sway-ipc(7) Miscellaneous Information Manual sway-ipc(7)
NAME
sway-ipc - IPC protocol for sway
DESCRIPTION
This details the interprocess communication (IPC) protocol for sway(1).
This IPC protocol can be used to control or obtain information from a
sway process.
The IPC protocol uses a UNIX socket as the method of communication. The
path to the socket is stored in the environment variable SWAYSOCK and,
for backwards compatibility with i3, I3SOCK. You can also retrieve the
socket path by calling sway --get-socketpath.
MESSAGE AND REPLY FORMAT
The format for messages and replies is:
<magic-string> <payload-length> <payload-type> <payload>
Where
<magic-string> is i3-ipc, for compatibility with i3
<payload-length> is a 32-bit integer in native byte order
<payload-type> is a 32-bit integer in native byte order
For example, sending the exit command would look like the following
hexdump:
00000000 | 69 33 2d 69 70 63 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 65 78 |i3-ipc........ex|
00000010 | 69 74 |it |
The payload for replies will be a valid serialized JSON data structure.
MESSAGES AND REPLIES
The following message types and their corresponding reply types are
currently supported. For all replies, any properties not listed are
subject to removal.
┌────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────────┐
│TYPE NUMBER │ MESSAGE NAME │ PURPOSE │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 0 │ RUN_COMMAND │ Runs the payload as │
│ │ │ sway commands │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 1 │ GET_WORKSPACES │ Get the list of │
│ │ │ current workspaces │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 2 │ SUBSCRIBE │ Subscribe the IPC │
│ │ │ connection to the │
│ │ │ events listed in │
│ │ │ the payload │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 3 │ GET_OUTPUTS │ Get the list of │
│ │ │ current outputs │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 4 │ GET_TREE │ Get the node layout │
│ │ │ tree │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 5 │ GET_MARKS │ Get the names of │
│ │ │ all the marks cur- │
│ │ │ rently set │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 6 │ GET_BAR_CONFIG │ Get the specified │
│ │ │ bar config or a │
│ │ │ list of bar config │
│ │ │ names │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 7 │ GET_VERSION │ Get the version of │
│ │ │ sway that owns the │
│ │ │ IPC socket │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 8 │ GET_BINDING_MODES │ Get the list of │
│ │ │ binding mode names │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 9 │ GET_CONFIG │ Returns the config │
│ │ │ that was last │
│ │ │ loaded │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 10 │ SEND_TICK │ Sends a tick event │
│ │ │ with the specified │
│ │ │ payload │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 11 │ SYNC │ Replies failure ob- │
│ │ │ ject for i3 compat- │
│ │ │ ibility │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 12 │ GET_BINDING_STATE │ Request the current │
│ │ │ binding state, e.g. │
│ │ │ the currently ac- │
│ │ │ tive binding mode │
│ │ │ name. │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 100 │ GET_INPUTS │ Get the list of in- │
│ │ │ put devices │
├────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ 101 │ GET_SEATS │ Get the list of │
│ │ │ seats │
└────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────────┘
0. RUN_COMMAND
MESSAGE
Parses and runs the payload as sway commands
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each command that was parsed. Each
object has the property success, which is a boolean indicating whether
the command was successful. The object may also contain the properties
error and parse_error. The error property is a human readable error
message while parse_error is a boolean indicating whether the reason
the command failed was because the command was unknown or not able to
be parsed.
Example Reply:
[
{
"success": true
},
{
"success": false,
"parse_error": true,
"error": "Invalid/unknown command"
}
]
1. GET_WORKSPACES
MESSAGE
Retrieves the list of workspaces.
REPLY
The reply is an array of objects corresponding to each workspace. Each
object has the following properties:
┌─────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ num │ integer │ The workspace num- │
│ │ │ ber or -1 for │
│ │ │ workspaces that do │
│ │ │ not start with a │
│ │ │ number │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The name of the │
│ │ │ workspace │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│visible │ boolean │ Whether the │
│ │ │ workspace is cur- │
│ │ │ rently visible on │
│ │ │ any output │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│focused │ boolean │ Whether the │
│ │ │ workspace is cur- │
│ │ │ rently focused by │
│ │ │ the default seat │
│ │ │ (seat0) │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ boolean │ Whether a view on │
│ │ │ the workspace has │
│ │ │ the urgent flag set │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ rect │ object │ The bounds of the │
│ │ │ workspace. It con- │
│ │ │ sists of x, y, │
│ │ │ width, and height │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ output │ string │ The name of the │
│ │ │ output that the │
│ │ │ workspace is on │
└─────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"num": 1,
"name": "1",
"visible": true,
"focused": true,
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 23,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1057
},
"output": "eDP-1"
},
]
2. SUBSCRIBE
MESSAGE
Subscribe this IPC connection to the event types specified in the mes-
sage payload. The payload should be a valid JSON array of events. See
the EVENTS section for the list of supported events.
REPLY
A single object that contains the property success, which is a boolean
value indicating whether the subscription was successful or not.
