https://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:44:25 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/4589/un-bindsym-or-bindsym-for-mode-default/I was trying to use the function keys as application launchers, but then realized some of the software I use (`htop`, `alsamixer`) require them. After realizing that there isn't an un-bindsym command, I tried using bindsym in mode default like so: > mode "default" { > > bindsym F1 exec my-browser > bindsym F2 exec i3-sensible-terminal > > bindsym F3 mode "curses" > bindsym F12 exec my-backlight-menu > } This cause i3 to exit. Looking through the source, there was a specific check for this, that after removing let my configuration work fine without any problems. --- I'm wondering if this check is necessary? Or is there another way of implementing my configuration without modifying i3? ##### Patch diff --git a/src/config_directives.c b/src/config_directives.c index e45db0e..8191fb5 100644 --- a/src/config_directives.c +++ b/src/config_directives.c @@ -186,10 +186,6 @@ CFGFUN(mode_binding, const char *bindtype, const char *modifiers, const char *ke } CFGFUN(enter_mode, const char *modename) { - if (strcasecmp(modename, DEFAULT_BINDING_MODE) == 0) { - ELOG("You cannot use the name %s for your mode\n", DEFAULT_BINDING_MODE); - exit(1); - } DLOG("\t now in mode %s\n", modename); FREE(current_mode); current_mode = sstrdup(modename);Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:06:14 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/4589/un-bindsym-or-bindsym-for-mode-default/https://faq.i3wm.org/question/4589/un-bindsym-or-bindsym-for-mode-default/?answer=4590#post-id-4590I misunderstood how modes worked: When switching from one mode to another, **all bindsyms are removed**. This means that none of the bindings from the `default` mode are carried over to other modes. So, bindsyms in the `default` mode behave identically to those at the top-level and are thus nonsensical. Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:44:25 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/4589/un-bindsym-or-bindsym-for-mode-default/?answer=4590#post-id-4590