• Navigation

  Table 1: Navigation Key

  Modifier Key	Key	Function
  Mod4 (Super Key)	h	Switch to left window
  Mod4 (Super Key)	j	Switch to lower window
  Mod4 (Super Key)	k	Switch to upper window
  Mod4 (Super Key)	l	Switch to right window

• Window Movement

  Table 2: Window Movement

  Modifier Key	Key	Function
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Shift	h	Move window to the left
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Shift	j	Move window to bottom
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Shift	k	Move window to top
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Shift	l	Move window to the right

• Resizing Only works in floating mode.

  Table 3: Window Resizing

  Modifier Key	Key	Function
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Control	h	grow window to the left
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Control	j	grow window to bottom
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Control	k	grow window to top
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Control	l	grow window to the right

• Basic Commands

  Table 4: Basic Command

  Modifier Key	Key	Function
  Mod4 (Super Key)	TAB	Toggle between previous group
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Mod1 (ALT)	TAB	Toggle between layouts
  Mod4 (Super Key)	F4	Kill focused window
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Control	r	Reload Qtile configuration file(s)
  Mod4 (Super Key) + Control	q	Logout
  Mod4 (Super Key)	d	Spawn Command
  Mod4 (Super Key)	Space	Switch to next window

• Other Commands

  • picom These commands need picom available and running.

    Table 5: Other Command

    Modifier Key	Key	Function
    Mod4 (Super Key)	F2	Decrease transparency value for current window	picom
    Mod4 (Super Key)	F3	Increase transparency value for current window	picom

  • Hardware keys

    Table 6: Hardware Keys

    Modifier Key	Key	Function
    -	XF86MonBrightnessUp	Increase brightness	brightnessctl
    -	XF86MonBrightnessDown	Decrease brightness	brightnessctl
    -	XF86AudioLowerVolume	Decrease volume	pactl
    -	XF86AudioRaiseVolume	Increase volume	pactl
    -	XF86AudioMute	Toggle volume muting	pactl
    -	XF86AudioPlay	Toggle media play/pause	playerctl
    -	XF86AudioNext	Toggle media play next	playerctl
    -	XF86AudioPrev	Toggle media play previous	playerctl
    -	XF86Mail	Opens Notmuch in Emacs	emacs
    -	XF86MyComupter	Open Thunar	thunar
    -	Print	Fullscreen screenshot	maim
    Mod4 (Super Key)	Print	Selection screenshot	maim

  • Various apps

    Table 7: Various Apps

    Modifier Key	Key	Function
    Mod4 (Super Key)	Return (Enter Key)	Opens Terminal	Configurable via Variable
    Mod4 (Super Key) + Shift	Return (Enter Key)	Open Emacs vterm	Emacs
    Mod4 (Super Key)	b	Opens Firefox	firefox
    Mod4 (Super Key)	m	Opens Notmuch in Emacs	emacs
    Mod4 (Super Key)	n	Opens emacsclient window	emacs
    Mod4 (Super Key) + Shift	m	Opens Emms in Emacs	emacs
    Mod4 (Super Key)	f	Opens Elfeed in Emacs	emacs
    Mod4 (Super Key)	t	Opens Telega in Emacs	emacs

Qtile will look for user configuration at ~/.config/qtile/config.py, so we’ll start there.

"""Qtile configuration file.

Copyright (c) 2010 Aldo Cortesi
Copyright (c) 2010, 2014 dequis
Copyright (c) 2012 Randall Ma
Copyright (c) 2012-2014 Tycho Andersen
Copyright (c) 2012 Craig Barnes
Copyright (c) 2013 horsik
Copyright (c) 2013 Tao Sauvage
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
# SOFTWARE.
"""

Since I’m basing from the default config, use their license header for now, also note in org-mode, if a source code block is using :shebang arguments, it’ll set the file as executable, it’s not required for qtile actually, but a good habit nonetheless.

