Tiling drag is too restricted

[kolayne]

I'm submitting a…

[x] Bug
[ ] Feature Request
[ ] Documentation Request
[ ] Other (Please describe in detail)

Current Behavior

• When there is a single tabbed container on a workspace and no windows outside of it, tiling drag doesn't work.
• When a container other than a window (e.g. split or tabbed) is fullscreen, ttiling drag doesn't work.

Expected Behavior

• When the only container on a workspace is a tabbed layout, it should still be possible to drag a window out of that container.
• When a container with several descendant windows is fullscreen, moving windows around containers inside the fullscreen container should be possible.

Environment

Output of i3 --moreversion 2>&-:

Binary i3 version:  4.23-7-g69f68dcd © 2009 Michael Stapelberg and contributors
Running i3 version: 4.23-7-g69f68dcd (pid 916)
Loaded i3 config:
  /home/nikolay/.config/i3/config (main) (last modified: Sat 02 Dec 2023 20:01:26 HKT, 3366 seconds ago)

The i3 binary you just called: /usr/bin/i3
The i3 binary you are running: i3

Config file

# i3 config file (v4)
#
# Please see https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html for a complete reference!
set $mod Mod4
Font for window titles. Will also be used by the bar unless a different font
is used in the bar {} block below.
font pango:monospace 8
This font is widely installed, provides lots of unicode glyphs, right-to-left
text rendering and scalability on retina/hidpi displays (thanks to pango).
#font pango:DejaVu Sans Mono 8
The combination of xss-lock, nm-applet and pactl is a popular choice, so
they are included here as an example. Modify as you see fit.
xss-lock grabs a logind suspend inhibit lock and will use i3lock to lock the
screen before suspend. Use loginctl lock-session to lock your screen.
exec --no-startup-id xss-lock -- i3lock --nofork -k --inside-color ffffff --indicator -c 000077 --blur 10 -p default --keylayout 1 --pass-media-keys --pass-volume-keys --pass-screen-keys --pass-power-keys
(the above uses "i3lock-color")
Use pactl to adjust volume in PulseAudio.
set $refresh_i3status killall -SIGUSR1 i3status

bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10% && $refresh_i3status

bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10% && $refresh_i3status

bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle && $refresh_i3status

bindsym XF86AudioMicMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-source-mute @DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle && $refresh_i3status
Set Alt as window drag key
floating_modifier Mod1
start a terminal
bindsym $mod+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal
kill focused window
#bindsym $mod+Shift+q kill

bindsym Mod1+F4 kill
start dmenu (a program launcher)
#bindsym $mod+d exec dmenu_run

bindsym Mod1+F2 exec --no-startup-id dmenu_run
There also is the (new) i3-dmenu-desktop which only displays applications
shipping a .desktop file. It is a wrapper around dmenu, so you need that
installed.
bindsym $mod+d exec --no-startup-id i3-dmenu-desktop
change focus
#bindsym $mod+j focus left

#bindsym $mod+k focus down

#bindsym $mod+l focus up

#bindsym $mod+colon focus right
alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym $mod+Left focus left

bindsym $mod+Down focus down

bindsym $mod+Up focus up

bindsym $mod+Right focus right
move focused window
#bindsym $mod+Shift+j move left

#bindsym $mod+Shift+k move down

#bindsym $mod+Shift+l move up

#bindsym $mod+Shift+colon move right
alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym $mod+Shift+Left move left

bindsym $mod+Shift+Down move down

bindsym $mod+Shift+Up move up

bindsym $mod+Shift+Right move right
split in horizontal orientation
bindsym $mod+h split h
split in vertical orientation
bindsym $mod+v split v
enter fullscreen mode for the focused container
bindsym $mod+f fullscreen toggle
change container layout (stacked, tabbed, toggle split)
bindsym $mod+s layout stacking

