# bspwm — Tiling Window Manager Based on Binary Space Partitioning

> bspwm is a tiling window manager for X11 that arranges windows using a binary tree structure. It is controlled entirely through messages via bspc, making it fully scriptable and highly customizable. Combined with sxhkd for keybindings, it offers a minimal yet powerful desktop workflow.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# bspwm — Tiling Window Manager Based on Binary Space Partitioning

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install on Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install bspwm sxhkd

# Install on Arch
sudo pacman -S bspwm sxhkd

# Copy default config files
mkdir -p ~/.config/bspwm ~/.config/sxhkd
cp /usr/share/doc/bspwm/examples/bspwmrc ~/.config/bspwm/
cp /usr/share/doc/bspwm/examples/sxhkdrc ~/.config/sxhkd/
chmod +x ~/.config/bspwm/bspwmrc
```

## Introduction
bspwm is a minimalist tiling window manager that represents windows as leaves of a binary tree. Created by Bastien Dejean, it separates window management from input handling — bspwm manages the layout while sxhkd (Simple X Hotkey Daemon) handles keyboard shortcuts. All interaction happens through the `bspc` command, making every aspect of the window manager scriptable from the shell.

## What bspwm Does
- Arranges windows in a binary tree layout that splits the screen recursively
- Controls all window operations through the `bspc` CLI command
- Supports multiple monitors with independent desktops per monitor
- Provides tiling, floating, and fullscreen modes per window
- Integrates with sxhkd for user-defined keyboard shortcuts

## Architecture Overview
bspwm models each desktop as a binary tree where internal nodes represent splits (horizontal or vertical) and leaf nodes represent windows. When a new window opens, it splits the focused leaf. The `bspc` command communicates with bspwm over a Unix socket, sending commands like `bspc node -f west` (focus the window to the left) or `bspc node -s east` (swap with the window to the right). External rules match windows by class or title and assign them to specific desktops or set them as floating.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Configure bspwm via `~/.config/bspwm/bspwmrc` — a shell script that runs on startup
- Define keybindings in `~/.config/sxhkd/sxhkdrc` using a simple syntax
- Set window gaps, border width, and colors with `bspc config` commands
- Write window rules with `bspc rule -a ClassName desktop=^3 state=floating`
- Use a status bar like polybar or lemonbar, reading bspwm state via `bspc subscribe`

## Key Features
- Pure separation of concerns — bspwm handles layout, sxhkd handles input, polybar handles status
- Fully scriptable via `bspc` — automate layouts, window placement, and desktop switching from shell scripts
- Binary tree layout enables intuitive recursive splitting with manual resize and rotation
- Per-window rules for automatic desktop assignment, floating state, and focus behavior
- EWMH compliance for compatibility with panels, compositors, and desktop utilities

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **i3** — manual tiling with a built-in IPC and config language; bspwm uses a cleaner separation of concerns via bspc and sxhkd
- **dwm** — source-code-configured tiling WM; bspwm is configured via shell scripts without recompilation
- **Hyprland** — Wayland-native compositor with animations; bspwm is X11-only but lighter and more scriptable
- **Awesome WM** — Lua-configured tiling WM; bspwm is simpler with its shell-based approach

## FAQ
**Q: Is bspwm good for beginners to tiling WMs?**
A: The learning curve is moderate. Copy the example configs, learn a few bspc commands, and customize incrementally.

**Q: Does bspwm work with Wayland?**
A: No. bspwm is X11-only. For a similar approach on Wayland, consider Sway or River.

**Q: How do I add a status bar?**
A: Use polybar or lemonbar. Subscribe to bspwm events with `bspc subscribe` to update the bar dynamically.

**Q: Can I use bspwm with a compositor for transparency and shadows?**
A: Yes. Pair it with picom (formerly compton) for compositing effects.

## Sources
- https://github.com/baskerville/bspwm
- https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/bspwm

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Author: AI Open Source