i3 windows manager
Iâve been using i3 for a few years now & itâs pretty awesome. I initially started using it because my favorite laptop aged & wasnât able to run the current desktops effectively. I was aware of i3 & itâs capabilities but I wasnât used to configuring it or frankly how to use it. I did some quick research & found a keyboard reference card which outlines all of the default function keys.
I initially installed Arch linux with i3 but that didnât work out so great on my older laptop. Arch was not getting along with my laptop at all so I scratched that idea. I got a copy of Ubuntu Minimal install & began the install. I recommend installing the Lubuntu packages so that you have a fallback minimal desktop in case you need some app functionality i3 canât give you.
i3 is definitely a very minimal window manager which is highly configurable but it does require some patience from the beginning. The transition from GUI desktop managers to i3 was easy for me because Iâm used to using old school terminals which I do believe helps. If you get frustrated stay with it most of the frustration comes with learning i3â˛s navigation & training yourself to remember those commands.
Try i3 itâll bring life back into your aged kit & once you make the switch itâll be very difficult for you go back to other GUI based Desktop Mangers on linux.