Example Reply:
{
"success": true
}
3. GET_OUTPUTS
MESSAGE
Retrieve the list of outputs
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each output. Each object has the
following properties:
┌──────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The name of the │
│ │ │ output. On DRM, │
│ │ │ this is the connec- │
│ │ │ tor │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ make │ string │ The make of the │
│ │ │ output │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ model │ string │ The model of the │
│ │ │ output │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ serial │ string │ The output's serial │
│ │ │ number as a hexa- │
│ │ │ decimal string │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ active │ boolean │ Whether this output │
│ │ │ is active/enabled │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ dpms │ boolean │ Whether this output │
│ │ │ is on/off (via │
│ │ │ DPMS) │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ primary │ boolean │ For i3 compatibil- │
│ │ │ ity, this will be │
│ │ │ false. It does not │
│ │ │ make sense in Way- │
│ │ │ land │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ scale │ float │ The scale currently │
│ │ │ in use on the out- │
│ │ │ put or -1 for dis- │
│ │ │ abled outputs │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│subpixel_hinting │ string │ The subpixel hint- │
│ │ │ ing current in use │
│ │ │ on the output. This │
│ │ │ can be rgb, bgr, │
│ │ │ vrgb, vbgr, or none │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ transform │ string │ The transform cur- │
│ │ │ rently in use for │
│ │ │ the output. This │
│ │ │ can be normal, 90, │
│ │ │ 180, 270, │
│ │ │ flipped-90, │
│ │ │ flipped-180, or │
│ │ │ flipped-270 │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│current_workspace │ string │ The workspace cur- │
│ │ │ rently visible on │
│ │ │ the output or null │
│ │ │ for disabled out- │
│ │ │ puts │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ modes │ array │ An array of sup- │
│ │ │ ported mode ob- │
│ │ │ jects. Each object │
│ │ │ contains width, │
│ │ │ height, and refresh │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ current_mode │ object │ An object repre- │
│ │ │ senting the current │
│ │ │ mode containing │
│ │ │ width, height, and │
│ │ │ refresh │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ rect │ object │ The bounds for the │
│ │ │ output consisting │
│ │ │ of x, y, width, and │
│ │ │ height │
└──────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"name": "HDMI-A-2",
"make": "Unknown",
"model": "NS-19E310A13",
"serial": "0x00000001",
"active": true,
"primary": false,
"scale": 1.0,
"subpixel_hinting": "rgb",
"transform": "normal",
"current_workspace": "1",
"modes": [
{
"width": 640,
"height": 480,
"refresh": 59940
},
{
"width": 800,
"height": 600,
"refresh": 60317
},
{
"width": 1024,
"height": 768,
"refresh": 60004
},
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60000
}
],
"current_mode": {
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60000
}
}
]
4. GET_TREE
MESSAGE
Retrieve a JSON representation of the tree
REPLY
An array of objects that represent the current tree. Each object repre-
sents one node and will have the following properties:
┌──────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ id │ integer │ The internal unique │
│ │ │ ID for this node │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The name of the │
│ │ │ node such as the │
│ │ │ output name or win- │
│ │ │ dow title. For the │
│ │ │ scratchpad, this │
│ │ │ will be │
│ │ │ __i3_scratch for │
│ │ │ compatibility with │
│ │ │ i3. │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ type │ string │ The node type. It │
│ │ │ can be root, out- │
│ │ │ put, workspace, │
│ │ │ con, or float- │
│ │ │ ing_con │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ border │ string │ The border style │
│ │ │ for the node. It │
│ │ │ can be normal, │
│ │ │ none, pixel, or csd │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ current_bor- │ integer │ Number of pixels │
│ der_width │ │ used for the border │
│ │ │ width │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ layout │ string │ The node's layout. │
│ │ │ It can either be │
│ │ │ splith, splitv, │
│ │ │ stacked, tabbed, or │
│ │ │ output │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ orientation │ string │ The node's orienta- │
│ │ │ tion. It can be │
│ │ │ vertical, horizon- │
│ │ │ tal, or none │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ percent │ float │ The percentage of │
│ │ │ the node's parent │
│ │ │ that it takes up or │
│ │ │ null for the root │
│ │ │ and other special │
│ │ │ nodes such as the │
│ │ │ scratchpad │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ rect │ object │ The absolute geome- │
│ │ │ try of the node. │
│ │ │ The window decora- │
│ │ │ tions are excluded │
│ │ │ from this, but bor- │
│ │ │ ders are included. │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ window_rect │ object │ The geometry of the │
│ │ │ contents inside the │
│ │ │ node. The window │
│ │ │ decorations are ex- │
│ │ │ cluded from this │
│ │ │ calculation, but │
│ │ │ borders are in- │
│ │ │ cluded. │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ deco_rect │ object │ The geometry of the │
│ │ │ decorations for the │
│ │ │ node relative to │
│ │ │ the parent node │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ geometry │ object │ The natural geome- │
│ │ │ try of the contents │
│ │ │ if it were to size │
│ │ │ itself │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ boolean │ Whether the node or │
│ │ │ any of its descen- │
│ │ │ dants has the ur- │
│ │ │ gent hint set. │
│ │ │ Note: This may not │
│ │ │ exist when compiled │
│ │ │ without xwayland │
│ │ │ support │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ sticky │ boolean │ Whether the node is │
│ │ │ sticky (shows on │
│ │ │ all workspaces) │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ marks │ array │ List of marks as- │
