awesome-switcher

This plugin integrates the familiar application switcher functionality in the awesome window manager.

Features:

• Live previews while alt-tabbing AND/OR Opacity effects for unselected clients
• Easily adjustable settings
• No previews when modifier (e.g.: Alt) is released within some time-frame
• Backward cycle using second modifier (e.g.: Shift)
• Intuitive order, respecting your client history
• Includes minimized clients (in contrast to some of the default window-switching utilies)
• Preview selectable by mouse

Installation

Clone the repo into your $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/awesome directory:

cd "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/awesome"
git clone https://github.com/troglobit/awesome-switcher.git awesome-switcher

Then add the dependency to your Awesome rc.lua config file:

    local switcher = require("awesome-switcher")

Configuration

Optionally edit any subset of the following settings, the defaults are:

    switcher.settings.preview_box = true,                                 -- display preview-box
    switcher.settings.preview_box_bg = "#ddddddaa",                       -- background color
    switcher.settings.preview_box_border = "#22222200",                   -- border-color
    switcher.settings.preview_box_fps = 30,                               -- refresh framerate
    switcher.settings.preview_box_delay = 150,                            -- delay in ms
    switcher.settings.preview_box_title_font = {"sans","italic","normal"},-- the font for cairo
    switcher.settings.preview_box_title_font_size_factor = 0.8,           -- the font sizing factor
    switcher.settings.preview_box_title_color = {0,0,0,1},                -- the font color
    
    switcher.settings.client_opacity = false,                             -- opacity for unselected clients
    switcher.settings.client_opacity_value = 0.5,                         -- alpha-value for any client
    switcher.settings.client_opacity_value_in_focus = 0.5,                -- alpha-value for the client currently in focus
    switcher.settings.client_opacity_value_selected = 1,                  -- alpha-value for the selected client

    switcher.settings.cycle_raise_client = true,                          -- raise clients on cycle
    switcher.settings.cycle_all_clients  = false,                          -- cycle through all clients

Then add key-bindings. On my particular system I switch to the next client by Alt-Tab and back with Alt-Shift-Tab. Therefore, this is what my keybindings look like:

    awful.key({ "Mod1",           }, "Tab",
      function ()
          switcher.switch( 1, "Mod1", "Alt_L", "Shift", "Tab")
      end),
    
    awful.key({ "Mod1", "Shift"   }, "Tab",
      function ()
          switcher.switch(-1, "Mod1", "Alt_L", "Shift", "Tab")
      end),

Please keep in mind that "Mod1" and "Shift" are actual modifiers and not real keys. This is important for the keygrabber as the keygrabber uses "Shift_L" for a pressed (left) "Shift" key.

Credits

This plugin was created by Joren Heit and later improved upon by Matthias Berla.

License

See LICENSE.