Is it just me or is using a tiling window manager on a laptop painful without an external keyboard?
Posted by thegreathabet@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 37 comments
Hey folks, I've been trying to get into tiling window managers (i3, Hyprland, etc.) because I love the idea of efficiency, keyboard-driven control, and a minimal setup. But honestly, using them on a laptop feels like a struggle.
My biggest issue? The keyboard is right up against the screen, and I constantly find myself hunched over or hitting the wrong keys because of the cramped layout. It feels awkward trying to do all these hotkey combos without a proper distance between me and the screen. And don't get me started on using Super + arrow or Super + shift + something combos while squished up against a 14-inch display.
It almost feels like tiling WMs are made for desktops with external keyboards and big monitors. Anyone else feel the same? Am I missing some ergonomic trick, or is an external keyboard just mandatory for a good experience?
Would love to hear how you laptop-only users manage it.
Zestyclose-Pay-9572@reddit
Not at all! I have been using sway with Debian using the laptop keyboard. I use workspace switching than tiling.
RepentantSororitas@reddit
I mean laptops are a different beast than a desktop and I think require different workflows.
Having a tiny ass screen is a big part of that for me.
jr735@reddit
I don't like laptop keyboards no matter what the application or OS.
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
Yeah, maybe it’s the same for me. It just feels uncomfortable — my hands are always cramped near the screen, and when I move one hand to use the external mouse (because I seriously hate trackpads), the whole setup just feels awkward.
jr735@reddit
I type properly and was trained to do so on real typewriter keyboards. Miniature keyboards and laptop keyboards and all kinds of crappy keyboards can kindly screw off. The same goes for trackpads.
The only way I'd ever use a laptop is if I were paid to use it. I wouldn't even use one if given one for free. I'd repurpose it for someone else or sell it. They're the worst things to type on, not to mention if you're going to have Linux compatibility issues, it's going to be on a laptop.
VALTIELENTINE@reddit
Plug a keyboard into laptop
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
😒
VALTIELENTINE@reddit
Keyboard laptops just suck, there’s no way around it. I have a laptop and use hyprland cause swiping motions work well. If I want to sit down for more serious work I plug it into a dock
marlowe221@reddit
Say what you will about Gnome, but it's actually pretty great in a single screen laptop scenario.
the_abortionat0r@reddit
Lol what?
Is this a joke?
sue_dee@reddit
I am sincerely in awe of people who are so sure in their purpose and so skilled in its realization that their DE becomes a bottleneck. They type so rapidly and ceaselessly that standard keybindings become onerous.
Maybe that's just the difference between pros and amateurs like myself, but my fingers have no trouble keeping up with my brain.
Jhuyt@reddit
I use Qtile and I honestly can't tell the difference between using it on a desktop and a laptop, beyond the screen being smaller.
However, IIUC Qtile is an autotiler, which means the windows are placed according to a pre-defined set of rules, and I've heard other tilers force you to place the windows manually. Maybe that's what's making it harder for you?
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
Ah I see — I’m actually using Hyprland, but I still run into the same issue. It’s not really the window placement that’s bothering me — Hyprland handles that well — it’s more the ergonomics on a laptop.
Having to use all those key combos while hunched over a cramped keyboard right under the screen just feels… off. After a while, my hands or neck feel strained. On a desktop with an external keyboard, it’s totally fine. But on a laptop? It kind of kills the whole "efficiency" vibe for me.
Jhuyt@reddit
Maybe your too tense? I haven't really felt that most laptops above 13 inches have keyboards that are plenty big enough for anything really
Unable-Ambassador-16@reddit
This sounds like a vision problem more than anything else.
ropid@reddit
Here's a stupid sounding idea but it works for me: try changing the Caps-Lock key into a Super key. You can then have your hands in the usual typing position where you have your index fingers on F and J. That will then help hitting the right keys.
About Super+arrow and Super+1234, Super+F1,F2,F3, maybe move those keybinds over into the main keyboard area, for example Super+ijkl instead of arrow keys.
About how to change Caps-Lock into Super, there's an X keyboard layout option for this named
caps:super.spikbebis@reddit
This =) Personally i have swapped it to Ctrl, annoying AF when i visit collegues machines... (Not sure super would work for me; have to ponder it a bit. nevertheless caps lock as such is useless =)
ThatNextAggravation@reddit
Not my experience. Sounds more like you could work on your keybindings. I also try to configure things so that the most important stuff can be done with both mouse and keyboard, because I might just be in mouse-pusher-mode ATM. Waybar modules and such.
bigdaddybigboots@reddit
On a laptop I almost never have more than three Windows open on one virtual desktop and if anything just two vertically. I don't use a second monitor so the key bindings are minimal.
