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Minimal. Fast. Configurable. Tiling Window Manager for X11
Abhinav Prasai (2025)

Table of Contents

Launch Args

-v or --version

Displays the version of sxwm

-b or --backup

Allows user to use backup keybinds with sxwm

Features

  • Tiling & Floating: Switch seamlessly between layouts.
  • Workspaces: 9 workspaces, fully integrated with your bar.
  • Scratchpads: Floating windows you can summon/hide instantly.
  • Window Swallowing: Native window swallowing support.
  • Live Config Reload: Change your config and reload instantly with a keybind.
  • Easy Configuration: Human-friendly sxwmrc file, no C required.
  • Master-Stack Layout: DWM-inspired productive workflow.
  • Mouse Support: Move, swap, and resize windows with the mouse.
  • Zero Dependencies: Only libX11 and Xinerama required.
  • Lightweight: Single C file, minimal headers, compiles in seconds.
  • Bar Friendly: Works great with sxbar.
  • Xinerama Support: Multi-monitor ready.
  • Fast: Designed for speed and low resource usage.

Screenshots

See on the website

Configuration

sxwm is configured via a simple text file located at ~/.config/sxwmrc. Changes can be applied instantly by reloading the configuration (MOD + r).

The file uses a key : value format. Lines starting with # are ignored.

General Options

Option Type Default Description
mod_key String super Sets the primary modifier key (alt, super, ctrl).
gaps Integer 10 Pixels between windows and screen edges.
border_width Integer 1 Thickness of window borders in pixels.
focused_border_colour Hex #c0cbff Border color for the currently focused window.
unfocused_border_colour Hex #555555 Border color for unfocused windows.
swap_border_colour Hex #fff4c0 Border color when selecting a window to swap (MOD+Shift+Drag).
master_width Integer 60 Percentage of the screen width for the master window.
resize_master_amount Integer 1 Percent to increase/decrease master width.
resize_stack_amount Integer 20 How many pixels to increase/decrease stack windows by
snap_distance Integer 5 Distance (px) before a floating window snaps to edge.
motion_throttle Integer 60 Target FPS for mouse drag actions.
should_float String "st" Always-float rule. Multiple entries should be comma-seperated. Optionally, entries can be enclosed in quotes.
new_win_focus Bool true Whether openening new windows should also set focus to them or keep on current window.
warp_cursor Bool true Warp the cursor to the middle of newly focused windows
exec String Nothing Command to run on startup (e.g., sxbar, picom, "autostart", etc.).
can_swallow String st Windows that can swallow.
can_be_swallowed String mpv Windows that can be swallowed.
new_win_master Bool false New windows will open as master window.

Keybindings

Syntax

  • Modifiers: mod, shift, ctrl, alt, super
  • Key: Case-insensitive keysym (e.g., Return, q, 1)
  • Action: Either an external command (in quotes) or internal function.
  • move: Move to that worspace
  • swap: Swap window to that workspace
  • n: Workspace / Scratchpad number
  • create: Creates a scratchpad on that slot
  • toggle: toggles the visibility of that scratchpad
  • remove: Removes the scratchpad on that slot
bind : modifier + modifier + ... + key : action
scratchpad : modifier + ... + key : create n
scratchpad : modifier + ... + key : toggle n
scratchpad : modifier + ... + key : remove n
workspace : modifier + modifier + ... + key : move n
workspace : modifier + modifier + ... + key : swap n

Available Functions

Function Name Description
close_window Closes the focused window.
decrease_gaps Shrinks gaps.
focus_next Moves focus forward in the stack.
focus_prev Moves focus backward in the stack.
focus_next_mon Switches focus to the next monitor.
focus_prev_mon Switches focus to the previous monitor.
move_next_mon Moves the focused window to the next monitor.
move_prev_mon Moves the focused window to the previous monitor.
increase_gaps Expands gaps.
master_next Moves focused window down in master/stack order.
master_prev Moves focused window up in master/stack order.
quit Exits sxwm.
reload_config Reloads config.
master_increase Expands master width.
master_decrease Shrinks master width.
toggle_floating Toggles floating state of current window.
global_floating Toggles floating state for all windows.
fullscreen Fullscreen the focused window.
centre_window Centre the focused window.

