NXWM

Neovim X11 Window Manager allows you to use x11 windows as if they were buffers. When entering a x-window-buffer, you'll need to start insert-mode to focus the x-window (unless some configurations are set to do this automatically).

Requirements

• libx11
• libxfixes (almost always installed if libx11 is installed)
• glibc (or most other standard C libraries)
• Terminal supporting TIOCGWINSZ
  • Recommended terminal is kitty
  • Run :lua= require'nxwm'.term_supported() to check
    • NOTE: some terminals may support TIOCGWINSZ while still not working (like neovim-qt)

Installation

Use whichever package manager you like.
It is recommended to lock/pin the plugin to one version/branch because of changes.

• lazy

{'altermo/nwm',branch='x11'},

• packer

use {'altermo/nwm',branch='x11'},

Configuration

Using require("nxwm").setup({}) is not required, it is only there if you want to change the default config.

{
    --What happens when a new x-window is created
    on_win_open=function (buf,xwin)
        vim.cmd.vsplit()
        vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(buf)
    end,
    --Configuration to pass to window
    --`conf` is global config
    on_win_get_conf=function (conf,xwin) return conf end,
    --How to handle when multiple windows in the same tabpage has the x-window-buffer open
    on_multiple_win_open=function (vwins,buf,xwin)
        for k,vwin in ipairs(vwins) do
            if k~=1 then
                local scratchbuf=vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false,true)
                vim.bo[scratchbuf].bufhidden='wipe'
                vim.api.nvim_win_set_buf(vwin,scratchbuf)
            end
        end
    end,
    --Whether to be more verbose
    verbal=false,
    --Whether to show float windows above x-windows (depending on z-index)
    floatover=true,
    --Map to unfocus a window (multiple key mappings is not (yet) supported)
    unfocus_map='<A-F4>',
    --Create your own mappings
    --IMPORTANT: the x-window needs to be focused for such mappings to work
    maps={
        --{'<C-A-del>',function () vim.cmd'quitall!' end},
        --Or you could also have lhs as a table
        --{{mods={'control','mod1'},key='Delete'},function () vim.cmd'quitall!' end},
    },
    --Window-opt: auto focus x-window when entering x-window-buffer
    autofocus=false,
    --Window-opt: try-delete x-window if no vim-window shows buffer (similar to `bufhidden=wipe`)
    delhidden=true,
    --Window-opt: when click on x-window, goto that buffer (may not focus x-window)
    clickgoto=true,
    --Window-opt: offset the window this many x pixels (useful if terminal has padding)
    xoffset=0,
    --Window-opt: offset the window this many y pixels (useful if terminal has padding)
    yoffset=0,
}

Usage

Start

Create an executable file with the following contents (or run directly in bash):
(click triangle to expand)

From tty using sx

Install sx (most distros don't have it as a package so you may need to install from source)

Using alacritty

#!/bin/bash
sx alacritty --config-file /dev/null -e nvim -c 'lua require("nxwm").start()'

Using kitty

#!/bin/bash
sx kitty -c NONE -o placement_strategy=top-left -e nvim -c 'lua require("nxwm").start()'

Using wezterm

IMPORTANT: Running NXWM in Wezterm started with sx sometimes doesn't work

#!/bin/bash
sx wezterm -n --config enable_tab_bar=false --config window_padding='{left=0,right=0,top=0,bottom=0}' start nvim -c 'lua require"nxwm".start()'

---

From wayland window manager using Xwayland

Install Xwayland (may have the package name xwayland, xorg-xwayland or xorg-x11-server-Xwayland)

Using alacritty

#!/bin/bash
Xwayland :99 -noreset&
sleep 0.05 # HACK to make alacritty work with Xwayland
env -u WAYLAND_DISPLAY DISPLAY=:99 alacritty --config-file /dev/null -e nvim -c 'lua require("nxwm").start()'
jobs -p | xargs kill

Using kitty

#!/bin/bash
Xwayland :99 -noreset&
env -u WAYLAND_DISPLAY DISPLAY=:99 kitty -c NONE -o placement_strategy=top-left -e nvim -c 'lua require("nxwm").start()'
jobs -p | xargs kill

Using wezterm

#!/bin/bash
Xwayland :99 -noreset&
env -u WAYLAND_DISPLAY DISPLAY=:99 wezterm -n --config enable_tab_bar=false --config window_padding='{left=0,right=0,top=0,bottom=0}' start nvim -c 'lua require"nxwm".start()'
jobs -p | xargs kill

---

From X11 window manager using Xephyr

Install Xephyr (may be installed together with xorg-sever or have the package name xorg-server-xephyr)

Using alacritty

#!/bin/bash
Xephyr -ac -br -noreset :99&
sleep 0.05 # HACK to make alacritty work with Xephyr
env DISPLAY=:99 alacritty --config-file /dev/null -e nvim -c 'lua require("nxwm").start()'
jobs -p | xargs kill

Using kitty

#!/bin/bash
Xephyr -ac -br -noreset :99&
env DISPLAY=:99 kitty -c NONE -o placement_strategy=top-left -e nvim -c 'lua require("nxwm").start()'
jobs -p | xargs kill

Using wezterm

#!/bin/bash
Xephyr -ac -br -noreset :99&
env DISPLAY=:99 wezterm -n --config enable_tab_bar=false --config window_padding='{left=0,right=0,top=0,bottom=0}' start nvim -c 'lua require"nxwm".start()'
jobs -p | xargs kill

---

Use

Open up a terminal (with :term) and run your wanted GUI. NOTE: x-windows aren't auto focused by default, so start insert (by pressing i or similar) and then you'll focus the window. To unfocus an x-window, either click into another buffer, or press alt-F4(unless the default config has been changed).

Q&A

Is multiple displays supported?

No, and not likely until something like neovim#2161 is implemented.

Will there be a wayland version?

Maybe, though wlroots is 10 times more complicated than X11 and much more unstable (e.g. most fails results in crash).

How do I exit a focused x-window?

Press alt-F4 (I know this is an unusual keymap, if someone has a better idea, please let me know).

What are some future plans?

See TODO.md (it may be outdated).

Donate

If you want to donate then you need to find the correct link (hint: No Break Here):

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