│ │ │ signed to the node │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ focused │ boolean │ Whether the node is │
│ │ │ currently focused │
│ │ │ by the default seat │
│ │ │ (seat0) │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ focus │ array │ Array of child node │
│ │ │ IDs in the current │
│ │ │ focus order │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ nodes │ array │ The tiling children │
│ │ │ nodes for the node │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ floating_nodes │ array │ The floating chil- │
│ │ │ dren nodes for the │
│ │ │ node │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ representation │ string │ (Only workspaces) A │
│ │ │ string representa- │
│ │ │ tion of the layout │
│ │ │ of the workspace │
│ │ │ that can be used as │
│ │ │ an aid in submit- │
│ │ │ ting reproduction │
│ │ │ steps for bug re- │
│ │ │ ports │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ fullscreen_mode │ integer │ (Only containers │
│ │ │ and views) The │
│ │ │ fullscreen mode of │
│ │ │ the node. 0 means │
│ │ │ none, 1 means full │
│ │ │ workspace, and 2 │
│ │ │ means global │
│ │ │ fullscreen │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ app_id │ string │ (Only views) For an │
│ │ │ xdg-shell view, the │
│ │ │ name of the appli- │
│ │ │ cation, if set. │
│ │ │ Otherwise, null │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ pid │ integer │ (Only views) The │
│ │ │ PID of the applica- │
│ │ │ tion that owns the │
│ │ │ view │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ visible │ boolean │ (Only views) │
│ │ │ Whether the node is │
│ │ │ visible │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ shell │ string │ (Only views) The │
│ │ │ shell of the view, │
│ │ │ such as xdg_shell │
│ │ │ or xwayland │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ inhibit_idle │ boolean │ (Only views) │
│ │ │ Whether the view is │
│ │ │ inhibiting the idle │
│ │ │ state │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ idle_inhibitors │ object │ (Only views) An ob- │
│ │ │ ject containing the │
│ │ │ state of the appli- │
│ │ │ cation and user │
│ │ │ idle inhibitors. │
│ │ │ application can be │
│ │ │ enabled or none. │
│ │ │ user can be focus, │
│ │ │ fullscreen, open, │
│ │ │ visible or none. │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ window │ integer │ (Only xwayland │
│ │ │ views) The X11 win- │
│ │ │ dow ID for the │
│ │ │ xwayland view │
├──────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│window_properties │ object │ (Only xwayland │
│ │ │ views) An object │
│ │ │ containing the ti- │
│ │ │ tle, class, in- │
│ │ │ stance, win- │
│ │ │ dow_role, win- │
│ │ │ dow_type, and tran- │
│ │ │ sient_for for the │
│ │ │ view │
└──────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
{
"id": 1,
"name": "root",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
3
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "root",
"nodes": [
{
"id": 2147483647,
"name": "__i3",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
2147483646
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "output",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "output",
"nodes": [
{
"id": 2147483646,
"name": "__i3_scratch",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "workspace"
}
]
},
{
"id": 3,
"name": "eDP-1",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
4
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "output",
"orientation": "none",
"percent": 1.0,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "output",
"active": true,
"primary": false,
"make": "Unknown",
"model": "0x38ED",
"serial": "0x00000000",
"scale": 1.0,
"transform": "normal",
"current_workspace": "1",
"modes": [
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60052
}
],
"current_mode": {
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"refresh": 60052
},
"nodes": [
{
"id": 4,
"name": "1",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 23,
"width": 1920,
"height": 1057
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
6,
5
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"orientation": "horizontal",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"num": 1,
"output": "eDP-1",
"type": "workspace",
"representation": "H[URxvt termite]",
"nodes": [
{
"id": 5,
"name": "urxvt",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 23,
"width": 960,
"height": 1057
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "normal",
"current_border_width": 2,
"layout": "none",
"orientation": "none",
"percent": 0.5,
"window_rect": {
"x": 2,
"y": 0,
"width": 956,
"height": 1030
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 960,
"height": 25
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1124,
"height": 422
},
"window": 4194313,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "con",
"fullscreen_mode": 0,
"pid": 23959,
"app_id": null,
"visible": true,
"shell": "xwayland",
"inhibit_idle": true,
"idle_inhibitors": {
"application": "none",
"user": "visible",
},
"window_properties": {
"class": "URxvt",
"instance": "urxvt",
"title": "urxvt",
"transient_for": null
},
"nodes": [
]
},
{
"id": 6,
"name": "",
"rect": {
"x": 960,
"y": 23,
"width": 960,
"height": 1057
},
"focused": true,
"focus": [
],
"border": "normal",
"current_border_width": 2,
"layout": "none",
"orientation": "none",
"percent": 0.5,
"window_rect": {
"x": 2,
"y": 0,
"width": 956,
"height": 1030
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 960,
"height": 25
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 817,
"height": 458
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"sticky": false,
"type": "con",
"fullscreen_mode": 0,
"pid": 25370,
"app_id": "termite",
"visible": true,
"shell": "xdg_shell",
"inhibit_idle": false,
"idle_inhibitors": {
"application": "none",
"user": "fullscreen",
},
"nodes": [
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
5. GET_MARKS
MESSAGE
Retrieve the currently set marks
REPLY
An array of marks current set. Since each mark can only be set for one
container, this is a set so each value is unique and the order is unde-
fined.