Example Bindings

# Launch terminal
bind : mod + Return : "st"
# Close window
bind : mod + shift + q : close_window

# Scratchpads
scratchpad : mod + ctrl + Return : create 1
scratchpad : mod + shift + b : toggle 2
scratchpad : mod + alt + b : remove 2

# Switch workspace
workspace : mod + 3 : move 3
# Move window to workspace
workspace : mod + shift + 5 : swap 5

Default Keybindings

Window Management

Combo Action
Mouse Focus on click under cursor
MOD + Left Mouse Move window with mouse
MOD + Right Mouse Resize window with mouse
MOD + j / k Focus next / previous
MOD + Shift + j / k Move window in master stack
MOD + , / . Focus prev / next monitor
MOD + Shift + , / . Move window to prev / next monitor
MOD + h / l Resize master area (decr/incr)
MOD + Ctrl + h / l Resize stack area (decr/incr)
MOD + = / - Increase / decrease gaps
MOD + Space Toggle floating
MOD + Shift + Space Toggle all floating
MOD + Shift + f Toggle fullscreen for focused window
MOD + Shift + q Close focused window
MOD + Shift + e Quit sxwm
MOD + r Reload configuration
MOD + c Centre window

Scratchpads

Combo Action
MOD + Alt + 1–4 Create scratchpad 1–5
MOD + Ctrl + 1–4 Toggle scratchpad 1–5
MOD + Alt + Shift + 1–4 Remove scratchpad 1–5

Workspaces

Combo Action
MOD + 1–9 Switch to workspace 1–9
MOD + Shift + 1–9 Move window to workspace 1–9

Applications

Combo Action Program
MOD + Return Open terminal st
MOD + b Open browser firefox
MOD + p Run launcher dmenu_run

Dependencies

  • libX11 (Xorg client library)
  • Xinerama
  • XCursor
  • GCC or Clang & Make
Debian / Ubuntu / Linux Mint 
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libx11-dev libxcursor-dev libxinerama-dev build-essential
Arch Linux / Manjaro 
sudo pacman -Syy
sudo pacman -S libx11 libxinerama gcc make
Gentoo 
sudo emerge --ask x11-libs/libX11 x11-libs/libXinerama sys-devel/gcc sys-devel/make
sudo emaint -a sync
Void Linux 
sudo xbps-install -S
sudo xbps-install libX11-devel libXinerama-devel gcc make
Fedora / RHEL / AlmaLinux / Rocky 
sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install libX11-devel libXcursor-devel libXinerama-devel gcc make
OpenSUSE (Leap / Tumbleweed) 
sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install libX11-devel libXinerama-devel gcc make
Alpine Linux 
doas apk update
doas apk add libx11-dev libxinerama-dev gcc make musl-dev
NixOS 
buildInputs = [
  pkgs.xorg.libX11
  pkgs.xorg.libXinerama
  pkgs.libgcc
  pkgs.gnumake
];
sudo nixos-rebuild switch
Slackware 
slackpkg update
slackpkg install gcc make libX11 libXinerama
OpenBSD 
doas pkg_add gmake
You will also need the X sets (xbase, xfonts, xserv and xshare) installed. When you make the code, use gmake instead of make (which will be BSD make). Use the following command to build: gmake CFLAGS="-I/usr/X11R6/include -Wall -Wextra -O3 -Isrc" LDFLAGS="-L/usr/X11R6/lib -lX11 -lXinerama -lXcursor"
FreeBSD 
# If you use doas or su instead of sudo, modify the following commands accordingly.
sudo pkg update
sudo pkg install gcc gmake libX11 libXinerama

Build & Install

Arch Linux (AUR)

yay -S sxwm
# OR for latest features:
yay -S sxwm-git

Void Linux

sudo xbps-install -S sxwm

Build from Source

git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/uint23/sxwm.git
cd sxwm/
# Replace make with gmake on FreeBSD
make
sudo make clean install

Run

Add to your ~/.xinitrc:

exec sxwm

Makefile Targets

Target Description
make / make all Build the sxwm binary
make clean Remove build artifacts
make install Install sxwm to $(PREFIX)/bin (default /usr/local)
make uninstall Remove installed binary
make clean install Clean then install

Override install directory with PREFIX:

make install PREFIX=$HOME/.local

Thanks & Inspiration

  • dwm — Tiling & source code
  • i3 — Easy configuration
  • sowm — README inspiration
  • tinywm — Minimal X11 WM

Contributions welcome, Please read CONTRIBUTIONS.md for more info!

About

tiling window managers dont have to be difficult

uint23.xyz/sxwm.html

Topics

window-manager window-managers

Resources

Readme

License

GPL-3.0 license
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sxwm v1.6 Latest
Jun 26, 2025
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