.Map (ButtonMask,KeySym) (X ()) which means thatm in order to add new bindings you need to create a 'Data.Map.Map' from the list of your new key bindings, you can do that with 'Data.Map.fromList', and then join this newly created map with the one of the existing bindings. This can be done with 'Data.Map.union'. For instance, if you have defined some additional key bindings like these: > myKeys x = > [ ((modMask x, xK_F12), xmonadPrompt defaultXPConfig) > , ((modMask x, xK_F3 ), shellPrompt defaultXPConfig) > ] then you create a new key bindings map by joining the default one with yours: > newKeys x = M.union (keys defaultConfig x) (M.fromList (myKeys x)) Finally you need to update accordingly the default configuration 'XMonad.Core.XConfig.keys' record: > main = xmonad defaultConfig { keys = newKeys } And that's it. At the end your @~\/.xmonad\/xmonad.hs@ would look like this: > module Main (main) where > > import XMonad > > import qualified Data.Map as M > import Graphics.X11.Xlib > import XMonad.Prompt > import XMonad.Prompt.Shell > import XMonad.Prompt.XMonad > > main :: IO () > main = xmonad defaultConfig { keys = newKeys } > > newKeys x = M.union (keys defaultConfig x) (M.fromList (myKeys x)) > > myKeys x = > [ ((modMask x, xK_F12), xmonadPrompt defaultXPConfig) > , ((modMask x, xK_F3 ), shellPrompt defaultXPConfig) > ] Obviously there are other ways of defining @newKeys@. For instance, you could define it like this: > newKeys x = foldr (uncurry M.insert) (keys defaultConfig x) (myKeys x) An even simpler way to add new key bindings is the use of some of the utilities provided by the xmonad-contrib library. For instance, "XMonad.Util.EZConfig" and "XMonad.Util.CustomKeys" both provide useful functions for editing your key bindings. Look, for instance, at 'XMonad.Util.EZConfig.additionalKeys'. -} {- $keyDel #Removing_key_bindings# Removing key bindings requires modifying the binding 'Data.Map.Map'. This can be done with 'Data.Map.difference' or with 'Data.Map.delete'. Suppose you wan to get rid of @mod-q@ and @mod-shift-q@. To do this you just need to define a @newKeys@ as a 'Data.Map.difference' between the default map and the map of the key bindings you want to remove. > newKeys x = M.difference (keys defaultConfig x) (M.fromList $ keysToRemove x) > > keysToRemove :: XConfig Layout -> [((KeyMask, KeySym),X ())] > keysToRemove x = > [ ((modMask x , xK_q ), return ()) > , ((modMask x .|. shiftMask, xK_q ), return ()) > ] As you may see we do not need to define an action for the key bindings we want to get rid of. We just build a map of keys to remove. It is also possible to define a list of key bindings and then use 'Data.Map.delete' to remove them from the default key bindings, in which case we should write something like: > newKeys x = foldr M.delete (keys defaultConfig x) (keysToRemove x) > > keysToRemove :: XConfig Layout -> [(KeyMask, KeySym)] > keysToRemove x = > [ (modMask x , xK_q ) > , (modMask x .|. shiftMask, xK_q ) > ] Another even simpler possibility is the use of some of the utilities provided by the xmonad-contrib library. Look, for instance, at 'XMonad.Util.EZConfig.removeKeys'. -} {- $keyAddDel #Adding_and_removing_key_bindings# Adding and removing key bindings requires to compose the action of removing and, after that, the action of adding. This is an example you may find in "XMonad.Config.Arossato": > defKeys = keys defaultConfig > delKeys x = foldr M.delete (defKeys x) (toRemove x) > newKeys x = foldr (uncurry M.insert) (delKeys x) (toAdd x) > -- remove some of the default key bindings > toRemove x = > [ (modMask x , xK_j ) > , (modMask x , xK_k ) > , (modMask x , xK_p ) > , (modMask x .