Awesome Window Manager: Part 4

calendar Jun 19, 2021 · 3 min read · Awesome Dynamic Tiling Window Manager Config arandr xrandr Script  ·
Share on: linkedin copy

In part three of the "Awesome Window Manager Guide", we covered,

  • how to add a "run launcher" for searching and loading apps,
  • adding a "hotkey daemon" for launching your favourite apps and taking screenshots,
  • how to create an "autostart script" which automatically launches apps when Awesome starts up.

In part four, we'll look at setting a screen resolution using xrandr

Display Settings

The way in which you manage your screen resolutions when using a window manager differs slightly from what you're used to when using Xfce. In Xfce, you most likely used the "xfce4-settings Display" app to manage setting your screen resolutions and layouts. However, since we're using AwesomeWM and not the Xfce desktop, the "Display" app has no affect here. Therefore, we need to use something different.

ARandR

The easiest way to change your display resolutions, refresh rates and screen positions when using AwesomeWM is to use ARandR: "Another XRandR GUI" which is a GUI for xrandr.

Installing

1sudo pacman -S arandr

Once you've installed arandr, you can run it with Rofi: Super + Space, and type "arandr"

In the arandr GUI, you can position your screens to where you want them by left-clicking and dragging them into position. You can set your screen resolution from the "Outputs" menu or by right-clicking on a screen in the window.

**arandr** is an easy way to set your screen resolutions for use with AwesomeWM.

**arandr** is an easy way to set your screen resolutions for use with AwesomeWM.

Once you're happy with your display settings, you can press the Apply button (top left) to set it.

Set Screen Resolution On Login

In order for Awesome to use your display layout settings the next time you log in, you'll need to save the layout configuration to a file and add the file path to your autostart.sh script.

To do this,

  • In the arandr window, go to the "Layout" menu and choose "Save As",
  • Save the file to ~/.scripts/awesome_display_layout.sh

Ensure your scripts are executable:

1chmod +x ~/.scripts/awesome_display_layout.sh

Next, open your ~/.scripts/awesome_autostart.sh file with a text editor, and on a new line, (preferably before your apps) enter:

1# xrandr layout for AwesomeWM
2run ~/.scripts/awesome_display_layout.sh &

Below is my autostart.sh script, so you can see how I do it:

 1#!/usr/bin/env bash
 2# .scripts/awesome_autostart.sh
 3# Launch Apps when AwesomeWM starts.
 4
 5function run {
 6  if ! pgrep -f $1 ;
 7  then
 8    $@&
 9  fi
10}
11
12# List the apps you wish to run on startup below preceded with "run"
13
14# Policy kit (needed for GUI apps to ask for password)
15run /usr/lib/polkit-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 
16# xrandr layout for AwesomeWM
17run ~/.scripts/awesome_display_layout.sh 
18# Start compositor
19run picom --experimental-backend 
20# sxhkd Hotkeys
21run sxhkd 
22# Start Volume Control applet
23run volctl 
24# Start Network Manager Applet 
25run nm-applet 
26# Set Numlock key to active.
27run numlockx 
28# Screensaver
29run xscreensaver -no-splash 
30# Pamac system update notifications
31run pamac-tray 
32# Start Dropbox
33run dropbox 
34# Bluetooth
35run blueman-tray 
36# MPD
37run mpd ~/.config/mpd/mpd.conf 
38# Unclutter - (hides mouse pointer after 5 seconds of inactivity)
39run unclutter

The next time you log in to Awesome, it will execute the awesome_display_layout.sh script and set your display configuration for you.