dotfiles/modules/x11.org

#+TITLE: X11
#+AUTHOR: Christopher James Hayward
#+EMAIL: chris@chrishayward.xyz

#+PROPERTY: header-args:emacs-lisp :tangle x11.el :comments org
#+PROPERTY: header-args            :results silent :eval no-export :comments org

#+OPTIONS: num:nil toc:nil todo:nil tasks:nil tags:nil
#+OPTIONS: skip:nil author:nil email:nil creator:nil timestamp:nil

X11[fn:1] is a graphical display manager.

* Setup

Install the required software on your system before loading the module. Installing X11[fn:1] without any install recommends may not include all of the packages you need on your system. Make sure you don't need any GNOME software utilities before using this example.

#+begin_src shell
RUN apt install -y xserver-xorg-core \
    --no-install-recommends \
    --no-install-suggests
#+end_src

** Displays

Setup ~autorandr~[fn:2] with pre-configured profiles for screen size and display output.

#+begin_src shell
RUN apt install autorandr -y
#+end_src

** Screen locking

If you want to be able to lock and unlock your screen when you're away from your machine, install ~xss-lock~[fn:3]. By default, it will show a blue screen, turning red if you input your password incorrectly, and returning to your previous screen when successful.

#+begin_src shell
RUN apt install -y xss-lock slock
#+end_src

** Desktop compositor

Download and install ~compton~[fn:4], a desktop compositor for X11[fn:1] that adds shadows, fading, translucency, and implements window frame opacity controls, inactive window transparency, and more.

#+begin_src shell
RUN apt install -y compton
#+end_src

** Desktop notifications

Make sure ~dbus~[fn:5] is installed to receive desktop notifications, it's an IPC system used by lots of utilities.

#+begin_src shell
RUN apt install -y dbus
#+end_src

* Config
:PROPERTIES:
:header-args: :tangle ../config/xinitrc :comments org
:END:

My workflow includes launching Emacs under X11[fn:1] without the use of a display manager, controlling everything within Emacs, while still providing the functionality of a desktop environment.

#+begin_src conf
compton &
xss-lock -- slock &
exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session emacs -mm --debug-init
#+end_src

** Create symbolic link

By default ~xinit~[fn:1] will read the configuration file at =$HOME/.xinitrc=. Override this location with a link to the custom configuration.

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(dotfiles/symlink "~/.emacs.d/config/xinitrc"
                  "~/.xinitrc")
#+end_src

** Desktop environment

Use the ~desktop-environment~[fn:6] package to automatically bind well-known programs for controlling the volume, brightness, media playback, and many other XF86 functionality bindings.

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(use-package desktop-environment
  :after exwm
  :custom (desktop-environment-brightness-small-increment "2%+")
          (desktop-environment-brightness-small-decrement "2%-")
          (desktop-environment-brightness-normal-decrement "5%-")
          (desktop-environment-brightness-normal-decrement "5%-")
          (desktop-environment-volume-small-increment "2%+")
          (desktop-environment-volume-small-decrement "2%-")
          (desktop-environment-volume-normal-increment "5%+")
          (desktop-environment-volume-normal-decrement "5%-")
  :config (desktop-environment-mode))
#+end_src

** Swapping CAPS and CTRL
:PROPERTIES:
:header-args: conf :tangle ../config/xmodmap
:END:

Use ~Xmodmap~[fn:7] to swap CapsLock and Ctrl to keep common bindings on the home row.

#+begin_src conf
clear lock
clear control

keycode 66 = Control_L

add control = Control_L
add Lock = Control_R
#+end_src

Override the configuration file.

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(dotfiles/symlink "~/.emacs.d/config/xmodmap"
                  "~/.Xmodmap")
#+end_src

** Frame transparency

Emacs supports frame transparency when running under the X Window System[fn:1].

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(defun dotfiles/toggle-transparency ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((alpha (frame-parameter nil 'alpha)))
    (set-frame-parameter nil 'alpha
      (if (eql (cond ((numberp alpha) alpha)
                     ((numberp (cdr alpha)) (cdr alpha))
                     ((numberp (cadr alpha)) (cadr alpha)))
               100)
          '(85 . 80) '(100 . 100)))))
#+end_src

Enable frame transparency by default.

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(set-frame-parameter (selected-frame) 'alpha '(85 . 80))
(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(alpha . (85 . 80)))
#+end_src

* Shortcuts

Toggle frame transparency with =SPC t r=.

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(dotfiles/leader
  "tr" '(dotfiles/toggle-transparency :which-key "Transparency"))
#+end_src

* Footnotes

[fn:1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System

[fn:2] https://github.com/phillipberndt/autorandr

[fn:3] https://man.archlinux.org/man/xss-lock.1

[fn:4] https://github.com/chjj/compton

[fn:5] https://packages.debian.org/stretch/dbus-x11

[fn:6] https://github.com/DamienCassou/desktop-environment

[fn:7] https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xmodmap