MangoWM Run or Focus

A small helper script for MangoWM that provides keyboard-driven application switching similar to pinned applications in GNOME Dash-to-Dock, KDE Plasma, Unity, and the Windows taskbar, where pressing Super+1, Super+2, etc. launches or focuses the corresponding application for fast, direct, and convenient access.

Bind the script to a single key to create an all-in-one application handler. Depending on the current state, it will:

focus an existing application window
cycle through multiple windows of the same application
switch to the previously focused window when no other matching windows exist
automatically switch between tags
launch the application if it is not running

Update: rs.sh is now the current version and recommended default.

Requirements

MangoWM
jq

Current version (`rs.sh`)

Usage

rs [-t|--tag <tag>] [-a|--appid <appid>] [-T|--title <window_title>] [-i|--ignore <ignore_title_fragment>] [-c|--command <mmsg_dispatch_command>] [-n|--no-focuslast] [-- <launch_command...>]

You can filter by:

appid only
window title only
both appid and window title
appid/title with an ignored title fragment

At least one of appid or window_title must be non-empty.

Use -- before the launch command.

Arguments

Argument	Description
`-t`, `--tag`	Tag where the application will be launched if it is not already running (`1..9`)
`-a`, `--appid`	Window app ID used by MangoWM
`-T`, `--title`	Window title or title fragment to match
`-i`, `--ignore`	Window title fragment to exclude from matches
`-c`, `--command`	Optional `mmsg dispatch` command executed after launching and detecting the new window
`-n`, `--no-focuslast`	Keep the current app focused when there is exactly one matching window, instead of switching back to the previously focused window
`-- <launch_command...>`	Command used to launch the application (variables, arguments and flags are supported). Use `sh -c "launch_command"` when the command requires shell parsing (pipes, redirects, &&, etc.).

To inspect appids and titles, use:

mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[] | [.appid, .title] | @tsv'

Examples

Focus/cycle/launch Konsole on first tag:

~/.local/bin/rs -t 1 -a org.kde.konsole -- konsole

Focus Nautilus or launch it on current tag:

~/.local/bin/rs -a org.gnome.Nautilus -- GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus --new-window

Launch Midnight Commander in Alacritty on current tag or focus matching window by title:

~/.local/bin/rs -T "mc [" -- alacritty -e mc

Run Alacritty or focus it while excluding Midnight Commander title fragment:

~/.local/bin/rs -a Alacritty -i "mc [" -- alacritty

Run a complex shell command:

~/.local/bin/rs -a org.gnome.Nautilus -- sh -c "sleep 4 && GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus --new-window"

Launch app on tag 2 and then run an extra mmsg dispatch command:

~/.local/bin/rs -t 2 -a org.kde.konsole -c "set_proportion,0.5" -- konsole

MangoWM Keybindings example

bind = SUPER, RETURN, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rs -t 1 -a org.kde.konsole -- konsole
bind = SUPER, e, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rs -a org.gnome.Nautilus -- GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus
bind = SUPER, m, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rs -T "mc [" -- alacritty -e mc
bind = SUPER,1,spawn, ~/.local/bin/rs -a Alacritty -i "mc [" -- alacritty

How It Works

If the app is already focused:

when another matching window exists, it cycles to the next one
when only one matching window exists, it switches to the previously focused window unless -n/--no-focuslast is used

If the app exists but is not focused:

it focuses the matching window

If the app is not running:

it switches to the specified tag (when tag is numeric)
launches the application command
waits briefly for the new window and optionally runs mmsg dispatch <command> from -c/--command

Windows marked by MangoWM as is_swallowedby are ignored during matching, and is_swallowing windows are only used as a fallback when no regular matches exist. This keeps swallowed proxy clients out of the way while still allowing apps such as org.gnome.TextEditor opened from tools like Yazi to be focused correctly.

Installation

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rs https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rs.sh
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rs

Older versions

Previous version (`rf.sh`)

Usage

rf <tag|c> <appid|""> <window_title|""> <ignore_title_fragment|""> <command...>

Arguments

Argument	Description
`tag`	Tag where the application will be launched if it is not already running
`c`	Use the current tag
`appid`	Window app ID used by MangoWM (use `""` to ignore appid matching)
`window_title`	Window title or title fragment to match (use `""` to ignore title matching)
`ignore_title_fragment`	Window title fragment to exclude from matches (use `""` to disable)
`command`	Command used to launch the application (arguments and flags are supported)

Examples

~/.local/bin/rf 1 org.kde.konsole "" "" konsole
~/.local/bin/rf c org.gnome.Nautilus "" "" GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus
~/.local/bin/rf c "" "mc [" "" alacritty -e mc
~/.local/bin/rf c Alacritty "" "mc [" alacritty

MangoWM Keybindings example

bind = SUPER, RETURN, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rf 1 org.kde.konsole "" "" konsole
bind = SUPER, e, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rf c org.gnome.Nautilus "" "" GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus
bind = SUPER, m, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rf c "" "mc [" "" alacritty -e mc
bind = SUPER,1,spawn, ~/.local/bin/rf c Alacritty "" "mc [" alacritty

Installation

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rf.sh
wget -O ~/.local/bin/bind_generator_rf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/bind_generator_rf.sh
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rf
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/bind_generator_rf

Legacy variants

Usage

Use rfcm (new IPC mmsg) as the primary variant:

rfcm <tag|c> <appid> <command...>

Use rfcmt to match by window title instead of appid:

rfcmt <tag|c> <window_title> <command...>

Use rfe to run or focus by appid while ignoring a matching title fragment:

rfe <tag|c> <appid> <ignore_title_fragment> <command...>

For older IPC-compatible workflows, you can still use:

rof <tag|c> <appid> <process_name> <command...>

or

rofw <tag|c> <appid> <command...>

Arguments

Argument	Description
`tag`	Tag where the application will be launched if it is not already running
`c`	Use the current tag
`appid`	Window app ID used by MangoWM ^*
`window_title`	Window title or title fragment used to match an existing window for `rfcmt` **
`ignore_title_fragment`	Window title fragment to exclude from matching windows for `rfe` **
`command`	Command used to launch the application (arguments and flags are supported)
`process_name`	Process name checked with `pgrep -x` and `pgrep -f` (legacy IPC variants only)

* Use `mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].appid'` (or `mmsg -w -c` and change the active window) to obtain application appids.

