i3 configuration to play well with KDE Plasma Desktop

Note: I also posted it here with a relevant and up to date screenshot.

Install:

Make i3 the default window manager for KDE

First you have to create the i3 launcher:

echo "export KDEWM=/usr/bin/i3" > ~/.config/plasma-workspace/env/set_window_manager.sh

Then you have to start (or restart) KDE by choosing "KDE Plasma Desktop" in your login screen, if you have one.

I would try it with an empty i3 configuration first, see if it works properly, then proceed to installing the configuration.

Install the configuration

1. Clone this repo: git clone https://github.com/nightsh/i3-plasma.git $HOME/.i3-plasma
2. Make sure you have:

• a $HOME/.local/bin directory: mkdir -p $HOME/.local/bin
• a $HOME/.i3 directory: mkdir -p $HOME/.i3

3. Symlink:

• the config: ln -s $HOME/.i3-plasma/config $HOME/.i3/
• the scripts: ln -s $HOME/.i3-plasma/.local/bin/* $HOME/.local/bin/

4. Start or restart i3

Requirements

Recommended software used in the config / scripts:

• nitrogen (for wallpaper)
• fswebcam (for camshot script)
• synclient (for toggle_touchpad script)
• xcompmgr (for compositing)
• custom lock screen needs:
  • i3lock
  • scrot
  • convert (imagemagick)

KDE things:

• spectacle
• konsole
• dolphin
• kcalc

Misc software:

• chromium / firefox
• emacs / nvim
• thunderbird