This is an experimental project to setup up a nice i3 desktop environment running on Ubuntu .

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install i3 i3-wm i3blocks i3lock i3status 

The configure file for i3 is located (by default) at:

~/.config/i3/config

1. Install pactl, xbacklight:

sudo apt-get install  xbacklight

2. Install playerctl:

Download the package from: https://github.com/acrisci/playerctl/releases

Then sudo dpkg -i the_package.deb

The line for setting custom wallpaper has been added (but commented) out in the config file.

Before activating that line, need to install feh:

sudo apt-get install feh

A certain app will be launched only in a specified workspace. Take the firefox for example.

1. Launch firefox, and an empty terminal.
2. In the terminal, run xprop, then click the firefox window to show the app info. Look for the line "WM_CLASS(STRING)", and take a note of the 2nd field, for firefox it's "Firefox".
3. In the config file, add

assign [class="Firefox"] $workspace1

This is to enable icons in workspace names, as defined in the i3 config file.

1. Go to https://github.com/FortAwesome/Font-Awesome/releases and download the font file zip.

2. copy the .ttf font files from fonts/ folder to /usr/local/share/fonts.

1. Install lxappearance

sudo apt-get install lxappearance

2. Launch lxappearance, and set Default font to SFNS Display.

sudo apt-get install arc-theme

1. Install sudo apt-get install rofi
2. Replace dmenu_run command with a rofi command in the i3 config file.

1. Install sudo apt-get install compton
2. Add exec_always compton -f in the i3 config file

The default status bar is updated using i3status. Change this to i3blocks which is easier to control.

1. Copy the default i3blocks config file:

cp i3blocks.conf ~/.config/i3/