Minimal, fast, configurable. Tiling X11 window manager.

Feel free to join our IRC channel on Libera.Chat at #sxwm. Contributions are welcome! Please read CONTRIBUTIONS.md for more information.

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

Displays the current version of sxwm

Allows user to use backup keybinds with sxwm

• 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.
• Hot Reload: Apply custom configuration and reload with custom keybind.
• Easy Config: User-friendly sxwmrc file, no C required.
• Master-Stack Layout: DWM-inspired productive workflow.
• Mouse Support: Move, swap, and resize windows with the mouse.
• Minimal Dependencies: Only libX11, Xinerama and XCursor are required.
• Lightweight: Single C file, minimal headers, compiles in seconds.
• Xinerama Support: Multi-monitor ready.
• Efficient: Designed for speed and low resource usage(2-3 Mbs of RAM).

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.

• 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

# 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

• libX11 (Xorg client library)
• Xinerama
• XCursor
• GCC or Clang & Make

sudo apt update
sudo apt install libx11-dev libxcursor-dev libxinerama-dev build-essential

sudo pacman -Syy
sudo pacman -S libx11 libxinerama gcc make

sudo emerge --ask x11-libs/libX11 x11-libs/libXinerama sys-devel/gcc sys-devel/make
sudo emaint -a sync

sudo xbps-install -S
sudo xbps-install libX11-devel libXinerama-devel libXcursor-devel gcc make

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install libX11-devel libXcursor-devel libXinerama-devel gcc make

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install libX11-devel libXinerama-devel gcc make

doas apk update
doas apk add libx11-dev libxinerama-dev gcc make musl-dev linux-headers

buildInputs = [
  pkgs.xorg.libX11
  pkgs.xorg.libXinerama
  pkgs.libgcc
  pkgs.gnumake
];
sudo nixos-rebuild switch

slackpkg update
slackpkg install gcc make libX11 libXinerama

doas pkg_add gmake

# If you use doas or su instead of sudo, modify the following commands accordingly.
sudo pkg update
sudo pkg install gcc gmake libX11 libXinerama

pkg install x11-repo
pkg update
pkg install clang make xcb-util-keysyms xorgproto libxcursor libx11 libxinerama libandroid-wordexp
# add `LDFLAGS="${LDFLAGS} -landroid-wordexp"` in the make command

yay -S sxwm
# OR for latest features:
yay -S sxwm-git

sudo xbps-install -S sxwm

git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/uint23/sxwm.git
cd sxwm/
# Replace make with gmake on FreeBSD
make
sudo make clean install

Add to your ~/.xinitrc:

exec sxwm

Override install directory with PREFIX:

make install PREFIX=$HOME/.local

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

Abhinav Prasai [2025]