|. shiftMask, xK_p ) > , (modMask x .|. shiftMask, xK_q ) > , (modMask x , xK_q ) > ] ++ > -- I want modMask .|. shiftMask 1-9 to be free! > [(shiftMask .|. modMask x, k) | k <- [xK_1 .. xK_9]] > -- These are my personal key bindings > toAdd x = > [ ((modMask x , xK_F12 ), xmonadPrompt defaultXPConfig ) > , ((modMask x , xK_F3 ), shellPrompt defaultXPConfig ) > ] ++ > -- Use modMask .|. shiftMask .|. controlMask 1-9 instead > [( (m .|. modMask x, k), windows $ f i) > | (i, k) <- zip (workspaces x) [xK_1 .. xK_9] > , (f, m) <- [(W.greedyView, 0), (W.shift, shiftMask .|. controlMask)] > ] You can achieve the same result by using "XMonad.Util.CustomKeys" and, specifically, 'XMonad.Util.CustomKeys.customKeys'. -} {- $layoutHook #Editing_the_layout_hook# When you start an application that opens a new window, when you change the focused window, or move it to another workspace, or change that workspace's layout, xmonad will use the 'XMonad.Core.layoutHook' for reordering the visible windows on the visible workspace(s). Since different layouts may be attached to different workspaces, and you can change them, xmonad needs to know which one to pick up. In this sense the layoutHook may be thought as the combination, or the list, of layouts that xmonad will use for ordering windows on the screen(s) The problem is that the layout subsystem is implemented with an advanced feature of the Haskell programming language: type classes. This allows us to very easily write new layouts, combine or modify existing layouts, have some of them with a state, etc. See "XMonad.Doc.Extending#The_LayoutClass" for more information. The price we have to pay to get all that for free - which is something that makes xmonad so powerful with such a ridiculously low number of lines - is that we cannot simply have a list of layouts as we used to have before the 0.5 release: a list requires every member to belong to the same type! Instead the combination of layouts to be used by xmonad is created with a specific layout combinator: 'XMonad.Layouts.|||' Suppose we want a list with the 'XMonad.Layouts.Full', the 'XMonad.Layout.Tabbed.tabbed' and the 'XMonad.Layout.Accordion.Accordion' layouts. First we import, in our @~\/.xmonad\/xmonad.hs@, all the needed module: > import XMonad > import XMonad.Layouts > > import XMonad.Layout.Tabbed > import XMonad.Layout.Accordion Then we create the combination of layouts we need: > mylayoutHook = Full ||| tabbed shrinkText defaultTConf ||| Accordion Now, all we need to do is to change the 'XMonad.Core.layoutHook' record of the 'XMonad.Core.XConfig' data type, like: > main = xmonad defaultConfig { layoutHook = mylayoutHook } Thanks to the new combinator we can apply a layout modifier to the combination of layouts, instead of applying it to each one. Suppose we want to use the 'XMonad.Layout.NoBorders.noBorders' layout modifier, from the "XMonad.Layout.NoBorders" module (which must be imported): > mylayoutHook = noBorders (Full ||| tabbed shrinkText defaultTConf ||| Accordion) Obviously, if we want only the tabbed layout without borders, then we may write: > mylayoutHook = Full ||| noBorders (tabbed shrinkText defaultTConf) ||| Accordion Our @~\/.xmonad\/xmonad.hs@ will now look like this: > import XMonad.Layouts > > import XMonad.Layout.Tabbed > import XMonad.Layout.Accordion > import XMonad.Layout.NoBorders > > mylayoutHook = Full ||| noBorders (tabbed shrinkText defaultTConf) ||| Accordion > > main = xmonad defaultConfig { layoutHook = mylayoutHook } That's it! -} {- $manageHook #Editing_the_manage_hook# TODO: Manage Hook -} {- $logHook #The_log_hook_and_external_status_bars# TODO: Log Hook -}