My attempt on switching to a window manager (I3). I was on a pretty old laptop (GL752V), probably why I faced a handful of issues. Distro used: EndeavourOS.

config file path:

~/.config/i3/config

Changes made:

  • Change open file explorer from ctrl+n to ctrl+e
  • Make brightness key work. (See fix i3wm brightness)
  • Resize feature with mod + ctrl + arrow keys.
  • Ensure power button work.
  • Make alt+F4 work as well, other than $mod + q.
  • Default dark theme.
  • Remove binding of file explorer for workspace 3 (easier to drag and drop files from file explorer to browser.)
  • Include xcfe4-screenshooter.
  • Change path for default screenshot save location.
  • Keybinding to Google search highlighted word. (Mod+s)

Resize:

bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Right resize shrink width 1 px or 1 ppt
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Up resize grow height 1 px or 1 ppt
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Down resize shrink height 1 px or 1 ppt
bindsym $mod+Ctrl+Left resize grow width 1 px or 1 ppt

Power Button:

bindsym XF86PowerOff exec ~/.config/i3/scripts/powermenu
bindsym XF86PowerDown exec ~/.config/i3/scripts/powermenu

Alt F4:

bindsym Mod1+F4 kill

Dark theme (SET IN ~/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini):

gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=1

Remove binding of file explorer to workspace 3, comment out:

# for_window [class=Thunar] focus

xcfe4-screenshooter:

xcfe4-screenshooter -r

Copy to clipboard feature after screenshot, install package, then un-comment line:

sudo pacman -S xfce4-clipman-plugin

exec --no-startup-id xfce4-clipman

Change path of screenshot file:

bindsym Print exec scrot ~/Pictures/%Y-%m-%d-%T-screenshot.png && notify-send "Screenshot saved to ~/Pictures/$(date +"%Y-%m-%d-%T")-screenshot.png"

Fix I3WM Brightness Link to heading

Download brightnessctl

sudo pacman -S brightnessctl

Add the following line to your config:

echo 200 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness

RUN+="/bin/chgrp video /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness"
RUN+="/bin/chmod 0664 /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness"

/etc/udev/rules.d/backlight.rules

sudo usermod -a -G video chai

sudo -e /etc/udev/rules.d/backlight.rules