EXWM
So, I’m finally slowly getting back to EXWM. I tried it a couple of years ago, but that was with the SpacemacsOS layer on Spacemacs, on a laptop which got accidentally formatted before I could save my config and all… So it got me some time to come back. I’m still a bit worried about Emacs being single threaded, so if I get one blocking function blocking Emacs, my whole desktop will hang, but for now I haven’t had this issue.
All my EXWM config is enabled only if I launch Emacs with the argument --with-exwm, otherwise none of the related packages get installed, let alone activated and made available.
First, I need to install the X protocol Emacs Lisp Bindings. It doesn’t seem to be available in any repo, so I’ll install it directly from Git.
(use-package xelb
:if (seq-contains-p command-line-args "--with-exwm")
:straight (xelb :build t
:type git
:host github
:repo "emacs-straight/xelb"
:fork "ch11ng/xelb"))
Next is a function I’ve stolen copied from Daviwil’s desktop configuration. This allows to launch software in the background easily.
(defun exwm/run-in-background (command &optional once)
(let ((command-parts (split-string command " +")))
(apply #'call-process `(,(car command-parts) nil 0 nil ,@(cdr command-parts)))))
In order to launch Emacs with EXWM with startx, I need a xinit file. This one is exported to $HOME/.xinitrc.emacs.
xhost +SI:localuser:$USER
# Set fallback cursor
xsetroot -cursor_name left_ptr
# If Emacs is started in server mode, `emacsclient` is a convenient
# way to edit files in place (used by e.g. `git commit`)
export VISUAL=emacsclient
export EDITOR="$VISUAL"
# in case Java applications display /nothing/
# wmname LG3D
# export _JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1
autorandr -l home
exec emacs --with-exwm
EXWM itself
Now we come to the plat de resistance. Like with xelb, I’m using its Git source to install it to make sure I get the right version — the version available on the GNU ELPA is from the same source, true, but I don’t know at which rate it is updated. And more packages down the line will depend on this Git repository, so I might as well just clone it right now.
As you can see, I added in the :config section to two hooks functions that rename buffers accurately. While the average X window will simply get the name of the current X window, I want Firefox and Qutebrowser to be prefixed with the name of the browser. Actually, all these will be renamed this way:
- Kitty
- Qutebrowser
(add-hook 'exwm-update-class-hook
(lambda () (exwm-workspace-rename-buffer exwm-class-name)))
(add-hook 'exwm-update-title-hook
(lambda ()
(pcase exwm-class-name
<<exwm-gen-buffers-rename()>>)))
As you can see below, in the :config section I added two advices and one hook in order to correctly integrate evil with EXWM. When I’m in an X window, I want to be in insert-mode in order to type however I want. However, when I exit one, I want to default back to normal-mode.
(add-hook 'exwm-manage-finish-hook (lambda () (call-interactively #'exwm-input-release-keyboard)))
(advice-add #'exwm-input-grab-keyboard :after (lambda (&optional id) (evil-normal-state)))
(advice-add #'exwm-input-release-keyboard :after (lambda (&optional id) (evil-insert-state)))
Secondly, I add i, C-SPC, and M-m as exwm prefix keys, so they aren’t sent directly to the X windows but caught by Emacs (and EXWM). I’ll use the i key in normal-mode to enter insert-mode and have Emacs release the keyboard so the X window can grab it. Initially, I had s-<escape> as a keybind for grabbing back the keyboard from an X window, as if I were in insert mode and wanted to go back to normal mode, and I had s-I to toggle keyboard grabbing. But I found myself more than once trying to use s-<escape> to toggle this state, s-I completely forgotten. So I removed s-I and made s-<escape> behave like s-I once did.
(general-define-key
:keymaps 'exwm-mode-map
:states 'normal
"i" #'exwm-input-release-keyboard)
(exwm-input-set-key (kbd "s-<escape>") #'exwm-input-toggle-keyboard)
(push ?\i exwm-input-prefix-keys)
(push (kbd "C-SPC") exwm-input-prefix-keys)
(push (kbd "M-m") exwm-input-prefix-keys)
As stated a couple of times in my different configuration files, I’m using the bépo layout, which means the default keys in the number row are laid as follows:
(defconst exwm-workspace-keys '("\"" "«" "»" "(" ")" "@" "+" "-" "/" "*"))
With this, we can create keybinds for going or sending X windows to workspaces 0 to 9.
(setq exwm-input-global-keys
`(,@exwm-input-global-keys
,@(mapcar (lambda (i)
`(,(kbd (format "s-%s" (nth i exwm-workspace-keys))) .
(lambda ()
(interactive)
(exwm-workspace-switch-create ,i))))
(number-sequence 0 9))
,@(mapcar (lambda (i)
`(,(kbd (format "s-%d" i)) .
(lambda ()
(interactive)
(exwm-workspace-move-window ,(let ((index (1- i)))
(if (< index 0)
(- 10 index)
;; FIXME: does not work with s-0
index))))))
(number-sequence 0 9))))
You can then see the list of the keybinds I have set for EXWM, which are all prefixed with SPC x in normal mode (and C-SPC x in insert mode), except for s-RET which opens an eshell terminal.