AnEagleisnotme@reddit
Trying scrolling window managers like niri or paperwm, they are really good with gestures
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
Yeah sure I Will give it a try soon.
_angh_@reddit
you just describing keyboard issues you have with a laptop, and those would be the same for a tiling manager and shorcuts in an IDE or any other software.
You need either to learn to type better (touchtyping) on that keyboard to not make mistakes or to use external keeb (corne is great for travel.)
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
Fair point — I get that the physical issues I’m having are more about laptop ergonomics than tiling WMs specifically. And yeah, I do use shortcuts in IDEs and other software too, but with a tiling WM the entire workflow relies heavily on combos all day long — so the discomfort gets amplified.
I can touch type fine, it’s just that the cramped posture, tiny keyboard, and frequent use of modifiers (like Super/Shift/Ctrl) stacked together make it feel way less comfortable than using the same setup with an external keeb.
jerdle_reddit@reddit
Depends on the WM. Niri works orders of magnitude better on a laptop, while more traditional tilers are desktop-oriented.
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
I Will try Niri seems promising with less hustle.
mattias_jcb@reddit
It sounds like you would have issues with text editors like VIM and / or Emacs as well TBH. It doesn't sound window manager (or compositor) specific at all.
humanplayer2@reddit
Reassign shortcuts to something that suits your fingers on the keyboard. Can be combined with remapping the keyboard and assigning layers eg using the keyd og kanata.
hearthreddit@reddit
I don't have a laptop but from what i've seen most laptops have the FN key right next to the left control and that would annoy me since that it's expected place of the meta key.
Ciflire@reddit
It is both on laptop and on PC if you don't rethink your way of doing things. Remapping your keyboard buying a new one that you can remap etc... Because keyboards are a legacy of typewriters and everything was built on top instead of trying to rethink it at some point. You need to do some of this work, rethinking your keyboard. You might want to look into hometown mode to reduce the stress in your finger for the super/shift/Ctrl/alt keys for example, can't remember the software to use but looking that up should give you the answer
thegreathabet@reddit (OP)
Yeah I get where you're coming from — and you're right, a lot of the issue is the keyboard layout and how we’re stuck with this legacy design. I’ve tried remapping some keys already (Caps Lock as Esc or Ctrl, etc.) but honestly on a laptop it still feels physically cramped. My wrists are too close to the screen, and my hands feel twisted using combos like Super+Shift+whatever all day.
I’ll look into this “hometown mode” you mentioned — hadn’t heard of that before. If you remember the name of the software later, that’d be awesome. I’m not against rethinking how I use the keyboard, but I guess I was just surprised how uncomfortable it is on a laptop compared to how smooth people make it look online.
Thanks for the tips though — definitely going to experiment a bit more before giving up!
Ciflire@reddit
To be honest I ended up also throwing out my old Razer chroma v2 for a zsa voyager and never ever want to go back regularly to a classic keyboard. I still need to work on it a bit to play correctly but that's a good start. So yeah it might be necessary to get an external keyboard but I believe it's not the WM's nor is it a prerequisite to use one but it sure is more comfortable. Btw you might already have use it, it's kanata : I watched this
Final-Effective7561@reddit
You should try a scrolling window manager like niri. It tiles your windows, but when you run out of space it scrolls your screen to the side. I personally find this the best way to do tiling on a small screen.
Maykey@reddit
I don't like laptop keyboards in general, not just in tiling wm context. Even when I take laptop somewhere, I often bring a keyboard with me as well.
GeoSabreX@reddit
I've found laptop only usage to be a skill. I've worked in a professional office environment for years and intentionally forced myself to use the laptop trackpad and keyboard only for several months to build that skill...because I used to despise it.
Driving a 4 monitor setup with a trackpad is fun. Especially with the workspace swipe. You'll be more efficient and impress anyone less tech savvy lol.
It will never feel as good as a mouse and keyboard... but it is a skill to develop nevertheless.
I use i3 on my 15in laptop.
Kirito_Kiri@reddit
I have used bspwm before on laptop and some others temporarily and never had issues in the past, if certain key combinations aren't to your liking you can always change them. I use KDE for now but still use some key combos as I did in bspwm.
sporeot@reddit
I'm not a laptop guy - but so many of the TWMs have defaults which a lot of people modify - I never use the arrow keys for example, I use hjkl aka vi bindings so I would use super+k etc.
Fight_The_Sun@reddit
My experience is basically the opposite. Tiling window managers allow me to use more screen real estate on my small screen. The keyboard centric usage of them allow me to work efficiently without using the touchpad or external mouse. But I like my laptops keyboard, I have little issue with it, so maybe our difference is just that my laptops keyboard is better. And I hunch like a shrimp anyway, so it doesnt make a difference for me.