river/doc/riverctl.1.scd

RIVERCTL(1) "github.com/riverwm/river" "General Commands Manual"

# NAME

riverctl - command-line interface for controlling river

# SYNOPSIS

*riverctl* [_options_] _command_ [_command specific arguments_]

# DESCRIPTION

*riverctl* is a command-line utility used to control and configure river
over the Wayland protocol.

# OPTIONS

*-h*
	Print a help message and exit.

*-version*
	Print the version number and exit.

# COMMANDS

## ACTIONS

*close*
	Close the focused view.

*csd-filter-add* *app-id*|*title* _pattern_
	Add _pattern_ to the CSD filter list. Views with this _pattern_ are told to
	use client side decoration instead of the default server side decoration.
	Note that this affects new views as well as already existing ones. Title
	updates are not taken into account.

*csd-filter-remove* *app-id*|*title* _pattern_
	Remove _pattern_ from the CSD filter list. Note that this affects new views
	as well as already existing ones.

*exit*
	Exit the compositor, terminating the Wayland session.

*float-filter-add* *app-id*|*title* _pattern_
	Add a pattern to the float filter list. Note that this affects only new
	views, not already existing ones. Title updates are also not taken into
	account.

*float-filter-remove* *app-id*|*title* _pattern_
	Remove an app-id or title from the float filter list. Note that this
	affects only new views, not already existing ones.

*focus-output* *next*|*previous*|*up*|*right*|*down*|*left*|_name_
	Focus the next or previous output, the closest output in any direction
	or an output by name.

*focus-view* *next*|*previous*
	Focus the next or previous view in the stack.

*move* *up*|*down*|*left*|*right* _delta_
	Move the focused view in the specified direction by _delta_ logical
	pixels. The view will be set to floating.

*resize* *horizontal*|*vertical* _delta_
	Resize the focused view along the given axis by _delta_ logical
	pixels. The view will be set to floating.

*snap* *up*|*down*|*left*|*right*
	Snap the focused view to the specified screen edge. The view will
	be set to floating.

*send-to-output* *next*|*previous*|*up*|*right*|*down*|*left*|_name_
	Send the focused view to the next or previous output, the closest
	output in any direction or to an output by name.

*spawn* _shell_command_
	Run _shell_command_ using `/bin/sh -c _shell_command_`. Note that
	*spawn* only takes a single argument. To spawn a command taking
	multiple arguments, wrapping the command in quotes is recommended.

*swap* *next*|*previous*
	Swap the focused view with the next/previous visible non-floating
	view. If the first/last view in the stack is focused, wrap.

*toggle-float*
	Toggle the floating state of the focused view.

*toggle-fullscreen*
	Toggle the fullscreen state of the focused view.

*zoom*
	Bump the focused view to the top of the layout stack. If the top
	view in the stack is already focused, bump the second view.

*default-layout* _namespace_
	Set the layout namespace to be used by all outputs by default.

*output-layout* _namespace_
	Set the layout namespace of currently focused output, overriding
	the value set with *default-layout* if any.

*send-layout-cmd* _namespace_ _command_
	Send _command_ to the layout generator on the currently focused output
	with the given _namespace_, if any. What commands a layout generator
	understands depends on the layout generator. For rivertile, see the
	documentation in the *rivertile*(1) man page.

## TAG MANAGEMENT

Tags are similar to workspaces but more flexible. You can assign views multiple
tags and focus multiple tags simultaneously. Bitfields are used to describe
sets of tags when interfacing with river. As such, the following commands
take a normal base 10 number as their argument but the semantics are best
understood in binary. The binary number 000000001 represents a set containing
only tag 1 while 100001101 represents a set containing tags 1, 3, 4, and 9.

When a view spawns it is assigned the currently focused tags of the output.

At least one tag must always be focused and each view must be assigned at
least one tag. Operations that would violate either of these requirements
are ignored by river.

*set-focused-tags* _tags_
	Show views with tags corresponding to the set bits of _tags_ on the
	currently focused output.

*set-view-tags* _tags_
	Assign the currently focused view the tags corresponding to the set
	bits of _tags_.

*toggle-focused-tags* _tags_
	Toggle visibility of views with tags corresponding to the set bits
	of _tags_ on the currently focused output.

*toggle-view-tags* _tags_
	Toggle the tags of the currently focused view corresponding to the
	set bits of _tags_.

*spawn-tagmask* _tagmask_
	Set a _tagmask_ to filter the tags assigned to newly spawned views
	on the focused output. This mask will be applied to the tags of
	new views with a bitwise and. If, for example, the tags 000011111
	are focused on an output with a _tagmask_ of 111110001, a new view
	will be assigned the tags 000010001. If no tags would remain after
	filtering, the _tagmask_ is ignored.

*focus-previous-tags*
	Sets tags to their previous value on the currently focused output,
	allowing jumping back and forth between 2 tag setups.