Example Reply:
[
"one",
"test"
]
6. GET_BAR_CONFIG (WITHOUT A PAYLOAD)
MESSAGE
When sending without a payload, this retrieves the list of configured
bar IDs
REPLY
An array of bar IDs, which are strings
Example Reply:
[
"bar-0",
"bar-1"
]
6. GET_BAR_CONFIG (WITH A PAYLOAD)
MESSAGE
When sent with a bar ID as the payload, this retrieves the config asso-
ciated with the specified by the bar ID in the payload. This is used by
swaybar, but could also be used for third party bars
REPLY
An object that represents the configuration for the bar with the bar ID
sent as the payload. The following properties exists and more informa-
tion about what their value mean can be found in sway-bar(5):
┌────────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ id │ string │ The bar ID │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ mode │ string │ The mode for the │
│ │ │ bar. It can be │
│ │ │ dock, hide, or in- │
│ │ │ visible │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ position │ string │ The bar's position. │
│ │ │ It can currently │
│ │ │ either be bottom or │
│ │ │ top │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ status_command │ string │ The command which │
│ │ │ should be run to │
│ │ │ generate the status │
│ │ │ line │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ font │ string │ The font to use for │
│ │ │ the text on the bar │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ workspace_buttons │ boolean │ Whether to display │
│ │ │ the workspace but- │
│ │ │ tons on the bar │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│workspace_min_width │ integer │ Minimum width in px │
│ │ │ for the workspace │
│ │ │ buttons on the bar │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│binding_mode_indi- │ boolean │ Whether to display │
│cator │ │ the current binding │
│ │ │ mode on the bar │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ verbose │ boolean │ For i3 compatibil- │
│ │ │ ity, this will be │
│ │ │ the boolean value │
│ │ │ false. │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ colors │ object │ An object contain- │
│ │ │ ing the #RRGGBBAA │
│ │ │ colors to use for │
│ │ │ the bar. See below │
│ │ │ for more informa- │
│ │ │ tion │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ gaps │ object │ An object repre- │
│ │ │ senting the gaps │
│ │ │ for the bar con- │
│ │ │ sisting of top, │
│ │ │ right, bottom, and │
│ │ │ left. │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ bar_height │ integer │ The absolute height │
│ │ │ to use for the bar │
│ │ │ or 0 to automati- │
│ │ │ cally size based on │
│ │ │ the font │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ status_padding │ integer │ The vertical pad- │
│ │ │ ding to use for the │
│ │ │ status line │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│status_edge_padding │ integer │ The horizontal pad- │
│ │ │ ding to use for the │
│ │ │ status line when at │
│ │ │ the end of an out- │
│ │ │ put │
└────────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
The colors object contains the following properties, which are all
strings containing the #RRGGBBAA representation of the color:
┌──────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ background │ The color to use for the │
│ │ bar background on unfo- │
│ │ cused outputs │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ statusline │ The color to use for the │
│ │ status line text on unfo- │
│ │ cused outputs │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ separator │ The color to use for the │
│ │ separator text on unfo- │
│ │ cused outputs │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_background │ The color to use for the │
│ │ background of the bar on │
│ │ the focused output │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_statusline │ The color to use for the │
│ │ status line text on the │
│ │ focused output │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_separator │ The color to use for the │
│ │ separator text on the fo- │
│ │ cused output │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_workspace_text │ The color to use for the │
│ │ text of the focused │
│ │ workspace button │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ focused_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the │
│ │ background of the focused │
│ │ workspace button │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│focused_workspace_border │ The color to use for the │
│ │ border of the focused │
│ │ workspace button │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ active_workspace_text │ The color to use for the │
│ │ text of the workspace but- │
│ │ tons for the visible │
│ │ workspaces on unfocused │
│ │ outputs │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ active_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the │
│ │ background of the │
│ │ workspace buttons for the │
│ │ visible workspaces on un- │
│ │ focused outputs │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ active_workspace_border │ The color to use for the │
│ │ border of the workspace │
│ │ buttons for the visible │
│ │ workspaces on unfocused │
│ │ outputs │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ inactive_workspace_text │ The color to use for the │
│ │ text of the workspace but- │
│ │ tons for workspaces that │
│ │ are not visible │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ inactive_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the │
│ │ background of the │
│ │ workspace buttons for │
│ │ workspaces that are not │
│ │ visible │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│inactive_workspace_border │ The color to use for the │
│ │ border of the workspace │
│ │ buttons for workspaces │
│ │ that are not visible │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent_workspace_text │ The color to use for the │
│ │ text of the workspace but- │
│ │ tons for workspaces that │
│ │ contain an urgent view │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent_workspace_bg │ The color to use for the │
│ │ background of the │
│ │ workspace buttons for │
│ │ workspaces that contain an │
│ │ urgent view │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent_workspace_border │ The color to use for the │
│ │ border of the workspace │
│ │ buttons for workspaces │
│ │ that contain an urgent │
│ │ view │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_text │ The color to use for the │
│ │ text of the binding mode │
│ │ indicator │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_bg │ The color to use for the │
│ │ background of the binding │
│ │ mode indicator │
├──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ binding_mode_border │ The color to use for the │
