hooks outside of qtile config? moving between 8000 windows across screens? keycodes on wayland? #5156

yousufinternet · 2025-01-14T18:36:26Z

yousufinternet
Jan 14, 2025

Hi,

How can I use hooks outside of qtile config.py? for example I need to update my bar with certain events in qtile, what should my script watch or listen to?
Second question, is it possible to allow for switching between windows to go across screens too, so if I move to the left window and move left again I will go to the window on the left on the screen found on the left too, couldn't find anything in the settings to achieve that.
I use an Arabic and English keyboard layouts, how can I make my qtile key bindings work with both layouts, I tried using keycodes but that didn't resolve the issue.
Also how can I keep a separate layout for each window (so I can chat in Arabic and code in English without the need to switch the layout everytime).

Thanks,

Jan 14, 2025

Well, if you made a custom keybinding to change the layout then you could keep record of the window and the keyboard layout. Then, when you change window, you can look up the last used layout for that window.

View full answer

elParaguayo · 2025-01-14T18:43:16Z

elParaguayo
Jan 14, 2025
Maintainer

How can I use hooks outside of qtile config.py? for example I need to update my bar with certain events in qtile, what should my script watch or listen to?

Can you give an example of what you're trying to do? Do you want to use a qtile hook to run an external command? Or are you using an external event to trigger something in qtile?

Second question, is it possible to allow for switching between windows to go across screens too, so if I move to the left window and move left again I will go to the window on the left on the screen found on the left too, couldn't find anything in the settings to achieve that.

You probably want this: https://github.com/qtile/qtile-examples/blob/master/traverse.py

I use an Arabic and English keyboard layouts, how can I make my qtile key bindings work with both layouts, I tried using keycodes but that didn't resolve the issue.

Keycodes should be the answer so you'll need to provide more information other than "that didn't resolve the issue".

Also how can I keep a separate layout for each window (so I can chat in Arabic and code in English without the need to switch the layout everytime).

You probably need a hook. Check which window is focused and then set the layout accordingly.

24 replies

yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025
Author

Use the client_focus hook. Check which client is focused and set the appropriate layout.

But I still need to store the latest keyboard layout for that window.. I can only do that reliably if there is a hook for keyboard layout change, right?

example:

I open a window (client_new) -> store default keyboard layout
change layout -> change does not get recorded
focus another window (client_focus) -> layout is restored
move back to the new window -> layout is changed to the layout stored in step no.1

elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025
Maintainer

Is there a command you can run to apply a specific layout? If so, you don't need to keep track to which layout is applied.

yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025
Author

Is there a command you can run to apply a specific layout? If so, you don't need to keep track to which layout is applied.

I am sorry, perhaps I didn't make myself clear.. I need each window to remember the last keyboard layout that was used in it, so if I was typing in Arabic in window A and in English in window B each time I switch between them the layout is changed to that.. But if suddenly I decided I need to type in English in both windows I only need to change the layout in window A once.

elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025
Maintainer

Well, if you made a custom keybinding to change the layout then you could keep record of the window and the keyboard layout. Then, when you change window, you can look up the last used layout for that window.

Answer selected by yousufinternet

yousufinternet Jan 15, 2025
Author

Following your advice I ended up putting together the following code, not sure if I am over-complicating things, but my problem with it is that I can't use alt+shift or capslock to switch layouts (normally this is set with kb_options in wl_inputs_rules), I think this can only be resolved with a switch layout hook, unless I am missing something.. @elParaguayo ?

