I3

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i3 is a tiling window manager for X.

Enabling

To use i3 set service.xserver.windowManager.i3.enable to true. For example:

/etc/nixos/configuration.nix

{ config, pkgs, callPackage, ... }: {
  ...
  services.xserver = {
    enable = true;
    desktopManager = {
      default = "none";
      xterm.enable = false;
    };
    windowManager.i3.enable = true;
  };
  ...
}

Tip

In order to affect your NixOS system by your nix-language-specific changes you must first evaluate it:

$ nixos-rebuild switch --use-remote-sudo

With a desktop manager

i3 is a window manager and does not provide "cosmetic" services like managing multiple monitor configuration or media keys. This is what is usually delegated to a desktop manager. To use xfce as a desktop manager on top of i3, see Xfce#Using_as_a_desktop_manager_and_not_a_window_manager.

DConf

If your settings aren't being saved for some applications (gtk3 applications, firefox), like the size of file selection windows, or the size of the save dialog, you will need to enable dconf:

/etc/nixos/configuration.nix

  programs.dconf.enable = true;
  services.dbus.packages = [ pkgs.gnome3.dconf ];

Wallpaper

If ~/.background-image exists then it will be displayed as a wallpaper. Options services.xserver.desktopManager.wallpaper.combineScreens and .mode control exactly how it is displayed.