configi3blocksconfig

configi3blocksconfig is a configuration framework that facilitates the creation and management of the configuration files used by i3blocks, a status bar for the i3 tiling window manager. The primary objective of the framework is to provide an organized, modular, and reusable structure for defining block scripts, appearance settings, and update intervals, thereby simplifying the maintenance of complex status bar configurations.

The core of configi3blocksconfig resides in a set of directory structures and templating files. Users place individual block scripts in a dedicated “scripts” directory, each script outputting a single line of plain text and optionally a color code in the form “value;color”. The framework reads these scripts and automatically generates the i3blocks configuration entries, mapping each script to a block identifier. This eliminates repetitive manual editing of the i3blocks config file and enables rapid addition or removal of blocks.

Customization is achieved through a small set of options defined in a YAML or JSON reference file. Parameters such as the block color palette, update period, or click actions are specified once and propagated to all blocks. The framework also supports templating of multiline scripts and conditional inclusion of blocks based on system conditions (e.g., network connectivity or battery level).

Installation typically involves cloning the repository from GitHub and executing an install script that copies the layout to the user’s (~/.config/i3blocks) directory. Once installed, a single command – usually “configi3blocksconfig generate” – refreshes the i3blocks configuration and restarts the bar. Advanced users may extend the framework by adding custom template functions or integrating with system monitoring tools like sar, df, or upower.

By abstracting the repetitive aspects of i3blocks configuration management, configi3blocksconfig streamlines bar creation, enhances readability, and promotes consistency across multiple desktop environments.