** Use `mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].title'` to obtain window titles for `rfcmt`, or use `rfe` with a title fragment to exclude a matching window.

Examples

New mmsg IPC format:

Focus, cycle, or launch konsole on first tag:

~/.local/bin/rfcm 1 org.kde.konsole konsole

Focus Nautilus or launch it on current tag:

~/.local/bin/rfcm c org.gnome.Nautilus GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus

Launch Midnight Commander in the Alacritty terminal emulator on current tag or focus it if already open using a window title fragment:

~/.local/bin/rfcmt c "mc [" alacritty -e mc

Run Alacritty or focus it if already open, excluding Midnight Commander running in Alacritty:

~/.local/bin/rfe c Alacritty "mc [" alacritty

Run Alacritty or focus it if already open without excluding any title fragment:

~/.local/bin/rfe c Alacritty "" alacritty

Old mmsg IPC format:

Focus or launch konsole using rofw (wlrctl-based) on current tag:

~/.local/bin/rofw c org.kde.konsole konsole

Focus or launch code-oss on first tag:

~/.local/bin/rof 1 code-oss code.mjs code --password-store=gnome-libsecret

Focus Nautilus or launch it on second tag:

~/.local/bin/rof 2 org.gnome.Nautilus nautilus GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus

MangoWM Keybindings example

bind = SUPER, RETURN, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rfcm 1 org.kde.konsole konsole
bind = SUPER, e, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rfcm c org.gnome.Nautilus GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus
bind = SUPER, m, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rfcmt "mc [" alacritty -e mc
bind = SUPER,1,spawn, ~/.local/bin/rfe c Alacritty "mc [" alacritty

Bind generator (legacy)

Generate legacy rfcm keybinds:

bash bind_generator.sh

Older IPC variants:

bind = SUPER, RETURN, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rof c org.kde.konsole konsole konsole
bind = SUPER, e, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rof 2 org.gnome.Nautilus nautilus GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus

or

bind = SUPER, RETURN, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rofw c org.kde.konsole konsole
bind = SUPER, e, spawn, ~/.local/bin/rofw 2 org.gnome.Nautilus GSK_RENDERER=gl nautilus

How It Works

If the app is already focused:

The script searches for another matching window and focuses it. If only one matching window exists, it switches to the previously focused window.

This makes repeated key presses behave like a window cycler.

If the app exists but is not focused:

The script focuses the first matching window.

If the app is not running:

switches to the specified tag
launches the application

Installation

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rfcm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rfcm.sh
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rfcmt https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rfcmt.sh
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rfe https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rfe.sh
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rfcm
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rfcmt
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rfe

or (older IPC variants)

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rof https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rof.sh
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rof

or

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
wget -O ~/.local/bin/rofw https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtriam/runorfocus/main/rofw.sh
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/rofw

wlrctl installation examples (depending on your distribution):

Arch Linux (AUR helper):

# using paru or yay
paru -S wlrctl
# or
yay -S wlrctl

Debian:

sudo apt install wlrctl

License

GPL-3.0

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MangoWM Run or Focus

Requirements

Current version (`rs.sh`)

Usage

Arguments

Examples

MangoWM Keybindings example

How It Works

Installation

Older versions

Previous version (`rf.sh`)

Usage

Arguments

Examples

MangoWM Keybindings example

Installation

Legacy variants

Usage

Arguments

* Use `mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].appid'` (or `mmsg -w -c` and change the active window) to obtain application appids.

** Use `mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].title'` to obtain window titles for `rfcmt`, or use `rfe` with a title fragment to exclude a matching window.

Examples

MangoWM Keybindings example

Bind generator (legacy)

How It Works

Installation

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Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
LICENSE		LICENSE
README.md		README.md
bind_generator.sh		bind_generator.sh
bind_generator_rf.sh		bind_generator_rf.sh
rf.sh		rf.sh
rfcm.sh		rfcm.sh
rfcme.sh		rfcme.sh
rfcmt.sh		rfcmt.sh
rfe.sh		rfe.sh
rof.sh		rof.sh
rofw.sh		rofw.sh
rs.sh		rs.sh

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MangoWM Run or Focus

Requirements

Current version (rs.sh)

Usage

Arguments

Examples

MangoWM Keybindings example

How It Works

Installation

Older versions

Previous version (rf.sh)

Usage

Arguments

Examples

MangoWM Keybindings example

Installation

Legacy variants

Usage

Arguments

* Use mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].appid' (or mmsg -w -c and change the active window) to obtain application appids.

** Use mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].title' to obtain window titles for rfcmt, or use rfe with a title fragment to exclude a matching window.

Examples

MangoWM Keybindings example

Bind generator (legacy)

How It Works

Installation

License

About

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Current version (`rs.sh`)

Previous version (`rf.sh`)

* Use `mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].appid'` (or `mmsg -w -c` and change the active window) to obtain application appids.

** Use `mmsg get all-clients | jq -r '.clients[].title'` to obtain window titles for `rfcmt`, or use `rfe` with a title fragment to exclude a matching window.