│ │ border of the binding mode │
│ │ indicator │
└──────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
{
"id": "bar-0",
"mode": "dock",
"position": "top",
"status_command": "while date +'%Y-%m-%d %l:%M:%S %p'; do sleep 1; done",
"font": "monospace 10",
"gaps": {
"top": 0,
"right": 0,
"bottom": 0,
"left": 0
},
"bar_height": 0,
"status_padding": 1,
"status_edge_padding": 3,
"workspace_buttons": true,
"workspace_min_width": 0,
"binding_mode_indicator": true,
"verbose": false,
"pango_markup": false,
"colors": {
"background": "#323232ff",
"statusline": "#ffffffff",
"separator": "#666666ff",
"focused_background": "#323232ff",
"focused_statusline": "#ffffffff",
"focused_separator": "#666666ff",
"focused_workspace_border": "#4c7899ff",
"focused_workspace_bg": "#285577ff",
"focused_workspace_text": "#ffffffff",
"inactive_workspace_border": "#32323200",
"inactive_workspace_bg": "#32323200",
"inactive_workspace_text": "#5c5c5cff",
"active_workspace_border": "#333333ff",
"active_workspace_bg": "#5f676aff",
"active_workspace_text": "#ffffffff",
"urgent_workspace_border": "#2f343aff",
"urgent_workspace_bg": "#900000ff",
"urgent_workspace_text": "#ffffffff",
"binding_mode_border": "#2f343aff",
"binding_mode_bg": "#900000ff",
"binding_mode_text": "#ffffffff"
},
}
7. GET_VERSION
MESSAGE
Retrieve version information about the sway process
REPLY
An object containing the following properties:
┌───────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ major │ integer │ The major version │
│ │ │ of the sway process │
├───────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ minor │ integer │ The minor version │
│ │ │ of the sway process │
├───────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ patch │ integer │ The patch version │
│ │ │ of the sway process │
├───────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│human_readable │ string │ A human readable │
│ │ │ version string that │
│ │ │ will likely contain │
│ │ │ more useful infor- │
│ │ │ mation such as the │
│ │ │ git commit short │
│ │ │ hash and git branch │
├───────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│loaded_con- │ string │ The path to the │
│fig_file_name │ │ loaded config file │
└───────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
{
"human_readable": "1.0-rc1-117-g2f7247e0 (Feb 24 2019, branch 'master')",
"major": 1,
"minor": 0,
"patch": 0,
"loaded_config_file_name": "/home/redsoxfan/.config/sway/config"
}
8. GET_BINDING_MODES
MESSAGE
Retrieve the list of binding modes that currently configured
REPLY
An array of strings, with each string being the name of a binding mode.
This will always contain at least one mode (currently default), which
is the default binding mode
Example Reply:
[
"default",
"resize",
]
9. GET_CONFIG
MESSAGE
Retrieve the contents of the config that was last loaded
REPLY
An object with a single string property containing the contents of the
config
Example Reply:
{
"config": "set $mod Mod4nbindsym $mod+q exitn"
}
10. SEND_TICK
MESSAGE
Issues a TICK event to all clients subscribing to the event to ensure
that all events prior to the tick were received. If a payload is given,
it will be included in the TICK event
REPLY
A single object contains the property success, which is a boolean value
indicating whether the TICK event was sent.
Example Reply:
{
"success": true
}
11. SYNC
MESSAGE
For i3 compatibility, this command will just return a failure object
since it does not make sense to implement in sway due to the X11 nature
of the command. If you are curious about what this IPC command does in
i3, refer to the i3 documentation.
REPLY
A single object that contains the property success, which is set to the
boolean value false.
Exact Reply:
{
"success": false
}
12. GET_BINDING_STATE
MESSAGE
Returns the currently active binding mode.
REPLY
A single object that contains the property name, which is set to the
currently active binding mode as a string.
Exact Reply:
{
"name": "default"
}
100. GET_INPUTS
MESSAGE
Retrieve a list of the input devices currently available
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each input device. Each object has
the following properties:
┌─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ identifier │ string │ The identifier for │
│ │ │ the input device │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The human readable │
│ │ │ name for the device │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ vendor │ integer │ The vendor code for │
│ │ │ the input device │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ product │ integer │ The product code │
│ │ │ for the input de- │
│ │ │ vice │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ type │ string │ The device type. │
│ │ │ Currently this can │
│ │ │ be keyboard, │
│ │ │ pointer, touch, │
│ │ │ tablet_tool, │
│ │ │ tablet_pad, or │
│ │ │ switch │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│xkb_active_lay- │ string │ (Only keyboards) │
│out_name │ │ The name of the ac- │
│ │ │ tive keyboard lay- │
│ │ │ out in use │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│xkb_layout_names │ array │ (Only keyboards) A │
│ │ │ list a layout names │
│ │ │ configured for the │
│ │ │ keyboard │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│xkb_active_lay- │ integer │ (Only keyboards) │
│out_index │ │ The index of the │
│ │ │ active keyboard │
│ │ │ layout in use │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ scroll_factor │ floating │ (Only pointers) │
│ │ │ Multiplier applied │
│ │ │ on scroll event │
│ │ │ values. │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ libinput │ object │ (Only libinput de- │
│ │ │ vices) An object │
│ │ │ describing the cur- │
│ │ │ rent device set- │
│ │ │ tings. See below │
│ │ │ for more informa- │
│ │ │ tion │
└─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
The libinput object describes the device configuration for libinput de-
vices. Only properties that are supported for the device will be added
to the object. In addition to the possible options listed, all string
properties may also be unknown, in the case that a new option is added
to libinput. See sway-input(5) for information on the meaning of the
possible values. The following properties will be included for devices
that support them:
┌───────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ send_events │ string │ Whether events are │
│ │ │ being sent by the │
│ │ │ device. It can be │
│ │ │ enabled, disabled, │
│ │ │ or disabled_on_ex- │
│ │ │ ternal_mouse │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ tap │ string │ Whether tap to │
│ │ │ click is enabled. │