*send-to-previous-tags*
	Assign the currently focused view the previous tags of the currently
	focused output.

## MAPPINGS

Mappings are modal in river. Each mapping is associated with a mode and is
only active while in that mode. There are two special modes: "normal" and
"locked". The normal mode is the initial mode on startup. The locked mode
is automatically entered while an input inhibitor (such as a lockscreen)
is active. It cannot be entered or exited manually.

The following modifiers are available for use in mappings:

	- Shift
	- Lock
	- Control
	- Mod1 (Alt)
	- Mod2
	- Mod3
	- Mod4 (Super)
	- Mod5
	- None

Alt and Super are aliases for Mod1 and Mod4 respectively. None allows creating
a mapping without modifiers

Keys are specified by their XKB keysym name. See
_/usr/include/xkbcommon/xkbcommon-keysyms.h_ for the complete list.

Mouse buttons are specified by linux input event code names. The most commonly
used values are:

	- BTN_LEFT - left mouse button
	- BTN_RIGHT - right mouse button
	- BTN_MIDDLE - middle mouse button

A complete list may be found in _/usr/include/linux/input-event-codes.h_

*declare-mode* _name_
	Create a new mode called _name_.

*enter-mode* _name_
	Switch to given mode if it exists.

*map* [_-release_|_-repeat_|_-layout_ _index_] _mode_ _modifiers_ _key_ _command_
	Run _command_ when _key_ is pressed while _modifiers_ are held down
	and in the specified _mode_.

	- _-release_: if passed activate on key release instead of key press
	- _-repeat_: if passed activate repeatedly until key release; may not
	  be used with -release
	- _-layout_: if passed, a specific layout is pinned to the mapping.
	  When the mapping is checked against a pressed key, this layout is
	  used to translate the key independent of the active layout
		- _index_: zero-based index of a layout set with the environment
		  variable *XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT*; see *river*(1) for an example; if
		  the index is out of range, the _-layout_ option will have no effect
	- _mode_: name of the mode for which to create the mapping
	- _modifiers_: one or more of the modifiers listed above, separated
	  by a plus sign (+).
	- _key_: an XKB keysym name as described above
	- _command_: any command that may be run with riverctl

*map-pointer* _mode_ _modifiers_ _button_ _action_
	Move or resize views when _button_ and _modifiers_ are held down
	while in the specified _mode_.

	- _mode_: name of the mode for which to create the mapping
	- _modifiers_: one or more of the modifiers listed above, separated
	  by a plus sign (+).
	- _button_: the name of a linux input event code as described above
	- _action_: one of the following values:
		- move-view
		- resize-view

*map-switch* _mode_ *lid*|*tablet* _state_ _command_
	Run _command_ when river receives a certain switch event.

	- _mode_: name of the mode for which to create the mapping
	- _lid_|_tablet_: 'lid switch' and 'tablet mode switch' are supported
	- _state_:
		- possible states for _lid_:
			- close
			- open
		- possible states for _tablet_:
			- on
			- off
	- _command_: any command that may be run with riverctl

*unmap* [_-release_] _mode_ _modifiers_ _key_
	Remove the mapping defined by the arguments:

	- _-release_: if passed unmap the key release instead of the key press
	- _mode_: name of the mode for which to remove the mapping
	- _modifiers_: one or more of the modifiers listed above, separated
	  by a plus sign (+).
	- _key_: an XKB keysym name as described above

*unmap-pointer* _mode_ _modifiers_ _button_
	Remove the pointer mapping defined by the arguments:

	- _mode_: name of the mode for which to remove the mapping
	- _modifiers_: one or more of the modifiers listed above, separated
	  by a plus sign (+).
	- _button_: the name of a linux input event code as described above

*unmap-switch* _mode_ *lid*|*tablet* _state_
	Remove the switch mapping defined by the arguments:

	- _mode_: name of the mode for which to remove the mapping
	- _lid_|_tablet_: the switch for which to remove the mapping
	- _state_: a state as listed above

## CONFIGURATION

*attach-mode* *top*|*bottom*
	Configure where new views should attach to the view stack.

*background-color* _0xRRGGBB_|_0xRRGGBBAA_
	Set the background color.

*border-color-focused* _0xRRGGBB_|_0xRRGGBBAA_
	Set the border color of focused views.

*border-color-unfocused* _0xRRGGBB_|_0xRRGGBBAA_
	Set the border color of unfocused views.

*border-color-urgent* _0xRRGGBB_|_0xRRGGBBAA_
	Set the border color of urgent views.

*border-width* _pixels_
	Set the border width to _pixels_.

*focus-follows-cursor* *disabled*|*normal*|*always*
	There are three available modes:

	- _disabled_: Moving the cursor does not affect focus. This is
	  the default.
	- _normal_: Moving the cursor over a view will focus that view.
	  Moving the cursor within a view will not re-focus that view if
	  focus has moved elsewhere.
	- _always_: Moving the cursor will always focus whatever view is
	  under the cursor.

