# i3/i3

A tiling window manager for X11

Repository: https://github.com/i3/i3
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/i3
Homepage: https://i3wm.org/
Language: C
License: BSD-3-Clause
License Family: permissive
Topics: bsd, i3, i3wm, linux, tiling, tiling-window-manager, x11
Last push: 2026-07-28T06:22:26+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 75/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 94, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4228, "days_push": 36, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 10550, forks 818 (observed 2026-08-28T04:10:42.315755+00:00)

## What it is
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
- artifact type: application
- maturity: stable
- function: gui, developer-tools, configuration-management
- domain: desktop-applications, developer-tools, operating-systems
- platform: bsd, cpp
- tags: tiling-window-manager, x11, window-manager, keyboard-driven, multi-monitor, ipc, lightweight, linux, desktop

## Member repositories
- i3/i3 (main) score 75

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:42.315755+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:18:33.125094+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/i3/i3 (fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:42.315755+00:00, sha 4d945fd1c708)
  - homepage: https://i3wm.org/ (fetched 2026-08-29T08:17:48.795143+00:00, sha 52ed48efd3d2)
  - site_page: https://i3wm.org/docs (fetched 2026-08-29T08:17:48.804529+00:00, sha 1fa284a2d2d9)
  - site_page: https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html (fetched 2026-08-29T08:17:48.807529+00:00, sha d4fb3cc3351e)
  - site_page: https://i3wm.org/downloads (fetched 2026-08-29T08:17:48.813133+00:00, sha c0b85cb9eee9)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.