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

Warning

From commit 7a7c6300, master_previous binding has now been renamed to master_prev.
Please update your sxwmrc accordingly.

Table of Contents

• Launch Args
• Features
• Screenshots
• Configuration
• Keybindings
  • Example Bindings
  • Default Keybindings
• Dependencies
• Build & Install
• Makefile Targets
• Thanks & Inspiration

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Launch Args

-v or --version

Displays the version of sxwm

-b or --backup

Allows user to use backup keybinds with sxwm

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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.

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Screenshots

See on the website

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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.
start_fullscreen	String	"st"	Starts specified windows that should start fullscreened. Enclosed in quotes and comma-seperated
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.

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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

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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

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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 linux-headers

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

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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

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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

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Thanks & Inspiration

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

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