Ditch the Mouse: How I Made My Linux Workflow 10x Faster with i3
Introduction: From Overwhelmed to Efficient
It all started when my once-speedy Ubuntu setup began to feel sluggish. I had countless tabs open, multiple applications running, and my system — despite its respectable specs — felt like it was drowning. My workflow was cluttered, and I found myself clicking through windows endlessly just to get to the right terminal or browser tab.
That’s when I stumbled upon i3, the tiling window manager. It wasn’t just another Linux gimmick — it was a complete paradigm shift in how I used my computer. At first, the lack of a traditional desktop felt jarring, but within days, I realized I had unlocked a faster, more efficient, and deeply customizable workflow that I never wanted to leave.
If you’re tired of bloated desktop environments and want a minimal, keyboard-driven, distraction-free setup, this guide will walk you through installing, configuring, and customizing i3 on Ubuntu.
Step 1: Installing i3 on Ubuntu
Getting i3 up and running on Ubuntu is straightforward. Open a terminal and run:
What Each Package Does:
- i3: The core window manager.
- i3status: Displays system info in the status bar.
- i3lock: A simple lock screen utility.
- Rofi: A powerful application launcher.
- Feh: A lightweight image viewer and wallpaper manager.
- Picom: A compositor that adds transparency, blur, and animations.
Once installed, log out and select i3 from the session menu at the login screen. On your first login, i3 will ask if you want to generate a config file — press Enter to confirm.
Step 2: Essential Keybindings in i3
Unlike traditional desktop environments, i3 is entirely keyboard-driven. Here are some essential keybindings:
Keybinding & Actions
Mod + Enter Open a terminal
Mod + DLaunch Rofi (app menu)
Mod + Shift + QClose window
Mod + H / Mod + LResize windows
Mod + 1,2,3...Switch workspaces
Mod + Shift + 1,2,3...Move window to workspace
Mod + Shift + RRestart i3 (apply config changes)
(Mod = Windows/Super key)
Step 3: Customizing i3 for an Aesthetic and Functional Setup
By default, i3 is pretty barebones. Let’s make it look beautiful and feel powerful with these tweaks.
Setting a Wallpaper
Using Feh, you can set a wallpaper:
To make this persistent, add the following line to ~/.config/i3/config:
Adding Transparency and Effects with Picom
To enable window transparency and blur effects:
- Create a configuration file:
- Paste the following settings:
- Save and exit (
Ctrl + X, thenYandEnter). - Start Picom by adding this to
~/.config/i3/config: - Restart i3 (
Mod + Shift + R).
Now, windows will have a subtle transparency effect and smooth animations
Step 4: Improving the Status Bar with Polybar
Polybar is a modern alternative to i3’s default status bar.
- Install Polybar:
- Create a config file:
- Add this minimal configuration:
- Launch Polybar at startup by adding this to
~/.config/i3/config: - Restart i3 (
Mod + Shift + R).
Step 5: A Better App Launcher with Rofi
Rofi is a stylish alternative to dmenu. To use it as your default app launcher:
- Add this line to your
~/.config/i3/config: - Restart i3 and press
Mod + Dto launch it.
Rofi allows fuzzy searching, making it faster to launch apps.
Step 6: Volume & Brightness Controls
To adjust volume and brightness using function keys, add this to ~/.config/i3/config:
Restart i3, and now your function keys will work for sound and brightness.
Conclusion: A New Way to Work
I started this journey feeling overwhelmed by cluttered windows and inefficient workflows. Now, I can navigate my entire system with a few keystrokes. i3 has transformed the way I use Ubuntu, making it faster, cleaner, and insanely productive.
If you’re tired of traditional desktops and want to maximize efficiency, give i3 a try. It might take a few days to adjust, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
What’s Next?
- 🚀 Next post: Deep-Diving into Advanced i3 Configurations
- 💬 Share your i3 setups and tweaks in the comments!
#Linux #i3wm #Ubuntu #TilingWM #Productivity
