How to handle different monitor names

[kalsan]

I'm using i3 in a multi monitor setup using a USB-C dock. The problem is that my external monitor's name changes across boots / reconnects (e.g. yesterday it was named DP-1-3-1, today it shows up as DP-3-3-1.

While I can easily script screen autodetection with xrandr and bash for keyboard-run screen management scripts (e.g. extend right), I can't do that (I think) with the assignment of workspaces to screens. For instance, I use:

• set $right_monitor DP-1-3-1
• workspace 1› output $right_monitor

Since the screen's name keeps changing, this config breaks regularly.

Any ideas on how I can dynamically detect the current external screen for workspace assignment?

Best,
Kalsan

[KebabLord]

you can use "primary" and "nonprimary" keys after version 4.23+

# Assign workspace 1 to first monitor, workspace 2 to second monitor
workspace 1 output primary
workspace 2 output nonprimary

[kalsan]

Thanks a lot! Surprisingly this also appears to work under i3 version 4.22 (2023-01-02)