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How do I use the awesome window manager?

How do I use the awesome window manager?

I've installed awesome on my Ubuntu laptop, and I like it. But I feel kind of lost. I don't know any keyboard shortcuts and the man pages aren't really any help (for instance, what does Mod4 mean?).

Asked by: Guest | Views: 242
Total answers/comments: 4
bert [Entry]

"Here is one person's introduction

Here is a guide to installing it with Ubuntu

And here is a history and additional links via Wikipedia

Hope that helps!"
bert [Entry]

"Here is my bare bones intro to awesome window manager: http://isomorphismes.tumblr.com/post/33846445632/awesome-window-manager. First few lines:

The main keys you need to know are:


⌘+space = change screen layout type
⌘+shift + space = change screen layout type, cycling backwards
⌘+j = go to the next window on this desktop (focus on, as if you had hovered your mouse over it … but without needing to reach over to
the mouse)
⌘+k = go to the previous window on this desktop
⌘+J = swap this window and the next one
⌘+K = swap this window and the previous one
⌘+h = → the center partition squashing the right pane(s)
⌘+l = ← the center partition expanding the right pane(s)
⌘+← = desktop to the left
⌘+→ = desktop to the right
⌘+9 = desktop number nine


Notice that h,j,k,l are the right-handed home row keys on a
QWERTY|AZERTY."
bert [Entry]

"I just started using Awesome WM myself.

Regarding the sub-question: ""What is Mod4""?

Mod4 is one of the modifier keys set for the xserver currently running
it can be any physical key you like
check setting with $xmodmap -pm

Yuo can read more from the man pages ($man xmodmap) or via Google: xmodmap keyboard layout

You can do some great things with it! Took me a bit to understand it, though."
"I just started using Awesome WM myself.

Regarding the sub-question: ""What is Mod4""?

Mod4 is one of the modifier keys set for the xserver currently running
it can be any physical key you like
check setting with $xmodmap -pm

Yuo can read more from the man pages ($man xmodmap) or via Google: xmodmap keyboard layout

You can do some great things with it! Took me a bit to understand it, though."
bert [Entry]

"I put this together before finding this page.

Using Awesome

Windows are ""Tiled"" by default, and you organise the tiles instead of click-dragging windows around.
Virtual Desktops are called Tags, there's 9 of them, and they're per-Screen.

Moving Between Windows

Win+J/K | Prev / Next Window (like Alt+tab)
Win+Ctrl+J/K | Prev / Next Screen
Win+1-9 | Change to Desktop

Rearranging Windows

Win+Space | Change Screen Layout Type
Win+O | Move window to Other Screen
Win+Ctrl+Space | Toggle window Floating/Tiled
Win+Shift+J/K | Move window to next position
Win+H/L | Resize window

Other

Win+Enter | New Terminal
Win+Shift+C | Close Window

Mousey Things

Win+Left-Click | Move
Win+Right-Click | Resize"