--- name: "devilspie" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "devilspie" version: "0.23-6" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/devilspie" --- # devilspie(1) perform actions on windows as they are created ## NAME devilspie - perform actions on windows as they are created ## SYNOPSIS **devilspie** *\[OPTION\]...* *configuration-files...* ## DESCRIPTION **devilspie** is a program which can detect windows as they are created, and perform actions on them if they match as set of criteria. The configuration files are a set of s-expressions. For documentation and examples, see /usr/share/doc/devilspie/. Command-lines options: - **-a** **--apply-to-existing** Apply to all existing windows instead of just new windows. - **-d** **--debug** Output debug information - **-l** **--list-symbols** List available symbols supported in input files. - **-s** *symname* **--symbol-doc**=*symname* Get detailed help on symbol *symname* ('all' for all symbols). ## ALLOWED SYMBOLS In the input files, the following symbols are known by *devilspie*: - **is** String equality, (is a b) means a is the same as b. - **contains** Substring, (contains haystack needle) means haystack contains needle. - **matches** Regexp matches, (matches str pattern) means the regexp pattern matches str. - **window\_name** Return the title of the current window (String). - **window\_role** Return the role (as determined by the WM\_WINDOW\_ROLE hint) of the current window (String). - **window\_class** Return the class of the current window (String). - **window\_xid** Return the X11 window id of the current window (Integer). - **application\_name** Return the application name (as determined by libwnck) of the current window (String). - **window\_property** Returns the given property of the window, e.g. pass "\_NET\_WM\_STATE" (String). - **window\_workspace** Returns the workspace a window is on (Integer). - **debug** Debugging function, outputs the current window's title, name, role and geometry (Returns TRUE). - **print** Print args (without trailing 0 returns boolean). - **println** Print args (with trailing 0 returns boolean). - **str** Transform parameters into strings and concat them. - **hex** Transform the integer parameter into an unsigned hexadecimal string (with 0x prefix). - **geometry** Set position + size (as tring) of current window (returns boolean). - **fullscreen** Make the current window fullscreen (returns TRUE). - **focus** Focus the current window (returns TRUE). - **center** Center position of current window (returns boolean). - **maximize** Maximise the current window (returns TRUE). - **maximize\_vertically** Maximise vertically the current window (returns TRUE). - **maximize\_horizontally** Maximise horizontally the current window (returns TRUE). - **unmaximize** Un-maximise the current window (returns TRUE). - **minimize** Minimise the current window (returns TRUE). - **unminimize** Un-minimise the current window (returns TRUE). - **shade** Shade ("roll up") the current window (returns TRUE). - **unshade** Un-shade ("roll down") the current window (returns TRUE). - **close** Close the current window (returns TRUE). - **pin** Pin the current window to all workspaces (returns TRUE). - **unpin** Unpin the current window from all workspaces (returns TRUE). - **stick** Make the current window stick to all viewports (returns TRUE). - **unstick** Unstick the window from viewports (returns TRUE). - **set\_workspace** Move the window to a specific workspace number, counting from 1 (returns boolean). - **set\_viewport** Move the window to a specific viewport number, counting from 1 (returns boolean). - **skip\_pager** Remove the current window from the window list (returns TRUE). - **skip\_tasklist** Remove the current window from the pager (returns TRUE). - **above** Set the current window to be above all normal windows (returns TRUE). - **below** Set the current window to be below all normal windows (returns TRUE). - **decorate** Add the window manager decorations to the current window (returns boolean). - **undecorate** Remove the window manager decorations from the current window (returns boolean). - **wintype** Set the window type of the current window (returns boolean). Accepted values are: normal, dialog, menu, toolbar, splashscreen, utility, dock, desktop. - **opacity** Change the opacity level (as integer in 0..100) of the current window (returns boolean). - **spawn\_async** Execute a command in the background (returns boolean). Command is given as a single string, or as a series of strings (similar to execl). - **spawn\_sync** Execute a command in the foreground (returns command output as string, or FALSE on error). Command is given as a single string, or as a series of strings (similar to execl). ## BUGS This manpage is almost useless, as it was thrown together on a train. ## AUTHOR This manual page was written by Ross Burton \.