I know bare exceptions are bad.. but I don't want qtile freezing on me because I missed a possible exception

#!/usr/bin/env python

import os
import re
import socket
from libqtile.command.client import InteractiveCommandClient

layout_socket = '/tmp/qtile_kb_layout'
qtile_icc = InteractiveCommandClient()
current_keymap = 'us'
default_keymap = 'us'
windows_dict = {}

try:
    os.unlink(layout_socket)
except OSError:
    if os.path.exists(layout_socket):
        raise

# Create the Unix socket server
server = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

# Bind the socket to the path
server.bind(layout_socket)

while True:
    server.listen(1)
    conn, addr = server.accept()
    data = ''
    while True:
        data_chunk = conn.recv(4096)
        if data_chunk:
            data += data_chunk.decode('UTF-8')
        if data in ['switch', 'win_new', 'win_focus']:
            break
        if not data_chunk or re.match(r'win_rm\s\d+', data):
            break
    if data == 'switch':
        if current_keymap == 'us':
            qtile_icc.core.set_keymap('ara')
            current_keymap = 'ara'
        elif current_keymap == 'ara':
            qtile_icc.core.set_keymap('us')
            current_keymap = 'us'
        try:
            # try to get current window id and store current keymap
            # in the windows dictionary
            wid = qtile_icc.window.info()['id']
            windows_dict[wid] = current_keymap
        except:
            pass
    elif data == 'win_new':
        try:
            wid = qtile_icc.window.info()['id']
            windows_dict[wid] = default_keymap
        except:
            pass
    elif data.startswith('win_rm'):
        try:
            wid = re.match(r'win_rm\s(\d+)', data).group(1)
            del windows_dict[int(wid)]
        except:
            pass
    elif data == 'win_focus':
        try:
            wid = qtile_icc.window.info()['id']
            if wid in windows_dict:
                qtile_icc.core.set_keymap(windows_dict[wid])
                current_keymap = windows_dict[wid]
            else:
                windows_dict[wid] = current_keymap
        except:
            pass

and in config.py:

def layout_sock_conn(msg):
    layout_socket = '/tmp/qtile_kb_layout'
    client = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
    try:
        client.connect(layout_socket)
        client.sendall(msg.encode())
        client.close()
    except:
        pass

@hook.subscribe.client_killed
def update_layout_tracker(win):
    layout_sock_conn(f'win_rm {win.wid}')

@hook.subscribe.client_new
def save_layout(win):
    layout_sock_conn('win_new')

@hook.subscribe.client_focus
@hook.subscribe.client_mouse_enter
def restore_layout(win):
    layout_sock_conn('win_focus')

def switch_layout(*args):
    layout_sock_conn('switch')

keys = [...
    Key([mod], "space", lazy.function(switch_layout), desc="switch keyboard layout"),
...]

the script needs to be started with qtile

elParaguayo Jan 15, 2025
Maintainer

I'm really confused. Why are you using an external script to call qtile commands? Just do that with functions inside your config.

yousufinternet Jan 15, 2025
Author

I'm really confused. Why are you using an external script to call qtile commands? Just do that with functions inside your config.

OK you are right, I will fix that.. but that still won't solve the not being able to use input options for switching layout issue.

elParaguayo Jan 15, 2025
Maintainer

I don't follow (not your fault, I don't use multiple layouts so have no experience of using this in practice).

Your code example uses the set_keymap command. What else do you need to do beyond that command?

yousufinternet · 2025-01-14T19:54:13Z

yousufinternet
Jan 14, 2025
Author

Should I open an issue for the keycodes problem?

0 replies

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hooks outside of qtile config? moving between 8000 windows across screens? keycodes on wayland? #5156

yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025

Replies: 2 comments · 24 replies

elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025 Maintainer

yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025 Author

elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025 Maintainer

yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025 Author

elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025 Maintainer

yousufinternet Jan 15, 2025 Author

elParaguayo Jan 15, 2025 Maintainer

yousufinternet Jan 15, 2025 Author

elParaguayo Jan 15, 2025 Maintainer

yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025 Author

yousufinternet
Jan 14, 2025

Replies: 2 comments 24 replies

elParaguayo
Jan 14, 2025
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yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025
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elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025
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yousufinternet Jan 14, 2025
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elParaguayo Jan 14, 2025
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yousufinternet Jan 15, 2025
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elParaguayo Jan 15, 2025
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yousufinternet Jan 15, 2025
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elParaguayo Jan 15, 2025
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yousufinternet
Jan 14, 2025
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