Ross ROSS = Recommend OSS · open-source software intelligence for agents

i3/i3

A tiling window manager for X11 observed · 2026-08-28

github.com/i3/i3 · homepage · C · BSD-3-Clause (permissive) observed · 2026-08-28

Health v2 · maintenance only

75/100

  • Activity 94
  • Release rhythm 35
  • Longevity 100

Flags: no_releases

How is this computed?

round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10) — computed 2026-09-02. Adoption (stars, forks) is never an input.

  • gap_med: n/a
  • age_days: 4228
  • days_rel: n/a
  • days_push: 36
  • n_releases_24m: 0

Full methodology

Adoption not part of the score

10550 stars · 818 forks observed · 2026-08-28

What it is AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, 2026-08-29, confidence not recorded

i3 is a tiling window manager for X11, written from scratch in C using xcb. It arranges windows in a tree structure, supports multi-monitor setups, vim-like modes, and an IPC interface for scripting.

Use cases

  • tile windows automatically on Linux without a floating desktop
  • manage multiple monitors with per-output workspaces
  • control the window manager from scripts via IPC
  • use a lightweight keyboard-driven desktop environment
  • save and restore window layouts between sessions
  • customize keybindings and modes like in vim

When to choose

  • you want a fast, lightweight tiling WM on Linux or BSD with X11
  • you prefer keyboard-driven window management and text configuration
  • you need reliable multi-monitor and workspace handling
  • you want to script your desktop via a documented IPC interface

When to avoid

  • you need Wayland support (consider Sway instead)
  • you want a mouse-friendly floating desktop out of the box
  • you are a beginner who prefers a preconfigured desktop environment
  • you need compositing or desktop effects built in

Facets

application · maturity stable

gui developer-tools configuration-management desktop-applications developer-tools operating-systems bsd cpp tiling-window-manager x11 window-manager keyboard-driven multi-monitor ipc lightweight linux desktop

5 sources

Member repositories

RepositoryRoleHealth v2
i3/i3main75

For agents

markdown · JSON · MCP: product_card(name="i3/i3")

Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00 · Report a problem