i3blocks

i3blocks is a status line program for the i3 window manager that provides a modular, scriptable status bar by running separate scripts for each block and assembling their output for display in the bar. It is designed to be flexible and easily extended with user-provided scripts.

Operation and design: i3blocks uses a plain text configuration file with per-block sections. Each block defines a command to generate its content, an update interval, and optional attributes such as color, alignment, or click handling. Blocks run as individual commands or scripts and can respond to mouse interactions, enabling interactive controls through the status bar. The program is typically used with i3 or other tiling window managers that implement the i3bar protocol, such as sway.

Output and updates: The outputs of all defined blocks are combined into a single line and sent to the status bar, with a configurable separator between blocks. Blocks update on their specified intervals and can be refreshed on demand via signals. This design allows a highly customizable set of indicators, including time, battery, network status, weather, and custom scripts.

Relation and ecosystem: i3blocks is commonly described as a flexible alternative to i3status, offering scriptable and per-block customization. It is widely used in the i3 community and can leverage community contributions from the i3blocks-contrib repository for additional blocks and features.

Usage: To use i3blocks, install the package from a distribution repository or source, create a configuration file (for example ~/.i3blocks.conf), define blocks with their commands and intervals, and set bar_command i3blocks in the window manager’s configuration. Start or restart the bar to display the customized status line.