│ │ │ It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ tap_button_map │ string │ The finger to but- │
│ │ │ ton mapping in use. │
│ │ │ It can be lmr or │
│ │ │ lrm │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ tap_drag │ string │ Whether tap-and- │
│ │ │ drag is enabled. It │
│ │ │ can be enabled or │
│ │ │ disabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ tap_drag_lock │ string │ Whether drag-lock │
│ │ │ is enabled. It can │
│ │ │ be enabled or dis- │
│ │ │ abled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ accel_speed │ double │ The pointer-accel- │
│ │ │ eration in use │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ accel_profile │ string │ The acceleration │
│ │ │ profile in use. It │
│ │ │ can be none, flat, │
│ │ │ or adaptive │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ natural_scroll │ string │ Whether natural │
│ │ │ scrolling is en- │
│ │ │ abled. It can be │
│ │ │ enabled or disabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ left_handed │ string │ Whether left-handed │
│ │ │ mode is enabled. It │
│ │ │ can be enabled or │
│ │ │ disabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ click_method │ string │ The click method in │
│ │ │ use. It can be │
│ │ │ none, button_areas, │
│ │ │ or clickfinger │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ middle_emulation │ string │ Whether middle emu- │
│ │ │ lation is enabled. │
│ │ │ It can be enabled │
│ │ │ or disabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ scroll_method │ string │ The scroll method │
│ │ │ in use. It can be │
│ │ │ none, two_finger, │
│ │ │ edge, or on_but- │
│ │ │ ton_down │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ scroll_button │ int │ The scroll button │
│ │ │ to use when │
│ │ │ scroll_method is │
│ │ │ on_button_down. │
│ │ │ This will be given │
│ │ │ as an input event │
│ │ │ code │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ dwt │ string │ Whether disable- │
│ │ │ while-typing is en- │
│ │ │ abled. It can be │
│ │ │ enabled or disabled │
├───────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│calibration_matrix │ array │ An array of 6 │
│ │ │ floats representing │
│ │ │ the calibration ma- │
│ │ │ trix for absolute │
│ │ │ devices such as │
│ │ │ touchscreens │
└───────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"identifier": "1:1:AT_Translated_Set_2_keyboard",
"name": "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard",
"vendor": 1,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "1267:5:Elan_Touchpad",
"name": "Elan Touchpad",
"vendor": 1267,
"product": 5,
"type": "pointer",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled",
"tap": "enabled",
"tap_button_map": "lmr",
"tap_drag": "enabled",
"tap_drag_lock": "disabled",
"accel_speed": 0.0,
"accel_profile": "none",
"natural_scroll", "disabled",
"left_handed": "disabled",
"click_method": "button_areas",
"middle_emulation": "disabled",
"scroll_method": "edge",
"dwt": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "3034:22494:USB2.0_VGA_UVC_WebCam:_USB2.0_V",
"name": "USB2.0 VGA UVC WebCam: USB2.0 V",
"vendor": 3034,
"product": 22494,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:3:Sleep_Button",
"name": "Sleep Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 3,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:5:Lid_Switch",
"name": "Lid Switch",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 5,
"type": "switch",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:6:Video_Bus",
"name": "Video Bus",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 6,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:1:Power_Button",
"name": "Power Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
}
]
101. GET_SEATS
MESSAGE
Retrieve a list of the seats currently configured
REPLY
An array of objects corresponding to each seat. There will always be at
least one seat. Each object has the following properties:
┌─────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ name │ string │ The unique name for │
│ │ │ the seat │
├─────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│capabilities │ integer │ The number of capa- │
│ │ │ bilities that the │
│ │ │ seat has │
├─────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ focus │ integer │ The id of the node │
│ │ │ currently focused │
│ │ │ by the seat or 0 │
│ │ │ when the seat is │
│ │ │ not currently fo- │
│ │ │ cused by a node │
│ │ │ (i.e. a surface │
│ │ │ layer or xwayland │
│ │ │ unmanaged has fo- │
│ │ │ cus) │
├─────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ devices │ array │ An array of input │
│ │ │ devices that are │
│ │ │ attached to the │
│ │ │ seat. Currently, │
│ │ │ this is an array of │
│ │ │ objects that are │
│ │ │ identical to those │
│ │ │ returned by GET_IN- │
│ │ │ PUTS │
└─────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Reply:
[
{
"name": "seat0",
"capabilities": 3,
"focus": 7,
"devices": [
{
"identifier": "1:1:AT_Translated_Set_2_keyboard",
"name": "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard",
"vendor": 1,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "1267:5:Elan_Touchpad",
"name": "Elan Touchpad",
"vendor": 1267,
"product": 5,
"type": "pointer",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled",
"tap": "enabled",
"tap_button_map": "lmr",
"tap_drag": "enabled",
"tap_drag_lock": "disabled",
"accel_speed": 0.0,
"accel_profile": "none",
"natural_scroll", "disabled",
"left_handed": "disabled",
"click_method": "button_areas",
"middle_emulation": "disabled",
"scroll_method": "edge",
"dwt": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "3034:22494:USB2.0_VGA_UVC_WebCam:_USB2.0_V",
"name": "USB2.0 VGA UVC WebCam: USB2.0 V",
"vendor": 3034,
"product": 22494,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:3:Sleep_Button",
"name": "Sleep Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 3,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:5:Lid_Switch",
"name": "Lid Switch",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 5,
"type": "switch",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:6:Video_Bus",
"name": "Video Bus",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 6,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
},
{
"identifier": "0:1:Power_Button",
"name": "Power Button",
"vendor": 0,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (US)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
}
]
}
]
EVENTS
Events are a way for client to get notified of changes to sway. A
client can subscribe to any events it wants to be notified of changes
for. The event is sent in the same format as a reply. The following
events are currently available:
