Using i3 WM on MacOS with Yabai and Skhd

Transitioning from Linux to MacOS

Having used Ubuntu/Pop_OS for several years both personally and professionally, I’ve become well-versed in the Linux ecosystem. I have numerous scripts and a comprehensive list of programs, along with my dotfiles for easy configuration.

However, upon switching companies, I was required to use a Mac. This transition was challenging, especially since I missed the efficiency of a good window manager. On Linux, I used i3, which significantly boosted my productivity.

Implementing i3 on MacOS with Yabai and Skhd

After researching “i3 on macOS”, I discovered several alternatives, with yabai emerging as the best option. It, along with skhd, effectively replicates the i3 experience on MacOS.

Installation of yabai and skhd

Terminal window
# install
brew install koekeishiya/formulae/skhd
brew install koekeishiya/formulae/yabai


# start service
skhd --start-service
yabai --start-service


# if you change your yabairc
yabai --restart-service

To ensure everything works correctly, you need to grant access to skhd and yabai on MacOS. After a restart, everything should function as expected.