This is what the default configuration listed:

from typing import List  # noqa: F401

from libqtile import bar, layout, widget, hook
from libqtile.config import Click, Drag, Group, Key, Match, Screen
from libqtile.lazy import lazy

• Imports for custom function.

  import psutil
  import subprocess
  import os
  import json
  from datetime import datetime
  

Subtitutes the actual keys.

mod = "mod4"
alt = "mod1"
altgr = "mod5"
shift = "shift"
control = "control"

left = "h"
right = "l"
down = "j"
up = "k"

Other variables

if os.getenv("TERMINAL"):
    terminal = os.getenv("TERMINAL")
else:
    terminal = "xterm"
groups = [Group(i) for i in "123456789"]
dgroups_key_binder = None
dgroups_app_rules = []  # type: List
follow_mouse_focus = False
bring_front_click = True
cursor_warp = True
auto_fullscreen = True
focus_on_window_activation = "smart"
reconfigure_screens = True
auto_minimize = True
wmname = "LG3D"
home = os.getenv("HOME")

wlan_interface = "wlo1"

if os.getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME"):
    xdg_config_home = os.getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME")
else:
    xdg_config_home = os.path.join(home, ".config")

if os.getenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME"):
    xdg_cache_home = os.getenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME")
else:
    xdg_cache_home = os.path.join(home, ".cache")

if os.getenv("XDG_DATA_HOME"):
    xdg_data_home = os.getenv("XDG_DATA_HOME")
else:
    xdg_data_home = os.path.join(home, ".local/share")

if os.getenv("XDG_PICTURES_DIR"):
    xdg_pictures_dir = os.getenv("XDG_PICTURES_DIR")
else:
    xdg_pictures_dir = os.path.join(home, "Pictures")

if os.path.exists("/usr/share/backgrounds/archlinux"):
    wallpaper_dir = "/usr/share/backgrounds/archlinux"
elif os.path.exists(os.path.join(home, xdg_pictures_dir + "Wallpapers")):
    wallpaper_dir = os.path.join(home, xdg_pictures_dir + "Wallpapers")
elif os.path.exists(os.path.join(xdg_data_home, "backgrounds")):
    wallpaper_dir = os.path.join(home, xdg_data_home + "backgrounds")

color_file = "wal/colors.json"
colors_absolute = os.path.join(xdg_cache_home, color_file)

Variables and import list will obviously changed depending on the settings I use.

• Check running process.

  def checkIfProcessRunning(processName):
        """Check if process running.
  
        Check if there is any running process that contains
        the given name processName.
        """
        # Iterate over the all the running process
        for proc in psutil.process_iter():
            try:
                  # Check if process name contains the given name string.
                if processName.lower() in proc.name().lower():
                    return True
            except (psutil.NoSuchProcess,
                    psutil.AccessDenied,
                    psutil.ZombieProcess):
                pass
        return False
  
  

• maim

  • fullscreen

    def maimFullScreen():
        now = datetime.now()
        screenshotfile = os.path.join(screenshots_dir,
                                      now.strftime("%Y_%m_%d-%H_%M_%S")
                                      + ".png")
        return subprocess.Popen(["maim", screenshotfile])
    
    

• Parse Xresources

  if os.path.isfile(colors_absolute):
      with open(colors_absolute, encoding="utf-8") as colorfile:
          color_list = json.load(colorfile)
          xcursor = color_list['special']['cursor']
          xbackground = color_list['special']['background']
          xforeground = color_list['special']['foreground']
          xcolor0 = color_list['colors']['color0']
          xcolor1 = color_list['colors']['color1']
          xcolor2 = color_list['colors']['color2']
          xcolor3 = color_list['colors']['color3']
          xcolor4 = color_list['colors']['color4']
          xcolor5 = color_list['colors']['color5']
          xcolor6 = color_list['colors']['color6']
          xcolor7 = color_list['colors']['color7']
          xcolor8 = color_list['colors']['color8']
          xcolor9 = color_list['colors']['color9']
          xcolor10 = color_list['colors']['color10']
          xcolor11 = color_list['colors']['color11']
          xcolor12 = color_list['colors']['color12']
          xcolor13 = color_list['colors']['color13']
          xcolor14 = color_list['colors']['color14']
          xcolor15 = color_list['colors']['color15']
  
  

• State “TODO” from [2022-03-15 Tue 04:54]

Definitely will be tweaking these. I also break the keybindings into several sections.