┌───────────┬──────────────────┬─────────────────────┐
│EVENT TYPE │ NAME │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000000 │ workspace │ Sent whenever an │
│ │ │ event involving a │
│ │ │ workspace occurs │
│ │ │ such as initializa- │
│ │ │ tion of a new │
│ │ │ workspace or a dif- │
│ │ │ ferent workspace │
│ │ │ gains focus │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000002 │ mode │ Sent whenever the │
│ │ │ binding mode │
│ │ │ changes │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000003 │ window │ Sent whenever an │
│ │ │ event involving a │
│ │ │ view occurs such as │
│ │ │ being reparented, │
│ │ │ focused, or closed │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000004 │ barconfig_update │ Sent whenever a bar │
│ │ │ config changes │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000005 │ binding │ Sent when a config- │
│ │ │ ured binding is ex- │
│ │ │ ecuted │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000006 │ shutdown │ Sent when the ipc │
│ │ │ shuts down because │
│ │ │ sway is exiting │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000007 │ tick │ Sent when an ipc │
│ │ │ client sends a │
│ │ │ SEND_TICK message │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000014 │ bar_state_update │ Send when the visi- │
│ │ │ bility of a bar │
│ │ │ should change due │
│ │ │ to a modifier │
├───────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│0x80000015 │ input │ Sent when something │
│ │ │ related to input │
│ │ │ devices changes │
└───────────┴──────────────────┴─────────────────────┘
0x80000000. WORKSPACE
Sent whenever a change involving a workspace occurs. The event consists
of a single object with the following properties:
┌─────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The type of change │
│ │ │ that occurred. See │
│ │ │ below for more in- │
│ │ │ formation │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│current │ object │ An object repre- │
│ │ │ senting the │
│ │ │ workspace effected │
│ │ │ or null for reload │
│ │ │ changes │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ old │ object │ For a focus change, │
│ │ │ this is will be an │
│ │ │ object representing │
│ │ │ the workspace being │
│ │ │ switched from. Oth- │
│ │ │ erwise, it is null │
└─────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
The following change types are currently available:
┌───────┬────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ init │ The workspace was created │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│empty │ The workspace is empty and │
│ │ is being destroyed since │
│ │ it is not visible │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│focus │ The workspace was focused. │
│ │ See the old property for │
│ │ the previous focus │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ move │ The workspace was moved to │
│ │ a different output │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│rename │ The workspace was renamed │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│urgent │ A view on the workspace │
│ │ has had their urgency hint │
│ │ set or all urgency hints │
│ │ for views on the workspace │
│ │ have been cleared │
├───────┼────────────────────────────┤
│reload │ The configuration file has │
│ │ been reloaded │
└───────┴────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "init",
"old": null,
"current": {
"id": 10,
"name": "2",
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "splith",
"percent": null,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"window": null,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"num": 2,
"output": "eDP-1",
"type": "workspace",
"representation": null,
"nodes": [
]
}
}
0x80000002. MODE
Sent whenever the binding mode changes. The event consists of a single
object with the following properties:
┌─────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The binding mode │
│ │ │ that became active │
├─────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│pango_markup │ boolean │ Whether the mode │
│ │ │ should be parsed as │
│ │ │ pango markup │
└─────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "default",
"pango_markup": false
}
0x80000003. WINDOW
Sent whenever a change involving a view occurs. The event consists of a
single object with the following properties:
┌──────────┬───────────┬────────────────────┐
│PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├──────────┼───────────┼────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The type of change │
│ │ │ that occurred. See │
│ │ │ below for more in- │
│ │ │ formation │
├──────────┼───────────┼────────────────────┤
│container │ object │ An object repre- │
│ │ │ senting the view │
│ │ │ effected │
└──────────┴───────────┴────────────────────┘
The following change types are currently available:
┌────────────────┬────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ new │ The view was created │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ close │ The view was closed │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ focus │ The view was focused │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ title │ The view's title has │
│ │ changed │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│fullscreen_mode │ The view's fullscreen mode │
│ │ has changed │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ move │ The view has been repar- │
│ │ ented in the tree │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ floating │ The view has become float- │
│ │ ing or is no longer float- │
│ │ ing │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ urgent │ The view's urgency hint │
│ │ has changed status │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ mark │ A mark has been added or │
│ │ removed from the view │
└────────────────┴────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "new",
"container": {
"id": 12,
"name": null,
"rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"focused": false,
"focus": [
],
"border": "none",
"current_border_width": 0,
"layout": "none",
"percent": 0.0,
"window_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"deco_rect": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 0,
"height": 0
},
"geometry": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 1124,
"height": 422
},
"window": 4194313,
"urgent": false,
"floating_nodes": [
],
"type": "con",
"pid": 19787,
"app_id": null,
"window_properties": {
"class": "URxvt",
"instance": "urxvt",
"transient_for": null
},
"nodes": [
]
}
}
0x80000004. BARCONFIG_UPDATE
Sent whenever a config for a bar changes. The event is identical to
that of GET_BAR_CONFIG when a bar ID is given as a payload. See 6.
