Installing i3 wm on Linux Mint 17.3 cinnamon

We start from an up-to-date Linux Mint 17.3 cinnamon as described on http://erikdubois.be

#Installation procedure

First install Linux Mint 17.3 like you always would.

Then update.

Download and use proprietary drivers if needed. Broadcom, nvidia, ati and the likes.

Upgrade your kernel if you want to.

Get that out of the way.

Do get the code from github. Install git first

sudo apt-get install git

Then

git clone https://github.com/erikdubois/i3-on-Linux-Mint-17.3.git

This folder your are downloading is my content of the hidden .i3 directory, where all files will reside.

Step 0

You can copy/paste all of this in the hidden folder of .i3.

You can make a hidden folder in your home folder, if you do not yet have one.

beware the hidden files !! Copy/paste all files (CTRL + H)

Step 1

Go inside the folder installation/Step_1

Run the script with the highest version number.

You will install:

i3 basic system
menu to start programs
screenfetch to display general info of your computer
variety for wallpapers
terminator for terminal - more tweakable
unclutter to get the mouse out of the way
zsh - shell with lots of colours and themes
gimp already installed
inkscape - vector drawing
firefox - already installed
adobe-flashplugin
transmission-gtk - for conky aurora
skype
hexchat already installed
vlc already installed
geary - mail client
lxappearance - choose icons and themes
nitrogen - wallpaper
feh - wallpapers
qt4-qtconfig - choose icons and themes for qt4
scrot - caputure picture
git for github
htop - analysis processes
wget - getting files of internet
curl - getting files of internet
sensord - read out heat and other sensors
sysstat - system statistics
glances - analysis processes
numlockx - num lock on or off
inxi - hardware info
dmidecode - information for conky aurora
hddtemp - harddisk temperature for conky aurora
net-tools - network tools
mlocate - find stuff on your computer anywhere
hardinfo - graphical way to see all hardware components
unetbootin - make bootable usb
extlinux
vnstat - statistics for network consumption
screenfetch - hardware info
kazam - already installed - making movies
install thunar if you like to batch rename files
catfish - graphical way to search everything
gnome-disk-utility - already installed

Do not yet log off and log on into i3. Or you will see some errors.

Step 2

Installation of an alternative to the i3 status bar

Go inside the folder installation/Step_2/i3blocks Start compile-source-code-for-i3blocks.sh in a terminal

Awesome Font

Go inside the folder installation/Step_2/font Install also the font since one of the "letters" is used to make the bottom bar nicer. Double-click the font and install in linux mint.

Making menu bigger and as such better readable

Go inside the folder installation/Step_2/dmenu larger font Read the document and do these steps in a terminal.

Installing a less cluttered menu

Go inside the folder installation/Step_2/j4_dmenu_desktop Run j4-dmenu-desktop_install.sh This will provide with a better menu selection. Activated with WIN + SHIFT + D - called Linux Mint Desktop (Normal menu is WIN + D - called Linux Mint All Programs)

Fix for Nemo or file manager of Linux Mint

If working with NEMO as file manager you will need to copy paste this line in a terminal or you will open a desktop together with nemo.

gsettings set org.nemo.desktop show-desktop-icons false

Change the looks

use lxappearance and qtconfig-qt4 to change icons, themes etc ... Restart programs to see the changes.

Making sure variety works

We have to change some of the settings in the files.

Go the file

~/.config/variety/scripts/set_wallpaper

Change the code

# i3-wm/Feh. Use Feh only for i3, as it may cause problems with Nautilus, (see bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/variety/+bug/1047083)
if [ "$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP" == "i3" ]; then
		feh --bg-fill "$WP" 2&gt; /dev/null
fi

into



# i3-wm/Feh. Use Feh only for i3, as it may cause problems with Nautilus, (see bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/variety/+bug/1047083)
if [ "$XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP" == "i3" ]; then
		feh --bg-fill "$WP" 2&gt; /dev/null
fi

Check out the youtube movie if need be at http://erikdubois.be/how-to-make-variety-work-in-i3-windows-manager-linux-mint-17-3/

Nitrogen

You can set your wallpaper with nitrogen also if variety does not prove to work.

Shortcuts to remember

You can set your mod key. I have set mine to the Windows Key

This is windows key set $mod Mod4

Mod4 + E = to exit i3 and log back on with Cinnamon Mod4 + D = dmenu Mod4 + SHIFT + D = j4_dmenu Mod4 + Enter = terminal Mod4 + SHIFT + Q = end current program

Remember the 10 possible screens in the bottom-left corner. I have positioned some programs on some specific desktops.

Assign section assign [class="Firefox"] → 1

assign [class="sublime-text"] → 2

assign [class="sublime_text"] → 2

assign [class="Sublime_text"] → 2

assign [class="Thunar"] → 8

assign [class="Nemo"] → 8

assign [class="Geary"] → 9

assign [class="Spotify"] → 10

Mod4 + SHIFT + R = reset or rerun i3 if you change some code in the config file

Start up programs with ALT + CTRL + ...

mod1 = ALT

bindsym control+mod1+f exec firefox

bindsym control+mod1+g exec geary

bindsym control+mod1+s exec spotify

bindsym control+mod1+t exec subl

bindsym control+mod1+b exec nemo --no-desktop

bindsym control+mod1+c exec catfish

You can stop here and log off

Log in by clicking the wheel and choosing i3

Step 3

Optional I3 not from Ubuntu sources but from Github

1/1/2016 Ubuntu/Linux mint 17.3 is at version 4.7.2-1 Githubs version is 4.11 !!!

Some bugs have been fixed and extra features have been added.

Go inside the folder installation/Step_3/i3_upgraden_from_github Run compile_github_i3.sh

Step 4

Optional I3 next gap

I have learned of this 'spin-off' and I like the visual aspect of it and I still have enough room on my screens to do the work efficiently. You can read more on their github site.

https://github.com/Airblader/i3/tree/gaps-next

Go inside the folder installation/Step_x/i3 with gaps