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: Where is i3-ipc, for compatibility with i3 is a 32-bit integer in native byte order 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 | | | | currently 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 | | | | object for i3 | | | | compatibility | +------------+-------------------+---------------------+ | 12 | GET_BINDING_STATE | Request the current | | | | binding state, e.g. | | | | the currently | | | | active binding mode | | | | name. | +------------+-------------------+---------------------+ | 100 | GET_INPUTS | Get the list of | | | | input 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 | | | | number or -1 for | | | | workspaces that do | | | | not start with a | | | | number | +---------+-----------+---------------------+ | name | string | The name of the | | | | workspace | +---------+-----------+---------------------+ |visible | boolean | Whether the | | | | workspace is | | | | currently visible | | | | on any output | +---------+-----------+---------------------+ |focused | boolean | Whether the | | | | workspace is | | | | currently 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 | | | | consists 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 message 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 | | | | connector | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | make | string | The make of the | | | | output | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | model | string | The model of the | | | | output | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | serial | string | The output's serial | | | | number as a | | | | hexadecimal string | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | active | boolean | Whether this output | | | | is active/enabled | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | dpms | boolean | (Deprecated, use | | | | power instead) | | | | Whether this output | | | | is on/off (via | | | | DPMS) | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | power | boolean | Whether this output | | | | is on/off | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | primary | boolean | For i3 | | | | compatibility, this | | | | will be false. It | | | | does not make sense | | | | in Wayland | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | scale | float | The scale currently | | | | in use on the | | | | output or -1 for | | | | disabled outputs | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |subpixel_hinting | string | The subpixel | | | | hinting current in | | | | use on the output. | | | | This can be rgb, | | | | bgr, vrgb, vbgr, or | | | | none | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | transform | string | The transform | | | | currently in use | | | | for the output. | | | | This can be normal, | | | | 90, 180, 270, | | | | flipped-90, | | | | flipped-180, or | | | | flipped-270 | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |current_workspace | string | The workspace | | | | currently visible | | | | on the output or | | | | null for disabled | | | | outputs | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | modes | array | An array of | | | | supported mode | | | | objects. Each | | | | object contains | | | | width, height, and | | | | refresh | +------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | current_mode | object | An object | | | | representing 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 represents 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 | | | | window title. For | | | | the scratchpad, | | | | this will be | | | | __i3_scratch for | | | | compatibility with | | | | i3. | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | type | string | The node type. It | | | | can be root, | | | | output, workspace, | | | | con, or | | | | floating_con | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | border | string | The border style | | | | for the node. It | | | | can be normal, | | | | none, pixel, or csd | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |current_border_width | integer | Number of pixels | | | | 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 | | | | orientation. It can | | | | be vertical, | | | | horizontal, 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 | | | | geometry of the | | | | node. The window | | | | decorations are | | | | excluded from this, | | | | but borders are | | | | included. | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | window_rect | object | The geometry of the | | | | content inside the | | | | node. These | | | | coordinates are | | | | relative to the | | | | node itself. Window | | | | decorations and | | | | borders are outside | | | | the window_rect | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | deco_rect | object | The geometry of the | | | | decorations for the | | | | node relative to | | | | the parent node | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | geometry | object | The natural | | | | geometry of the | | | | contents if it were | | | | to size itself | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | urgent | boolean | Whether the node or | | | | any of its | | | | descendants has the | | | | urgent 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 | | | | assigned 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 | | | | children nodes for | | | | the node | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | representation | string | (Only workspaces) A | | | | string | | | | representation of | | | | the layout of the | | | | workspace that can | | | | be used as an aid | | | | in submitting | | | | reproduction steps | | | | for bug reports | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | 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 | | | | application, if | | | | set. Otherwise, | | | | null | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | pid | integer | (Only views) The | | | | PID of the | | | | application 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 | | | | object containing | | | | the state of the | | | | application 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 | | | | window ID for the | | | | xwayland view | +---------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | window_properties | object | (Only xwayland | | | | views) An object | | | | containing the | | | | title, class, | | | | instance, | | | | window_role, | | | | window_type, and | | | | transient_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 undefined. 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 associated 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 information 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 | | | | invisible | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | 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 | | | | buttons on the bar | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | workspace_min_width | integer | Minimum width in px | | | | for the workspace | | | | buttons on the bar | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |binding_mode_indicator | boolean | Whether to display | | | | the current binding | | | | mode on the bar | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | verbose | boolean | For i3 | | | | compatibility, this | | | | will be the boolean | | | | value false. | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | colors | object | An object | | | | containing the | | | | #RRGGBBAA colors to | | | | use for the bar. | | | | See below for more | | | | information | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | gaps | object | An object | | | | representing the | | | | gaps for the bar | | | | consisting of top, | | | | right, bottom, and | | | | left. | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | bar_height | integer | The absolute height | | | | to use for the bar | | | | or 0 to | | | | automatically size | | | | based on the font | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | status_padding | integer | The vertical | | | | padding to use for | | | | the status line | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | status_edge_padding | integer | The horizontal | | | | padding to use for | | | | the status line | | | | when at the end of | | | | an output | +-----------------------+-----------+---------------------+ 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 | | | unfocused outputs | +--------------------------+----------------------------+ | statusline | The color to use for the | | | status line text on | | | unfocused outputs | +--------------------------+----------------------------+ | separator | The color to use for the | | | separator text on | | | unfocused 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 | | | focused 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 | | | buttons 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 | | | unfocused 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 | | | buttons 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 | | | buttons 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 | | | | information such as | | | | the git commit | | | | short hash and git | | | | branch | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |loaded_config_file_name | string | The path to the | | | | 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 | | | | device | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | type | string | The device type. | | | | Currently this can | | | | be keyboard, | | | | pointer, touch, | | | | tablet_tool, | | | | tablet_pad, or | | | | switch | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |xkb_active_layout_name | string | (Only keyboards) | | | | The name of the | | | | active keyboard | | | | layout in use | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | xkb_layout_names | array | (Only keyboards) A | | | | list a layout names | | | | configured for the | | | | keyboard | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ |xkb_active_layout_index | integer | (Only keyboards) | | | | The index of the | | | | active keyboard | | | | layout in use | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | scroll_factor | floating | (Only pointers) | | | | Multiplier applied | | | | on scroll event | | | | values. | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ | libinput | object | (Only libinput | | | | devices) An object | | | | describing the | | | | current device | | | | settings. See below | | | | for more | | | | information | +------------------------+-----------+---------------------+ The libinput object describes the device configuration for libinput devices. 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_external_mouse | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | tap | string | Whether tap to click is | | | | enabled. It can be enabled | | | | or disabled | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | tap_button_map | string | The finger to button | | | | 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 disabled | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | accel_speed | double | The pointer-acceleration in | | | | use | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | accel_profile | string | The acceleration profile in | | | | use. It can be none, flat, | | | | or adaptive | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | natural_scroll | string | Whether natural scrolling | | | | is enabled. 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 emulation 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_button_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 | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ |scroll_button_lock | string | Whether scroll button lock | | | | is enabled. It can be | | | | enabled or disabled | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | dwt | string | Whether | | | | disable-while-typing is | | | | enabled. It can be enabled | | | | or disabled | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | dwtp | string | Whether | | | | disable-while-trackpointing | | | | is enabled. It can be | | | | enabled or_disabled_ | +-------------------+-----------+-----------------------------+ |calibration_matrix | array | An array of 6 floats | | | | representing the | | | | calibration matrix 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", "dwtp": "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 | | | | capabilities that | | | | the seat has | +-------------+-----------+---------------------+ | focus | integer | The id of the node | | | | currently focused | | | | by the seat or 0 | | | | when the seat is | | | | not currently | | | | focused by a node | | | | (i.e. a surface | | | | layer or xwayland | | | | unmanaged has | | | | focus) | +-------------+-----------+---------------------+ | 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_INPUTS | +-------------+-----------+---------------------+ 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", "dwtp": "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 | | | | initialization of a | | | | new workspace or a | | | | different workspace | | | | gains focus | +-----------+------------------+---------------------+ |0x80000001 | output | Sent when outputs | | | | are updated | +-----------+------------------+---------------------+ |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 | | | | configured binding | | | | is executed | +-----------+------------------+---------------------+ |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 | | | | visibility 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 | | | | information | +---------+-----------+---------------------+ |current | object | An object | | | | representing 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. | | | | Otherwise, 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": [ ] } } 0x80000001. OUTPUT Sent whenever an output is added, removed, or its configuration is changed. The event is a single object with the property change, which is a string containing the reason for the change. Currently, the only value for change is unspecified. Example Event: { "change": "unspecified" } 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 | | | | information | +----------+-----------+--------------------+ |container | object | An object | | | | representing 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 | | | reparented in the tree | +----------------+----------------------------+ | floating | The view has become | | | floating or is no longer | | | floating | +----------------+----------------------------+ | 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 | | | | occurred for the | | | | binding. Currently | | | | this will only be | | | | run | +-----------------+-----------+---------------------+ | command | string | The command | | | | associated with the | | | | binding | +-----------------+-----------+---------------------+ |event_state_mask | array | An array of strings | | | | that correspond to | | | | each modifier key | | | | for the binding | +-----------------+-----------+---------------------+ | input_code | integer | For keyboard | | | | bindcodes, this is | | | | the key code for | | | | the binding. For | | | | mouse bindings, | | | | this is the X11 | | | | button number, 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 | | | | binding. 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 | | | | visible due to a | | | | modifier 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 | | | | representing 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 | | | effective 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) 2024-04-10 sway-ipc(7)