(exwm-input-set-key (kbd "s-<return>") (lambda ()
(interactive)
(eshell)))
(phundrak/leader-key
:infix "x"
"" '(:ignore t :which-key "EXWM")
"d" #'exwm-debug
"k" #'exwm-input-send-next-key
"l" '((lambda ()
(interactive)
(start-process "" nil "plock"))
:which-key "lock")
"r" '(:ignore t :wk "rofi")
"rr" '((lambda () (interactive)
(shell-command "rofi -show drun" (current-buffer) (current-buffer)))
:wk "drun")
"rw" '((lambda () (interactive)
(shell-command "rofi -show window" (current-buffer) (current-buffer)))
:wk "windows")
"R" '(:ignore t :wk "restart")
"Rr" #'exwm-reset
"RR" #'exwm-restart
"t" '(:ignore t :which-key "toggle")
"tf" #'exwm-layout-toggle-fullscreen
"tF" #'exwm-floating-toggle-floating
"tm" #'exwm-layout-toggle-mode-line
"w" '(:ignore t :which-key "workspaces")
"wa" #'exwm-workspace-add
"wd" #'exwm-workspace-delete
"ws" #'exwm-workspace-switch
"x" '((lambda ()
(interactive)
(let ((command (string-trim (read-shell-command "RUN: "))))
(start-process command nil command)))
:which-key "run")
"RET" #'eshell-new)
A couple of commands are also automatically executed through my autostart script written here.
(exwm/run-in-background "autostart")
Finally, let’s only initialize and start EXWM once functions from exwm-randr ran, because otherwise having multiple monitors don’t work.
(with-eval-after-load 'exwm-randr
(exwm-init))
The complete configuration for the exwm package can be found below.
(use-package exwm
:if (seq-contains-p command-line-args "--with-exwm")
:straight (exwm :build t
:type git
:host github
:repo "ch11ng/exwm")
:custom
(use-dialog-box nil "Disable dialog boxes since they are unusable in EXWM")
(exwm-input-line-mode-passthrough t "Pass all keypresses to emacs in line mode.")
:init
(require 'exwm-config)
(setq exwm-workspace-number 6)
:config
(set-frame-parameter (selected-frame) 'alpha-background 0.7)
(require 'exwm-randr)
(exwm/run-in-background "xwallpaper --zoom \"${cat $HOME/.cache/wallpaper}\"")
(start-process-shell-command
"xrandr" nil "xrandr --output eDP1 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 2560x0 --rotate normal --output HDMI1 --primary --mode 2560x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output VIRTUAL1 --off --output DP-1-0 --off --output DP-1-1 --off")
(exwm-randr-enable)
(setq exwm-randr-workspace-monitor-plist '(3 "eDP1"))
(add-hook 'exwm-update-class-hook
(lambda () (exwm-workspace-rename-buffer exwm-class-name)))
(add-hook 'exwm-update-title-hook
(lambda ()
(pcase exwm-class-name
("kitty" (exwm-workspace-rename-buffer (concat "EXWM: Kitty - " exwm-title)))
("qutebrowser" (exwm-workspace-rename-buffer (concat "EXWM: Qutebrowser - " exwm-title)))
(_otherwise (exwm-workspace-rename-buffer exwm-title)))))
(add-hook 'exwm-manage-finish-hook (lambda () (call-interactively #'exwm-input-release-keyboard)))
(advice-add #'exwm-input-grab-keyboard :after (lambda (&optional id) (evil-normal-state)))
(advice-add #'exwm-input-release-keyboard :after (lambda (&optional id) (evil-insert-state)))
(general-define-key
:keymaps 'exwm-mode-map
:states 'normal
"i" #'exwm-input-release-keyboard)
(exwm-input-set-key (kbd "s-<escape>") #'exwm-input-toggle-keyboard)
(push ?\i exwm-input-prefix-keys)
(push (kbd "C-SPC") exwm-input-prefix-keys)
(push (kbd "M-m") exwm-input-prefix-keys)
(defconst exwm-workspace-keys '("\"" "«" "»" "(" ")" "@" "+" "-" "/" "*"))
(setq exwm-input-global-keys
`(,@exwm-input-global-keys
,@(mapcar (lambda (i)
`(,(kbd (format "s-%s" (nth i exwm-workspace-keys))) .
(lambda ()
(interactive)
(exwm-workspace-switch-create ,i))))
(number-sequence 0 9))
,@(mapcar (lambda (i)
`(,(kbd (format "s-%d" i)) .