GET_BAR_CONFIG (WITH A PAYLOAD) above for more information.
0x80000005. BINDING
Sent whenever a binding is executed. The event is a single object with
the following properties:
┌─────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ The change that oc- │
│ │ │ curred for the │
│ │ │ binding. Currently │
│ │ │ this will only be │
│ │ │ run │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ command │ string │ The command associ- │
│ │ │ ated with the bind- │
│ │ │ ing │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│event_state_mask │ array │ An array of strings │
│ │ │ that correspond to │
│ │ │ each modifier key │
│ │ │ for the binding │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ input_code │ integer │ For keyboard bind- │
│ │ │ codes, this is the │
│ │ │ key code for the │
│ │ │ binding. For mouse │
│ │ │ bindings, this is │
│ │ │ the X11 button num- │
│ │ │ ber, if there is an │
│ │ │ equivalent. In all │
│ │ │ other cases, this │
│ │ │ will be 0. │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ symbol │ string │ For keyboard │
│ │ │ bindsyms, this is │
│ │ │ the bindsym for the │
│ │ │ binding. Otherwise, │
│ │ │ this will be null │
├─────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ input_type │ string │ The input type that │
│ │ │ triggered the bind- │
│ │ │ ing. This is either │
│ │ │ keyboard or mouse │
└─────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "run",
"binding": {
"command": "workspace 2",
"event_state_mask": [
"Mod4"
],
"input_code": 0,
"symbol": "2",
"input_type": "keyboard"
}
}
0x80000006. SHUTDOWN
Sent whenever the IPC is shutting down. The event is a single object
with the property change, which is a string containing the reason for
the shutdown. Currently, the only value for change is exit, which is
issued when sway is exiting.
Example Event:
{
"change": "exit"
}
0x80000007. TICK
Sent when first subscribing to tick events or by a SEND_TICK message.
The event is a single object with the following properties:
┌─────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ first │ boolean │ Whether this event │
│ │ │ was triggered by │
│ │ │ subscribing to the │
│ │ │ tick events │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│payload │ string │ The payload given │
│ │ │ with a SEND_TICK │
│ │ │ message, if any. │
│ │ │ Otherwise, an empty │
│ │ │ string │
└─────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"first": true
"payload": ""
}
0x80000014. BAR_STATE_UPDATE
Sent when the visibility of a bar changes due to a modifier being
pressed. The event is a single object with the following properties:
┌────────────────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│ PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ id │ string │ The bar ID effected │
├────────────────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│visible_by_modifier │ boolean │ Whether the bar │
│ │ │ should be made vis- │
│ │ │ ible due to a modi- │
│ │ │ fier being pressed │
└────────────────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"id": "bar-0",
"visible_by_modifier": true
}
0x80000015. INPUT
Sent when something related to the input devices changes. The event is
a single object with the following properties:
┌─────────┬───────────┬─────────────────────┐
│PROPERTY │ DATA TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ change │ string │ What has changed │
├─────────┼───────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ input │ object │ An object repre- │
│ │ │ senting the input │
│ │ │ that is identical │
│ │ │ the ones GET_INPUTS │
│ │ │ gives │
└─────────┴───────────┴─────────────────────┘
The following change types are currently available:
┌────────────────┬────────────────────────────┐
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ added │ The input device became │
│ │ available │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ removed │ The input device is no │
│ │ longer available │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_keymap │ (Keyboards only) The │
│ │ keymap for the keyboard │
│ │ has changed │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ xkb_layout │ (Keyboards only) The ef- │
│ │ fective layout in the │
│ │ keymap has changed │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│libinput_config │ (libinput device only) A │
│ │ libinput config option for │
│ │ the device changed │
└────────────────┴────────────────────────────┘
Example Event:
{
"change": "xkb_layout",
"input": {
"identifier": "1:1:AT_Translated_Set_2_keyboard",
"name": "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard",
"vendor": 1,
"product": 1,
"type": "keyboard",
"xkb_layout_names": [
"English (US)",
"English (Dvorak)"
],
"xkb_active_layout_index": 1,
"xkb_active_layout_name": "English (Dvorak)",
"libinput": {
"send_events": "enabled"
}
}
}
SEE ALSO
sway(1) sway(5) sway-bar(5) swaymsg(1) sway-input(5) sway-output(5)
2022-10-14 sway-ipc(7)
Generated by dwww version 1.15 on Wed Jun 26 01:41:03 CEST 2024.