• navigations

  keys = []
  # Navigation
  
  keys.extend([
      # Window Navigation
      Key([mod], left,
          lazy.layout.left()),
      Key([mod], down,
          lazy.layout.down()),
      Key([mod], up,
          lazy.layout.up()),
      Key([mod], right,
          lazy.layout.right()),
      ]
  )
  

• Window movement

  keys.extend([
      # Window movement
      Key([mod, shift], left,
          lazy.layout.shuffle_left()),
      Key([mod, shift], down,
          lazy.layout.shuffle_down()),
      Key([mod, shift], up,
          lazy.layout.shuffle_up()),
      Key([mod, shift], right,
          lazy.layout.shuffle_right()),
      ]
  )
  

• resize

  keys.extend([
      # window resize
      Key([mod, control], left,
          lazy.layout.grow_left()),
      Key([mod, control], down,
          lazy.layout.grow_down()),
      Key([mod, control], up,
          lazy.layout.grow_up()),
      Key([mod, control], right,
          lazy.layout.grow_right()),
      ]
  )
  

• commands

  keys.extend([
      Key([mod], "Tab",
          lazy.screen.toggle_group()),
      Key([mod, alt], "Tab",
          lazy.next_layout()),
      Key([mod], "F4",
          lazy.window.kill()),
      Key([mod, "control"], "r",
          lazy.reload_config()),
      Key([mod, "control"], "q",
          lazy.shutdown()),
      Key([mod], "d",
          lazy.spawncmd()),
      Key([mod], "space",
          lazy.layout.next()),
      ]
  )
  

• apps

  keys.extend([
      Key([mod], "F2",
          lazy.spawn("picom-trans -c -5"),
          desc="Decrease transparency by 5%"),
      Key([mod], "F3",
          lazy.spawn("picom-trans -c +5"),
          desc="Increase transparency by 5%"),
      # Hardware keys
      Key([], "XF86MonBrightnessUp",
          lazy.spawn("brightnessctl set +1%"),
          desc="Increase brightness by 1%"),
      Key([], "XF86MonBrightnessDown",
          lazy.spawn("brightnessctl set 1%-"),
          desc="Decrease brightness by 1%"),
      Key([], "XF86AudioLowerVolume",
          lazy.spawn("pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -1%"),
          desc="Decrease volume by 1%"),
      Key([], "XF86AudioRaiseVolume",
          lazy.spawn("pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +1%"),
          desc="Increase volume by 1%"),
      Key([], "XF86AudioMute",
          lazy.spawn("pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle"),
          desc="Toggle volume on/off"),
      Key([], "XF86AudioPlay",
          lazy.spawn("playerctl play-pause"),
          desc="Toggle play/pause"),
      Key([], "XF86AudioNext",
          lazy.spawn("playerctl next"),
          desc="Play next"),
     Key([], "XF86AudioPrev",
          lazy.spawn("playerctl previous"),
          desc="Play previous"),
      Key([mod], "Return",
          lazy.spawn(terminal)),
      Key([mod, shift], "Return",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -ce '(vterm)'")),
      Key([mod], "e",
          lazy.spawn("thunar")),
      Key([], "XF86MyComputer",
          lazy.spawn("thunar")),
      Key([mod], "b",
          lazy.spawn("firefox")),
      Key([mod], "n",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -c -a \"\"")),
      Key([mod], "m",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -c -e '(notmuch)'")),
      Key([], "XF86Mail",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -c -e '(notmuch)'")),
      Key([mod, shift], "m",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -c -e '(emms-browse-by-artist)'")),
      Key([mod], "f",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -c -e '(elfeed)'")),
      Key([mod], "t",
          lazy.spawn("emacsclient -c -e '(telega)'")),
  
      # Print
      Key([], "Print",
          lazy.spawn("sh -c \"maim \
          ~/Pictures/Screenshots/screenshot_$(date +%Y_%m_%d-%H_%M-%S).png\"")),
      Key([mod], "Print",
          lazy.spawn("sh -c \"maim -o -s -u \
          ~/Pictures/Screenshots/screenshot_selection_$(date +%Y_%m_%d-%H_%M-%S).png\"")),
      ]
  )
  

The default already set a for loop for group keybindings, it’s also what I set in other window manager so I’m using it.