(lambda ()
(interactive)
(exwm-workspace-move-window ,(let ((index (1- i)))
(if (< index 0)
(- 10 index)
;; FIXME: does not work with s-0
index))))))
(number-sequence 0 9))))
(exwm-input-set-key (kbd "s-<return>") (lambda ()
(interactive)
(eshell)))
(phundrak/leader-key
:infix "x"
"" '(:ignore t :which-key "EXWM")
"d" #'exwm-debug
"k" #'exwm-input-send-next-key
"l" '((lambda ()
(interactive)
(start-process "" nil "plock"))
:which-key "lock")
"r" '(:ignore t :wk "rofi")
"rr" '((lambda () (interactive)
(shell-command "rofi -show drun" (current-buffer) (current-buffer)))
:wk "drun")
"rw" '((lambda () (interactive)
(shell-command "rofi -show window" (current-buffer) (current-buffer)))
:wk "windows")
"R" '(:ignore t :wk "restart")
"Rr" #'exwm-reset
"RR" #'exwm-restart
"t" '(:ignore t :which-key "toggle")
"tf" #'exwm-layout-toggle-fullscreen
"tF" #'exwm-floating-toggle-floating
"tm" #'exwm-layout-toggle-mode-line
"w" '(:ignore t :which-key "workspaces")
"wa" #'exwm-workspace-add
"wd" #'exwm-workspace-delete
"ws" #'exwm-workspace-switch
"x" '((lambda ()
(interactive)
(let ((command (string-trim (read-shell-command "RUN: "))))
(start-process command nil command)))
:which-key "run")
"RET" #'eshell-new)
(exwm/run-in-background "autostart")
(with-eval-after-load 'exwm-randr
(exwm-init)))
EXWM-Evil integration
(use-package evil-exwm-state
:if (seq-contains-p command-line-args "--with-exwm")
:defer t
:after exwm
:straight (evil-exwm-state :build t
:type git
:host github
:repo "domenzain/evil-exwm-state"))
Multimonitor support
(require 'exwm-randr)
(exwm/run-in-background "xwallpaper --zoom \"${cat $HOME/.cache/wallpaper}\"")
(start-process-shell-command
"xrandr" nil "xrandr --output eDP1 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 2560x0 --rotate normal --output HDMI1 --primary --mode 2560x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output VIRTUAL1 --off --output DP-1-0 --off --output DP-1-1 --off")
(exwm-randr-enable)
(setq exwm-randr-workspace-monitor-plist '(3 "eDP1"))
Keybinds for a desktop environment
(use-package desktop-environment
:defer t
:straight (desktop-environment :build t
:type git
:host github
:repo "DamienCassou/desktop-environment")
:after exwm
:diminish t
:config
(add-hook 'exwm-init-hook #'desktop-environment-mode)
(setq desktop-environment-update-exwm-global-keys :prefix
exwm-layout-show-al-buffers t)
(setq desktop-environment-bluetooth-command "bluetoothctl"
desktop-environment-brightness-get-command "xbacklight -get"
desktop-environment-brightness-get-regexp (rx line-start (group (+ digit)))
desktop-environment-brightness-set-command "xbacklight %s"
desktop-environment-brightness-normal-increment "-inc 5"
desktop-environment-brightness-normal-decrement "-dec 5"
desktop-environment-brightness-small-increment "-inc 2"
desktop-environment-brightness-small-decrement "-dec 2"
desktop-environment-volume-normal-decrement "-d 5"
desktop-environment-volume-normal-increment "-i 5"
desktop-environment-volume-small-decrement "-d 2"
desktop-environment-volume-small-increment "-i 2"
desktop-environment-volume-set-command "pamixer -u %s"
desktop-environment-screenshot-directory "~/Pictures/Screenshots"
desktop-environment-screenlock-command "plock"
desktop-environment-music-toggle-command "mpc toggle"
desktop-environment-music-previous-command "mpc prev"
desktop-environment-music-next-command "mpc next"
desktop-environment-music-stop-command "mpc stop")
(general-define-key
"<XF86AudioPause>" (lambda () (interactive)
(with-temp-buffer
(shell-command "mpc pause" (current-buffer) (current-buffer)))))
(desktop-environment-mode))
Bluetooth
(defvar bluetooth-command "bluetoothctl")
(defun bluetooth-turn-on ()
(interactive)
(let ((process-connection-type nil))
(start-process "" nil bluetooth-command "power" "on")))
(defun bluetooth-turn-off ()
(interactive)
(let ((process-connection-type nil))
(start-process "" nil bluetooth-command "power" "off")))
(defun create-bluetooth-device (raw-name)
"Create a Bluetooth device cons from RAW NAME.
The cons will hold first the MAC address of the device, then its
human-friendly name."
(let ((split-name (split-string raw-name " " t)))
`(,(mapconcat #'identity (cddr split-name) " ") . ,(cadr split-name))))
(require 'dbus)
(defun bluetooth-get-devices ()
(let ((bus-list (dbus-introspect-get-node-names :system "org.bluez" "/org/bluez/hci0")))
(mapcar (lambda (device)
`(,(dbus-get-property :system
"org.bluez"
(concat "/org/bluez/hci0/" device)
"org.bluez.Device1"
"Alias")
. ,device))
bus-list)))
(defun bluetooth-connect-device ()
(interactive)
(progn
(bluetooth-turn-on)
(let* ((devices (bluetooth-get-devices))
(device (alist-get (completing-read "Device: " devices)
devices nil nil #'string=)))
(dbus-call-method-asynchronously
:system "org.bluez"
(concat "/org/bluez/hci0" device)
"org.bluez.Device1"
"Connect"
(lambda (&optional msg)
(when msg (message "%s" msg)))))))