Connection

class i3ipc.Connection(socket_path=None, auto_reconnect=False)

A connection to the i3 ipc used for querying window manager state and listening to events.

The Connection class is the entry point into all features of the library.

Example:

i3 = Connection()
workspaces = i3.get_workspaces()
i3.command('focus left')
Parameters:
  • socket_path (str) – A path to the i3 ipc socket path to connect to. If not given, find the socket path through the default search path.

  • auto_reconnect (bool) – Whether to attempt to reconnect if the connection to the socket is broken when i3 restarts.

Raises:

Exception – If the connection to i3 cannot be established.

property auto_reconnect: bool

Whether this Connection will attempt to reconnect when the connection to the socket is broken.

Return type:

bool

command(payload: str) List[CommandReply]

Sends a command to i3.

Parameters:

cmd (str) – The command to send to i3.

Returns:

A list of replies that contain info for the result of each command given.

Return type:

list(CommandReply)

get_bar_config(bar_id: str = None) Optional[BarConfigReply]

Gets the bar configuration specified by the id.

Parameters:

bar_id (str) – The bar id to get the configuration for. If not given, get the configuration for the first bar id.

Returns:

The bar configuration for the bar id.

Return type:

BarConfigReply or None if no bar configuration is found.

get_bar_config_list() List[str]

Gets the names of all bar configurations.

Returns:

A list of all bar configurations.

Return type:

list(str)

get_binding_modes() List[str]

Gets the names of all currently configured binding modes

Returns:

A list of binding modes

Return type:

list(str)

get_config() ConfigReply

Returns the last loaded i3 config.

Returns:

A class containing the config.

Return type:

i3ipc.ConfigReply

get_inputs() List[InputReply]

(sway only) Gets the inputs connected to the compositor.

Returns:

The reply to the inputs command

Return type:

list(i3ipc.InputReply)

get_marks() List[str]

Gets the names of all currently set marks.

Returns:

A list of currently set marks.

Return type:

list(str)

get_outputs() List[OutputReply]

Gets the list of current outputs.

Returns:

A list of current outputs.

Return type:

list(i3ipc.OutputReply)

get_seats() List[SeatReply]

(sway only) Gets the seats configured on the compositor

Returns:

The reply to the seats command

Return type:

list(i3ipc.SeatReply)

get_tree() Con

Gets the root container of the i3 layout tree.

Returns:

The root container of the i3 layout tree.

Return type:

i3ipc.Con

get_version() VersionReply

Gets the i3 version.

Returns:

The i3 version.

Return type:

i3ipc.VersionReply

get_workspaces() List[WorkspaceReply]

Gets the list of current workspaces.

Returns:

A list of current workspaces

Return type:

list(i3ipc.WorkspaceReply)

main(timeout: float = 0.0)

Starts the main loop for this connection to start handling events.

Parameters:

timeout (float) – If given, quit the main loop after timeout seconds.

main_quit()

Quits the running main loop for this connection.

off(handler: Callable[[Connection, IpcBaseEvent], None])

Unsubscribe the handler from being called on ipc events.

Parameters:

handler (Callable) – The handler that was previously attached with on().

on(event: Union[Event, str], handler: Callable[[Connection, IpcBaseEvent], None])

Subscribe to the event and call the handler when it is emitted by the i3 ipc.

Parameters:
  • event (Event or str) – The event to subscribe to.

  • handler (Callable) – The event handler to call.

send_tick(payload: str = '') TickReply

Sends a tick with the specified payload.

Returns:

The reply to the tick command

Return type:

i3ipc.TickReply

property socket_path: str

The path of the socket this Connection is connected to.

Return type:

str