i3

i3 is a free and open-source tiling window manager for X11 and Wayland, designed to be lightweight, efficient, and highly configurable. It organizes windows in a non-overlapping, tiled layout to maximize screen space and productivity, primarily targeting power users and developers who prefer keyboard-driven workflows.

Also known as: i3wm, i3 window manager, i3-gaps, improved tiling wm, i3-wm

Why learn i3?

Developers should learn i3 when they need a fast, distraction-free environment for coding, system administration, or multitasking across multiple applications. It is particularly useful for those working on limited hardware, managing complex workflows with many windows, or seeking to reduce reliance on mouse interactions through customizable keyboard shortcuts.

Learning Resources

• docs: i3 User's Guide
• video: i3 Beginner's Tutorial on YouTube
• tutorial: Arch Linux Wiki - i3
• tutorial: i3 Configuration Guide on GitHub