Introduction to 'return wm_class - Shell-Bash'

As a programmer, you may have come across the term 'wm_class' while working with Linux applications. 'wm_class' is a property of the X Window System, which helps window managers to identify the applications running on the system. In this article, we will discuss the command 'return wm_class - Shell-Bash', its significance, and how it can be used in shell scripts.

What is 'return wm_class'?

'return wm_class' is a command in Linux that is used to identify the window class of an application. The window class is a property of a window that identifies the type of application that is running in it. It helps window managers to group similar applications together and apply rules to them. For example, you can configure your window manager to always open web browsers in a specific workspace or to maximize the terminal window whenever it is opened.

Syntax of 'return wm_class - Shell-Bash'

The syntax for using 'return wm_class' with the Shell-Bash application is as follows:

$ xprop | grep WM_CLASS

This command will return the window class of the currently focused window. You can use this command in a shell script to identify the window class of any application that is running.

Examples of using 'return wm_class - Shell-Bash'

Example 1:

Suppose you have a shell script that needs to check if the terminal window is open and in focus. You can use the following code to accomplish this:

#!/bin/bash

if [[ $(xprop | grep WM_CLASS) == *"Shell-Bash"* ]]; then
    echo "Terminal window is open and in focus"
else
    echo "Terminal window is not open and in focus"
fi

This code will check the window class of the currently focused window and compare it with "Shell-Bash". If the window class matches, it will print "Terminal window is open and in focus".

Example 2:

Suppose you want to create a script that will always open the terminal window in a specific workspace. You can use the 'return wm_class' command to identify the window class of the terminal application and then use a tool like xdotool to move the window to a specific workspace.

#!/bin/bash

# Identify the window class of the terminal application
term_class=$(xprop | grep WM_CLASS | awk '{print $4}')

# Move the terminal window to workspace 2
xdotool search --class "$term_class" windowactivate --sync key ctrl+alt+2

This code will first identify the window class of the terminal application and store it in the term_class variable. It will then use the xdotool tool to search for all windows with the same window class and move the first result to workspace 2.

Conclusion

'return wm_class' is a powerful command that can be used to identify the window class of any application running on your Linux system. Its use in shell scripts can help automate tasks and enhance your productivity as a programmer. Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of 'return wm_class - Shell-Bash' and how it can be used in your projects.