Qtile MonadWide: Fix Layout.up/down() Bug

Nov 2, 2025 by Admin 42 views

Hey guys! Having a weird issue with Qtile and the MonadWide layout? You're not alone! Let's dive into this problem where layout.up() and layout.down() refuse to cooperate the way they do with MonadTall. We will explore the issue, and potential reasons behind it. So, stick around, and let's get this sorted!

Issue Description

So, the user has set up keybindings to navigate windows using layout.down() and layout.up(). Here’s the config snippet:

window_navigation = [
    EzKey("M-<Tab>", lazy.group.next_window()),
    EzKey("M-<Down>", lazy.layout.down()),
    EzKey("M-<Up>", lazy.layout.up()),
]

Now, in MonadTall, these keybindings work perfectly, allowing the user to cycle through windows effortlessly. But, when the layout is switched to MonadWide, the layout.down() and layout.up() commands just don't seem to do anything.

Visual Aid

To illustrate the problem, the user provided images:

MonadTall (Working):

The keybindings function as expected.
MonadWide (Not Working):

The keybindings do not cycle through windows.

The big question is: Is this a bug? Well, that’s what we’re here to figure out!

Understanding the Root Cause

To really grasp what's happening, we need to understand how MonadTall and MonadWide differ in their window arrangements. MonadTall arranges windows in a vertical stack, making it straightforward to cycle up and down. On the other hand, MonadWide arranges windows horizontally. This horizontal arrangement might be where the issue lies.

Possible Reasons for the Bug

Focus Direction: The layout.up() and layout.down() commands might be designed primarily for vertical layouts. In a horizontal layout like MonadWide, they might not correctly identify which window should receive focus next.
Implementation Differences: There could be subtle differences in how focus traversal is implemented in MonadTall versus MonadWide. Perhaps MonadWide's implementation has a blind spot that prevents these commands from working as intended.
Configuration Overrides: While the provided config snippet seems correct, it's possible that some other configuration setting is interfering with the expected behavior of layout.up() and layout.down() in MonadWide.

Version Information

Qtile Version: 0.33.1.dev283+g34300ce4d
Backend: X11 (default)

This information is crucial because bugs are often specific to certain versions. Knowing the exact version helps developers reproduce the issue and test potential fixes.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Before diving too deep, let’s try a few basic troubleshooting steps:

Restart Qtile: Sometimes, simply restarting Qtile can resolve unexpected behavior. It's like giving your computer a fresh start.

qtile cmd-obj -o cmd -f restart ```

Check for Conflicting Keybindings: Ensure that no other keybindings are interfering with M-<Up> and M-<Down>. You might have unintentionally assigned these keybindings to other actions.
Simplify the Config: Temporarily remove any complex configurations to see if the issue persists with a minimal setup. This can help isolate whether the problem is due to a specific setting.

Diving Deeper: Potential Solutions and Workarounds

If the basic troubleshooting steps don't work, we need to dig a bit deeper. Here are some potential solutions and workarounds you can try.

1. Custom Navigation with `lazy.layout.next`/`lazy.layout.previous`

Instead of relying on layout.up() and layout.down(), you can try using lazy.layout.next() and lazy.layout.previous(). These commands are more generic and might work better with horizontal layouts.

window_navigation = [
    EzKey("M-<Tab>", lazy.group.next_window()),
    EzKey("M-<Right>", lazy.layout.next()),
    EzKey("M-<Left>", lazy.layout.previous()),
]

2. Custom Functions for Focus Management

You can create custom functions to manage focus within the MonadWide layout. This involves writing Python code that specifically handles window focus based on the layout's structure.

from libqtile.command import lazy

def focus_next_in_monadwide():
    @lazy.function
    def _inner(qtile):
        layout = qtile.current_layout
        if layout.name == "monadwide":
            windows = layout.windows
            current = layout.current
            if current == windows[-1]:
                next_window = windows[0]
            else:
                next_window = windows[windows.index(current) + 1]
            qtile.current_group.focus(next_window)
    return _inner

def focus_previous_in_monadwide():
    @lazy.function
    def _inner(qtile):
        layout = qtile.current_layout
        if layout.name == "monadwide":
            windows = layout.windows
            current = layout.current
            if current == windows[0]:
                previous_window = windows[-1]
            else:
                previous_window = windows[windows.index(current) - 1]
            qtile.current_group.focus(previous_window)
    return _inner

keys = [
    Key(["mod"], "j", focus_next_in_monadwide(), desc="Move focus to next window in MonadWide"),
    Key(["mod"], "k", focus_previous_in_monadwide(), desc="Move focus to previous window in MonadWide"),
]

This code defines two functions, focus_next_in_monadwide and focus_previous_in_monadwide, which handle focus movement within the MonadWide layout. These functions check if the current layout is MonadWide and then cycle through the windows accordingly.

3. Raise a Bug Report (If It Is One)

If none of the above solutions work, it might indeed be a bug in Qtile. In that case, raising a detailed bug report on the Qtile GitHub repository is the way to go. Make sure to include:

Qtile version
Detailed steps to reproduce the issue
Your configuration file
Any error messages or logs

Additional Tips and Considerations

Check Qtile's Documentation: Sometimes, the documentation might have specific notes about MonadWide and focus traversal. It's always a good idea to consult the official documentation.
Explore Qtile Community Forums: Qtile has an active community. Check the forums or mailing lists to see if anyone else has encountered a similar issue and found a solution.
Stay Updated: Keep your Qtile installation up to date. Bug fixes and improvements are often included in new releases.

Conclusion

Dealing with layout quirks can be frustrating, but with a bit of troubleshooting and creative problem-solving, you can often find a workaround. Whether it's tweaking your keybindings, writing custom functions, or reporting a potential bug, there are plenty of avenues to explore. Hopefully, this guide has given you some useful insights and steps to resolve the layout.up() and layout.down() issue in Qtile's MonadWide layout. Keep experimenting, and happy Qtiling!