	If the view to be focused is on an output that does not have focus,
	focus is switched to that output.

*hide-cursor* *timeout* _timeout_
	Hide the cursor if it wasn't moved in the last _timeout_ milliseconds
	until it is moved again. The default value is 0, which disables
	automatically hiding the cursor. Show the cursor again on any movement.

*hide-cursor* *when-typing* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Hide the cursor when pressing any non-modifier key. Show the cursor
	again on any movement.

*set-cursor-warp* *disabled*|*on-output-change*
	Set the cursor warp mode. There are two available modes:

	- _disabled_: Cursor will not be warped. This is the default.
	- _on-output-change_: When a different output is focused, the cursor will be
	  warped to its center.

*set-repeat* _rate_ _delay_
	Set the keyboard repeat rate to _rate_ key repeats per second and
	repeat delay to _delay_ milliseconds.

*xcursor-theme* _theme_name_ [_size_]
	Set the xcursor theme to _theme_name_ and optionally set the _size_.
	The theme of the default seat determines the default for Xwayland
	and is made available through the _XCURSOR_THEME_ and _XCURSOR_SIZE_
	environment variables.

## INPUT CONFIGURATION

*list-inputs*
	List all input devices.

*list-input-configs*
	List all input configurations.

*keyboard-group-create* _keyboard_group_name_
	Create a keyboard group. A keyboard group collects multiple keyboards in
	a single logical keyboard. This means that all state, like the active
	modifiers, is shared between the keyboards in a group.

*keyboard-group-destroy* _keyboard_group_name_
	Destroy the keyboard group of the given name. All attached keyboards
	will be released, making them act as seperate devices again.

*keyboard-group-add-keyboard* _keyboard_group_name_ _input_device_identifier_
	Add a keyboard to a keyboard group, identified by the keyboards input
	device identifier. Any currently connected and future keyboards matching
	the identifier will be added to the group.

The _input_ command can be used to create a configuration rule for an input
device identified by its _name_.
The _name_ of an input device consists of its type, its numerical vendor id,
its numerical product id and finally its self-advertised name, separated by -.

A list of all device properties that can be configured maybe found below.
However note that not every input device supports every property.

*input* _name_ *events* *enabled*|*disabled*|*disabled-on-external-mouse*
	Configure whether the input devices events will be used by river.

*input* _name_ *accel-profile* *none*|*flat*|*adaptive*
	Set the pointer acceleration profile of the input device.

*input* _name_ *pointer-accel* _factor_
	Set the pointer acceleration factor of the input device. Needs a float
	between -1.0 and 1.0.

*input* _name_ *click-method* *none*|*button-areas*|*clickfinger*
	Set the click method of the input device.

*input* _name_ *drag* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the tap-and-drag functionality of the input device.

*input* _name_ *drag-lock* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the drag lock functionality of the input device.

*input* _name_ *disable-while-typing* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the disable-while-typing functionality of the input device.

*input* _name_ *middle-emulation* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the middle click emulation functionality of the input device.

*input* _name_ *natural-scroll* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the natural scroll functionality of the input device. If
	active, the scroll direction is inverted.

*input* _name_ *left-handed* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the left handed mode of the input device.

*input* _name_ *tap* *enabled*|*disabled*
	Enable or disable the tap functionality of the input device.

*input* _name_ *tap-button-map* *left-right-middle*|*left-middle-right*
	Configure the button mapping for tapping.

	- _left-right-middle_: 1 finger tap equals left click, 2 finger tap equals
	  right click, 3 finger tap equals middle click.
	- _left-middle-right_: 1 finger tap equals left click, 2 finger tap equals
	  middle click, 3 finger tap equals right click.

*input* _name_ *scroll-method* *none*|*two-finger*|*edge*|*button*
	Set the scroll method of the input device.

	- _none_: No scrolling
	- _two-finger_: Scroll by swiping with two fingers simultaneously
	- _edge_: Scroll by swiping along the edge
	- _button_: Scroll with pointer movement while holding down a button

*input* _name_ *scroll-button* _button_
	Set the scroll button of an input device. _button_ is the name of a linux
	input event code.

# EXAMPLES

Bind Super+Return in normal mode to spawn a *foot*(1) terminal:

	riverctl map normal Mod4 Return spawn 'foot --app-id=foobar'

Bind Super+Shift+J to swap the focused view with the next visible view:

	riverctl map normal Mod4+Shift J swap next

# AUTHORS

Maintained by Isaac Freund <mail@isaacfreund.com> who is assisted by open
source contributors. For more information about river's development, see
<https://github.com/riverwm/river>.

# SEE ALSO

*river*(1), *rivertile*(1)