i3-config-wizard − creates a keysym based config based on your layout
i3−config−wizard [−s socket] [−m modifier] [−v] [−h]
−s, −−socket socket
Overwrites the path to the i3 IPC socket.
−m, −−modifier modifier
Generates the configuration file headlessly. Accepts win or alt.
−v, −−version
Display version number and exit.
−h, −−help
Display a short help message and exit.
/etc/i3/config.keycodes
This file contains the default configuration with keycodes.
All the bindcode lines will be transformed to bindsym and
the user−specified modifier will be used.
i3−config−wizard is started by i3 in its default config, unless ~/.i3/config exists. i3−config−wizard creates a keysym based i3 config file (based on /etc/i3/config.keycodes) in ~/.i3/config.
The advantage of using keysyms is that the config file is easy to read, understand and modify. However, if we shipped with a keysym based default config file, the key positions would not be consistent across different keyboard layouts (take for example the homerow for movement). Therefore, we ship with a keycode based default config and let the wizard transform it according to your current keyboard layout.
i3(1)
Michael Stapelberg and contributors