bindsym $mod+w layout tabbed

bindsym $mod+e layout toggle split
toggle tiling / floating
bindsym $mod+Shift+space floating toggle
change focus between tiling / floating windows
bindsym $mod+space focus mode_toggle
focus the parent container
bindsym $mod+a focus parent
focus the child container
bindsym $mod+Shift+a focus child
Define names for default workspaces for which we configure key bindings later on.
We use variables to avoid repeating the names in multiple places.
set $ws1 "1:Main"

set $ws2 "2"

set $ws3 "3"

set $ws4 "4"

set $ws5 "5"

set $ws6 "6"

set $ws7 "7"

set $ws8 "8:net"

set $ws9 "9:Messengers"

set $ws10 "10:Background"
Basic assignments
workspace $ws1 output eDP-1

workspace $ws9 output eDP-1

#workspace $ws10 output eDP-1
Assignments used for demonstrations
4 - slides control, 5 - terminal control;
6 - slides demo, 7 - terminal demo, 8 - obs preview.
#workspace $ws4 output eDP-1

#workspace $ws5 output eDP-1

#workspace $ws6 output HDMI-1-0

#workspace $ws7 output HDMI-1-0

#workspace $ws8 output HDMI-1-0
switch to workspace
bindsym $mod+1 workspace number $ws1

bindsym $mod+2 workspace number $ws2

bindsym $mod+3 workspace number $ws3

bindsym $mod+4 workspace number $ws4

bindsym $mod+5 workspace number $ws5

bindsym $mod+6 workspace number $ws6

bindsym $mod+7 workspace number $ws7

bindsym $mod+8 workspace number $ws8

bindsym $mod+9 workspace number $ws9

bindsym $mod+0 workspace number $ws10
move focused container to workspace
bindsym $mod+Shift+1 move container to workspace number $ws1

bindsym $mod+Shift+2 move container to workspace number $ws2

bindsym $mod+Shift+3 move container to workspace number $ws3

bindsym $mod+Shift+4 move container to workspace number $ws4

bindsym $mod+Shift+5 move container to workspace number $ws5

bindsym $mod+Shift+6 move container to workspace number $ws6

bindsym $mod+Shift+7 move container to workspace number $ws7

bindsym $mod+Shift+8 move container to workspace number $ws8

bindsym $mod+Shift+9 move container to workspace number $ws9

bindsym $mod+Shift+0 move container to workspace number $ws10
reload the configuration file
bindsym $mod+Shift+c reload
restart i3 inplace (preserves your layout/session, can be used to upgrade i3)
bindsym $mod+Shift+r restart
exit i3 (logs you out of your X session)
#bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'You pressed the exit shortcut. Do you really want to exit i3? This will end your X session.' -B 'Yes, exit i3' 'i3-msg exit'"

bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'How would you like to exit?' -B 'Reboot' 'paplay /usr/share/sounds/freedesktop/stereo/service-logout.oga ; reboot' -B 'Shutdown' 'paplay /usr/share/sounds/freedesktop/stereo/service-logout.oga ; shutdown now' -B 'Exit i3' 'i3 exit'"
hibernate
bindsym $mod+Shift+h exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'Hibernate?' -B 'Yes' 'systemctl hibernate'"
resize window (you can also use the mouse for that)
mode "resize" {

# These bindings trigger as soon as you enter the resize mode
    # Pressing left will shrink the window’s width.
    # Pressing right will grow the window’s width.
    # Pressing up will shrink the window’s height.
    # Pressing down will grow the window’s height.
    bindsym j resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym k resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym l resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym semicolon resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt

    # same bindings, but for the arrow keys
    bindsym Left resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym Down resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym Up resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
    bindsym Right resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt

    # back to normal: Enter or Escape or $mod+r
    bindsym Return mode "default"
    bindsym Escape mode "default"
    bindsym $mod+r mode "default"

