Adding the alwaysontop patch ref. #452

Author: bakkeby

README.md

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Browsing patches? There is a [map of patches](https://coggle.it/diagram/X9IiSSM6
 
 ### Changelog:
 
+2025-06-15 - Added the always on top patch
+
 2025-02-25 - Added the xresources patch
 
 2024-10-30 - Added the border rule patch
@@ -268,6 +270,9 @@ Browsing patches? There is a [map of patches](https://coggle.it/diagram/X9IiSSM6
    - [~alwaysfullscreen~](https://dwm.suckless.org/patches/alwaysfullscreen/)
       - ~prevents the focus to drift from the active fullscreen client when using focusstack\(\)~
 
+   - [alwaysontop](https://dwm.suckless.org/patches/alwaysontop/)
+      - allows for floating windows to be toggled to be always on top of other windows
+
    - [anybar](https://dwm.suckless.org/patches/anybar/)
       - enables dwm to manage external status bars such as lemonbar and polybar
       - dwm treats the external bar as it would its own, so all regular dwm commands such as

config.def.h

@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ static int floatindicatortype            = INDICATOR_TOP_LEFT_SQUARE;
 static int fakefsindicatortype           = INDICATOR_PLUS;
 static int floatfakefsindicatortype      = INDICATOR_PLUS_AND_LARGER_SQUARE;
 #endif // FAKEFULLSCREEN_CLIENT_PATCH
+#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+static int aotindicatortype              = INDICATOR_TOP_LEFT_LARGER_SQUARE;
+#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
 #if ONLYQUITONEMPTY_PATCH
 static const int quit_empty_window_count = 0;   /* only allow dwm to quit if no (<= count) windows are open */
 #endif // ONLYQUITONEMPTY_PATCH
@@ -1209,6 +1212,9 @@ static const Key keys[] = {
 	#endif // FLEXTILE_DELUXE_LAYOUT
 	{ MODKEY,                       XK_space,      setlayout,              {0} },
 	{ MODKEY|ShiftMask,             XK_space,      togglefloating,         {0} },
+	#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	{ MODKEY|ShiftMask,             XK_space,      togglealwaysontop,      {0} },
+	#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
 	#if MAXIMIZE_PATCH
 	{ MODKEY|ControlMask|ShiftMask, XK_h,          togglehorizontalmax,    {0} },
 	{ MODKEY|ControlMask|ShiftMask, XK_l,          togglehorizontalmax,    {0} },

dwm.c

@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@ struct Client {
 	unsigned int switchtag;
 	#endif // SWITCHTAG_PATCH
 	int isfixed, isfloating, isurgent, neverfocus, oldstate, isfullscreen;
+	#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	int alwaysontop;
+	#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
 	#if !FAKEFULLSCREEN_PATCH && FAKEFULLSCREEN_CLIENT_PATCH
 	int fakefullscreen;
 	#endif // FAKEFULLSCREEN_CLIENT_PATCH
@@ -3244,6 +3247,9 @@ restack(Monitor *m)
 	#if WARP_PATCH && FLEXTILE_DELUXE_LAYOUT
 	int n;
 	#endif // WARP_PATCH
+	#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	Monitor *mon;
+	#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
 
 	drawbar(m);
 	#if TAB_PATCH
@@ -3253,6 +3259,18 @@ restack(Monitor *m)
 		return;
 	if (m->sel->isfloating || !m->lt[m->sellt]->arrange)
 		XRaiseWindow(dpy, m->sel->win);
+
+	#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	/* raise the aot windows */
+	for (mon = mons; mon; mon = mon->next) {
+		for (c = mon->clients; c; c = c->next) {
+			if (c->alwaysontop) {
+				XRaiseWindow(dpy, c->win);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+
 	if (m->lt[m->sellt]->arrange) {
 		wc.stack_mode = Below;
 		if (m->bar) {
@@ -4324,7 +4342,13 @@ togglefloating(const Arg *arg)
 		c->sfy = c->y;
 		c->sfw = c->w;
 		c->sfh = c->h;
-	#endif // SAVEFLOATS_PATCH / EXRESIZE_PATCH
+		#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+		c->alwaysontop = 0;
+		#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	#elif ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	} else {
+		c->alwaysontop = 0;
+	#endif // SAVEFLOATS_PATCH | EXRESIZE_PATCH | ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
 	}
 	arrange(c->mon);
 

patch/alwaysontop.c

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+void
+togglealwaysontop(const Arg *arg)
+{
+	Client *c = selmon->sel;
+
+	if (!c)
+		return;
+	#if !FAKEFULLSCREEN_PATCH
+	#if FAKEFULLSCREEN_CLIENT_PATCH
+	if (c->isfullscreen && !c->fakefullscreen)
+	    return;
+	#else
+	if (c->isfullscreen)
+	    return;
+	#endif // FAKEFULLSCREEN_CLIENT_PATCH
+	#endif // FAKEFULLSCREEN_PATCH
+
+	c->alwaysontop = !c->alwaysontop;
+	restack(selmon);
+}

patch/alwaysontop.h

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+static void togglealwaysontop(const Arg *arg);

patch/bar_indicators.c

@@ -107,5 +107,9 @@ drawstateindicator(Monitor *m, Client *c, unsigned int occ, int x, int y, int w,
 		drawindicator(m, c, occ, x, y, w, h, tag, filled, invert, floatindicatortype);
 	else
 		drawindicator(m, c, occ, x, y, w, h, tag, filled, invert, tiledindicatortype);
+	#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+	if (c->isfloating && c->alwaysontop)
+		drawindicator(m, c, occ, x, y, w, h, tag, filled, invert, aotindicatortype);
+	#endif // ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
 }
 

patch/include.c

@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@
 #if ALT_TAB_PATCH
 #include "alttab.c"
 #endif
+#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+#include "alwaysontop.c"
+#endif
 #if ASPECTRESIZE_PATCH
 #include "aspectresize.c"
 #endif

patch/include.h

@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@
 #if ALT_TAB_PATCH
 #include "alttab.h"
 #endif
+#if ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH
+#include "alwaysontop.h"
+#endif
 #if ASPECTRESIZE_PATCH
 #include "aspectresize.h"
 #endif

patches.def.h

@@ -461,6 +461,15 @@
  */
 #define ALWAYSCENTER_PATCH 0
 
+/* Allows for floating windows to be toggled to be always on top (aot).
+ *
+ * Disclaimer: Some flickering may be expected with this patch when floating and aot
+ * windows overlap.
+ *
+ * https://dwm.suckless.org/patches/alwaysontop/
+ */
+#define ALWAYSONTOP_PATCH 0
+
 /* This patch allows windows to be resized with its aspect ratio remaining constant.
  * https://dwm.suckless.org/patches/aspectresize/
  */