w9wm(1x) w9wm(1x)
NAME
w9wm - 8-1/2-like Window Manager for X
SYNOPSIS
w9wm [ -grey ] [ -version ] [ -font fname ] [ -nokeys ] [ -nostalgia ]
[ -debug ] [ -pass ] [ -term termprog ] [ -virtuals n ] [ exit |
restart ]
DESCRIPTION
w9wm is a window manager for X which attempts to emulate the window
management policies of Plan 9's 8-1/2 window manager but adds some
candy stuff like virtual screens and keyboard shortcuts.
The -grey option makes the background light grey, as does 8-1/2. Use
this option for maximum authenticity. -font fname sets the font in
w9wm's menu to fname, overriding the default. -nokeys option inhibits
keyboard shortcups (Ctrl+Tab and Shift+Ctrl+Tab) -nostalgia applies
some useless modifications to w9wm look & feel (windows border and
cursor appearance) -debug triggers debug mode -pass uses click-to-
focus-passes-through-click, which means that clicking on a nonactive
window with whatever mouse button activates it and follows click to
this window -term termprog specifies an alternative program to run
when the New menu item is selected. -virtuals n set the number of
virtual screens used -version prints the current version on standard
error, then exits.
To make w9wm exit, you have to run w9wm exit on the command line.
There is no ``exit'' menu item.
w9wm is click-to-type: it has a notion of the current window, which is
usually on top, and always has its border darkened. Characters typed
at the keyboard go to the current window, and mouse clicks outside the
current window are swallowed up by w9wm. To make another window the
current one, click on it with button 1 or type Ctrl+Tab (this shortcut
is not ``stable'', which means that I could change it in case it would
eventually be annoying). Unlike other X window managers, w9wm
implements `mouse focus': mouse events are sent only to the current
window.
A menu of window operations is available by pressing button 3 outside
the current window. The first of these, New, attempts to spawn a
9term process (or xterm if 9term is not available). The new 9term
will request that its outline be swept using button 3 of the mouse, by
changing the cursor. (xterm defaults to a fixed size, and thus wants
to be dragged; pressing button 3 places it.)
The next four menu items are Reshape, Move, Delete, and Hide. All of
the operations change the cursor into a target, prompting the user to
click button 3 on one of the windows to select it for the operation.
At this stage, clicking button 1 or 2 will abort the operation.
Otherwise, if the operation was Resize, the user is prompted to sweep
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w9wm(1x) w9wm(1x)
out the new outline with button 3. If it was Move, the user should
keep the button held down after the initial click that selected the
window, and drag the window to the right place before releasing. In
either case, button 1 or 2 will abort the operation.
If the Delete operation is selected, the window will be deleted when
the button is released. This typically kills the client that owns the
window. The Hide operation just makes the window invisible. While
hidden, the window's name appears on the bottom of the button 3 menu.
Selecting that item brings the window back (unhides it). This
operation replaces the iconification feature provided by other window
managers.
A menu is provided to switch from a virtual screen to another. This
popup is triggered by using the button 2, which displays a menu
looking like the previous one but with four entries, One, Two, Three,
and Four. Selecting one of these entries will switch to another
virtual screen.
There is also a menu to run programs using button 1. Hold both
"shift" and "left ctrl" keys and press button 1. w9wm will then
display a menu that allows you to exec programs specified in the
$HOME/.w9wmrc file. Put each command in one line. w9wm does not yet
support args for these commands, write a one-line shell script if you
need this.q
BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
Is not completely compatible with 8-1/2.
There is a currently a compiled-in limit of 32 hidden windows.
Also, you cannot put more than 32 commands in your .w9wmrc file
SEE ALSO
9term(1), 9wm(1), 9menu(1), xterm(1).
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