for i in groups:
    keys.extend(
        [
            # mod1 + letter of group = switch to group
            Key(
                [mod],
                i.name,
                lazy.group[i.name].toscreen(),
                desc="Switch to group {}".format(i.name),
            ),
            # mod1 + shift + letter of group = switch to &
            # move focused window to group
            Key(
                [mod, "shift"],
                i.name,
                lazy.window.togroup(i.name, switch_group=True),
                desc="Switch and move window > group {}".format(i.name),
            ),
            # Or, use below if you prefer not to switch to that group.
            # # mod1 + shift + letter of group = move focused window to group
            # Key([mod, "shift"], i.name, lazy.window.togroup(i.name),
            #     desc="move focused window to group {}".format(i.name)),
        ]
    )

• State “TODO” from [2022-03-15 Tue 04:59]

I’ll try all of them one by one when I have the time, but the Max and Column will be the ones I’ll use often.

layout_defaults = {
    "border_width": 3,
    "margin": 9,
    "border_focus": xcolor14,
    "border_normal": xcolor15,
}

layouts = [
    layout.Columns(
        border_focus_stack=[xcolor3, xcolor8],
        grow_amount=5,
        **layout_defaults
    ),
    layout.Max(**layout_defaults),
    layout.MonadTall(
        **layout_defaults
    ),
]

• State “TODO” from [2022-03-15 Tue 05:00]

widget_defaults = dict(
    font="Source Code Pro",
    background=xbackground,
    fontsize=10,
    padding=4,
)

extension_defaults = widget_defaults.copy()

screens = [
    Screen(
        bottom=bar.Bar(
            [
                widget.CurrentLayout(
                    background=xbackground,
                    foreground=xcolor3),
                widget.GroupBox(
                    active=xforeground,
                    foreground=xcolor2,
                    highlight_color=[xbackground, xforeground],
                    inactive=xcolor1,
                    other_current_screen_border=xcolor14,
                    other_screen_border=xcolor14,
                    this_current_screen_border=xcolor4,
                    this_screen_border=xcolor4,
                    urgent_border=xcolor9,
                    urgent_text=xforeground),
                widget.Prompt(),
                widget.WindowName(
                    format="{state}{name}",
                    foreground=xcolor4),
                widget.Backlight(
                    foreground=xcolor10,
                    backlight_name="intel_backlight",
                    change_command="xbacklight -set {0}",
                    format=" {percent:2.0%}",
                    step=5
                ),
                widget.Wlan(
                    foreground=xcolor12,
                    interface=wlan_interface,
                    format=" {essid} {percent:2.0%}"),
                widget.Battery(
                    foreground=xcolor11,
                    charge_char="",
                    discharge_char="",
                    empty_char="",
                    format="{char} {percent:2.0%} {hour:d}:{min:02d}"
                ),
                widget.PulseVolume(
                    foreground=xcolor14,
                    fmt=" {}"),
                widget.Maildir(
                    foreground=xcolor6,
                    maildir_path="~/.mail",
                    sub_folders=[
                        {'label': '', 'path': 'gmail/Inbox'},
                        {'label': '', 'path': 'hotmail/Inbox'},
                        {'label': '', 'path': 'yahoo/Inbox'},
                        {'label': '', 'path': 'ymail/Inbox'},
                    ],
                    subfolder_fmt="{label} {value}",
                    update_interval=300
                ),
                widget.Clock(
                    foreground=xcolor11,
                    format="%Y-%m-%d %a %I:%M %p"),
                widget.Systray(),
            ],
            20,
            opacity=1.0,
            background=xbackground
        ),
    ),
]

I don’t think I’ll be modifying these.

# Drag floating layouts.
mouse = [
    Drag([mod], "Button1",
         lazy.window.set_position_floating(),
         start=lazy.window.get_position()),
    Drag([mod], "Button3",
         lazy.window.set_size_floating(),
         start=lazy.window.get_size()),
    Click([mod], "Button2",
          lazy.window.bring_to_front()),
]

• State “TODO” from [2022-03-15 Tue 05:03]

Eventually it’ll reflects various apps I use.

floating_layout = layout.Floating(
    float_rules=[
        # Run the utility of `xprop`
        # to see the wm class and name of an X client.
        *layout.Floating.default_float_rules,
        Match(wm_class="confirmreset"),  # gitk
        Match(wm_class="makebranch"),  # gitk
        Match(wm_class="maketag"),  # gitk
        Match(wm_class="ssh-askpass"),  # ssh-askpass
        Match(title="branchdialog"),  # gitk
        Match(title="pinentry"),  # GPG key password entry
    ]
)