Arch i3 Ricing Guide

Complete reference guide and dotfiles configuration for ricing Arch Linux with the i3 window manager.

GitHub Repository: gustawdaniel/my-arch-i3-config

Picom Compositor Configuration (~/.config/picom/picom.conf)

Use GLX backend for GPU acceleration, custom opacity rules for specific applications, and dual_kawase blur:

backend = "glx";

opacity-rule = [
  "80:class_g = 'code-oss'",
  "95:class_g = 'jetbrains-webstorm'",
  "85:class_g = 'Thunar'",
  "90:class_g = 'kitty'"
];

blur: {
  method = "dual_kawase";
  strength = 5;
};

blur-background-exclude = [
  "class_g = 'kitty'"
];

Finding Window Classes

To find the exact class_g string of any running window for opacity-rule or i3 window rules:

xprop | grep CLASS

Click on target window to get output like WM_CLASS(STRING) = "code-oss", "Code - OSS".

i3 Window Manager Key Configurations (~/.config/i3/config)

Keybindings, gaps, autostart programs, and borderless window management:

# Set modifier key to Super (Windows key)
set $mod Mod4

# Font for window titles and bar
font pnpm:JetBrains Mono 10

# Gaps configuration (requires i3-gaps or i3-gaps-rounded)
gaps inner 8
gaps outer 4

# Remove window titlebars and set thin borders
for_window [class="^.*"] border pixel 2

# Keybindings
bindsym $mod+Return exec kitty
bindsym $mod+d exec dmenu_run
bindsym $mod+Shift+q kill

# Autostart applications
exec_always --no-startup-id picom -b
exec_always --no-startup-id feh --bg-fill ~/.wallpaper.jpg

GTK Theme & Icons Installation

Install the Sweet GTK theme and customize look and feel:

cd ~/.themes
git clone https://github.com/EliverLara/Sweet

Apply GTK themes, icons, and cursor styles using nwg-look:

nwg-look

Note: Theme changes take effect when you restart the target applications.