}
bindsym $mod+r mode "resize"
Start i3bar to display a workspace bar (plus the system information i3status
finds out, if available)
bar {

status_command i3status

font pango:monospace 12

}
tiling_drag modifier titlebar
Switch to last workspace
bindsym $mod+Tab workspace back_and_forth
Increase/decrease brightness (uses light from apt install light)
bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec --no-startup-id light -A 10

bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec --no-startup-id light -U 10
Play/pause media key
bindsym XF86AudioPlay exec --no-startup-id playerctl play-pause
BirdTray hotkey (not $mod but Mod4, intentionally)
bindsym Mod4+m exec --no-startup-id birdtray --toggle-tb
bindsym $mod+g exec chromium --new-window
Screenshot hotkeys
bindsym Print exec --no-startup-id flameshot screen --clipboard

bindsym Shift+Print exec --no-startup-id flameshot gui
Lock screen hotkey
bindsym $mod+l exec --no-startup-id loginctl lock-session
bindsym $mod+Shift+x exec --no-startup-id "sh -c \"if [ -f /tmp/CPU_extreme_mode ]; then cpu unextreme; else cpu extreme; fi\""
for_window [all] title_window_icon enable

for_window [title="Task Manager - (Brave|Google Chrome|Chromium)"] floating enable

for_window [class="gnome-calculator"] floating enable

for_window [class="Gnome-system-monitor"] floating enable

for_window [class="zoom"] floating enable
Thunderbird reminders: sticky and no focus stealing
for_window [title="\d+ Reminders?"] sticky enable

no_focus [title="\d+ Reminders?"]
Switch to the first workspace with the appropriate name
exec --no-startup-id i3-msg workspace $ws1
Startup applications
exec --no-startup-id pdeath_hup Docs/nvme_error_seaker.sh

exec --no-startup-id paplay /usr/share/sounds/Yaru/stereo/system-ready.oga

exec --no-startup-id pdeath_hup fusuma

exec --no-startup-id pdeath_hup clipster --daemon

exec --no-startup-id picom --config .config/picom.conf

exec --no-startup-id redshift-gtk

exec --no-startup-id cbatticon -l 15

#exec --no-startup-id birdtray
vk does not support startup id
#exec --no-startup-id vk --debug

#exec telegram-desktop

#exec --no-startup-id pdeath_hup Docs/Rimokon/rimokon_main.py
Change wallpaper and start slide show
(note: running it here instead of systemctl enable, as at the moment
of systemd start the X server display is not yet available)
exec --no-startup-id systemctl --user start switch_wallpaper.service

- Linux Distribution & Version: Arch Linux
- Are you using a compositor: yes, picom

[i3bot]

I don’t see a link to logs.i3wm.org. Did you follow https://i3wm.org/docs/debugging.html? (In case you actually provided a link to a logfile, please ignore me.)

[kolayne]

The current behavior is the case since #5213. It was trying to solve #5184 but I'd argue the solution is wrong.

In my opinion, the behavior when no container is in fullscreen should have stayed exactly the same (let users drag out windows from the single container on a workspace); as for when there is a fullscreen container, the tiling drag should not be disabled completely. Instead, it should work with one of the following exceptions:

• It is impossible to drag a window outside of the currently fullscreen container
• Dragging a window out of the currently fullscreen container moves the window out (it's no longer visible) and focuses another window in the currently fullscreen container (e.g. layout H[A B C D], H focused, B is dragged out to the right, the new layout is H[H[A C D] B], the inner H remains focused, B is no longer visible).
• Dragging a window out of the currently fullscreen container creates a new container, which adopts the old container and the dragged window and becomes fullscreen itself (e.g. layout H[A B C D], H focused, B is dragged out to the right, the new layout is H[H[A C D] B], the outer H gets focused, B is visible).

What do you think?

[orestisfl]

Just to make sure I understand, the three options are mutually exclusive, right?

In that case, I think It is impossible to drag a window outside of the currently fullscreen container is the intuitively simpler option that I'd go for.

I am re-branding this as an enhancement as everything works as expected. Behavior can be less restricted but that would be an improvement, not a bug fix.