instantWM

instantWM is instantOS's hybrid window manager and Wayland compositor. The same core window-management behavior is available through its X11 and Wayland backends: persistent manual tiling, first-class floating windows, tags, scratchpads, an interactive bar, custom keybindings and modes, and a runtime IPC command.

Start here

• Layouts explains how to arrange, swap, and resize windows with the keyboard or mouse.
• Floating windows covers free movement, resizing, and the difference between floating and tiled drag gestures.
• Keybindings reference lists the current default keyboard and mouse controls.
• Tags explains instantWM's workspace model.
• Alt-Tab and focus switching covers window cycling.

Special window behavior

• Edge overlay
• Scratchpads
• Sticky windows
• Fullscreen and maximized presentation
• Overview is available with super+e; its default controls are in the keybinding reference.
• Closing applications
• Window drawing

Customize instantWM

• instantWM configuration documents config.toml, themes, inputs, monitors, keybindings, and layout geometry.
• Environment variables covers backend detection, logging, the IPC socket, autostart, keyboard and cursor fallbacks, and the variables instantWM exports for child processes. instantwm --backend x11|nested|drm overrides backend detection.
• Modes explains custom modes and the built-in keyboard placement mode.
• Visibility options covers the bar, tag labels, and empty tags.
• Screenshots, notifications, and screen locking document desktop integrations commonly used from instantWM bindings.

Scripting and development

• instantwmctl is the command-line and IPC reference for scripts and integrations.

The compiled defaults are always available locally with instantwm --print-config and instantwm --list-actions. Those commands are the best reference when a custom package or local build differs from the instantOS defaults documented here.