`swaymsg_workspace`: A Better Way to Manage Sway Workspaces

This tool improves workspace management in Sway by making workspace switching, reordering, and renaming easier—especially when using multiple monitors.

🔧 What It Does

Switch workspaces (like workspace next) but stays on the focused monitor
Reorder workspaces left/right—just like browser tabs
Rename workspaces without losing their numbers
Integrates with Rofi for quick workspace selection and renaming

💡 Why Use It?

Problem with Default Sway Behavior

When using multiple monitors, Sway’s built-in workspace next jumps to a different monitor. Or even cycles backwards through Workspaces. That’s confusing!

Comparison to Sway stock behaviour:

Default Sway (moves across monitors) swaymsg_workspace (stays on current monitor)

Monitor1		Monitor2
▪ 6 work	^{▫ 8 messages}	^{▫ 7 music}
`next`
^{▫ 6 work}	^{▫ 8 messages}	▪ 7 music
`next`
^{▫ 6 work}	▪ 8 messages	^{▫ 7 music}
`next`
▪ 6 work	^{▫ 8 messages}	^{▫ 7 music}

Monitor1		Monitor2
▪ 6 work	^{▫ 8 messages}	^{▫ 7 music}
`next`
^{▫ 6 work}	▪ 8 messages	^{▫ 7 music}
`next`
▪ 6 work	^{▫ 8 messages}	^{▫ 7 music}
`next`
^{▫ 6 work}	▪ 8 messages	^{▫ 7 music}

✨ Features Overview

General Commands

Limited to current Output

Feature	What it does
`next`, `prev`	Go to next/previous workspace on the same monitor
`swap_with_next`, `swap_with_prev`	Reorder current workspace left/right on the same monitor
`increase`, `decrease`	Reassign workspace to next/previous number
`rename_to <name>`	Rename a workspace but keep its number
`number <n>`	Go to workspace `<n>` on the same monitor
`move_container_to_workspace_number <n>`	Move focused window to workspace `<n>` on same monitor

Rofi integration Commands

Across all Outputs

Feature	What it does
`rofi_select_workspace`	Print unique names of all workspaces
`rofi_select_workspace <unique name>`	Select workspace by unique name
`select <unique name>`	Alias for `rofi_select_workspace <unique name>`
`rofi_move_window`	Print unique names of all workspaces
`rofi_move_window <unique name>`	Move container to workspace idetified by unique name

Select workspace

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace next

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["6 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 music"]
    E["6 work"]
    F["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:c:3
    G["5 music"]
    H["6 work"]
    I["8 messages"]
  end
  a -- "next" --> b
  b -- "next" --> c
  style B stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style F stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style G stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace prev

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["6 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 music"]
    E["6 work"]
    F["8 messages"]
  end
  a -- "prev" --> b
  style B stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style D stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

Swap workspace

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace swap_with_next

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["6 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 music"]
    E["6 messages"]
    F["8 work"]
  end
  space:3
  block:c:3
    G["5 work"]
    H["6 messages"]
    I["8 music"]
  end
  a -- "swap_with_next"--> b
  b -- "swap_with_next"--> c
  style B stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style F stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style G stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace swap_with_prev

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["6 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 work"]
    E["6 music"]
    F["8 messages"]
  end
  a -- "swap_with_prev" --> b
  style B stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style D stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

Index workspace

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace increase

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["6 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 music"]
    E["7 work"]
    F["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:c:3
    G["5 music"]
    H["7 messages"]
    I["8 work"]
  end
  a -- "increase"--> b
  b -- "increase"--> c
  style B stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style E stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style I stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace decrease

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["7 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 music"]
    E["6 work"]
    F["8 messages"]
  end
  a -- "decrease"--> b
  style B stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style E stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

Rename workspace

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace rename_to movies

block-beta
  columns 3
  block:a:3
    A["5 music"]
    B["6 work"]
    C["8 messages"]
  end
  space:3
  block:b:3
    D["5 movies"]
    E["6 work"]
    F["8 messages"]
  end
  a -- "rename_to movies"--> b
  style A stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style D stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

Select workspace while multiple monitors are connected

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 5

block-beta
  columns 2
    block:a1["Monitor 1"]:1
      columns 3
      A1["6 work"]
      B1["8 messages"]
      space:6
    end
    block:a2["Monitor 2"]:1
      columns 3
      A2["5"]
      space:6    
    end
  space:2
    block:b1["Monitor 1"]:1
      columns 3
      C1["5"]
      D1["6 work"]
      E1["8 messages"]
      space:6
    end
    block:b2["Monitor 2"]:1
      columns 3
      B2["5"]
      space:6    
    end
  a1 -- "number 5" --> b1
  style B1 stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style C1 stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

Move window to workspace number while multiple monitors are connected

~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 5

block-beta
  columns 2
    block:a1["Monitor 1"]:1
      columns 3
      A1["6 work"]
      B1["8 messages"]
      space:6
    end
    block:a2["Monitor 2"]:1
      columns 3
      A2["5"]
      space:6    
    end
  space:2
    block:b1["Monitor 1"]:1
      columns 3
      C1["5"]
      D1["6 work"]
      E1["8 messages"]
      space:6
    end
    block:b2["Monitor 2"]:1
      columns 3
      B2["5"]
      space:6    
    end
  a1 -- "move_container_to_workspace_number 5" --> b1
  style B1 stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px
  style E1 stroke:#288,stroke-width:4px

🚀 Quick Start

1. install Rust

Visit: https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install

Rust includes cargo and rustup.

2. Use Rust Nightly

rustup override set nightly

3. Install the Tool

cargo install --git https://github.com/berezowski/swaymsg_workspace

Binary will be at: ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace

⚙️ Sway Config Example

Add these bindings to your ~/.config/sway/config:

### swaymsg_workspace select previous / next
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+n exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace next
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+p exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace prev

### swaymsg_workspace move workspace left / right
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+n exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace swap_with_next
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+p exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace swap_with_prev

### swaymsg_workspace increase / decrease number
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+v exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace decrease
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+v exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace increase

### swaymsg_workspace select by number
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+0 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 10
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+1 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 1
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+2 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 2
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+3 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 3
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+4 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 4
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+5 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 5
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+6 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 6
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+7 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 7
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+8 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 8
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+9 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace number 9

### swaymsg_workspace move container to workspace number
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+0 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 10
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+1 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 1
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+2 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 2
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+3 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 3
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+4 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 4
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+5 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 5
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+6 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 6
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+7 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 7
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+8 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 8
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Shift+9 exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace move_container_to_workspace_number 9

🧠 Rofi Integration

Use rofi to rename or select workspaces:

Sway Config

~/.config/sway/config:

bindsym --release Mod1+Ctrl+space exec /usr/bin/rofi -show combi
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+r exec ~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace rename_to $(rofi -dmenu -l 0 -P "rename workspace $(~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace print_focused_name) to")

Rofi Config

~/.config/rofi/config.rasi:

configuration {
  modi: "combi,move to workspace:~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace rofi_move_window";
  font: "M+CodeLat60 Nerd Font Mono 12";
  combi-modi: "workspaces:~/.cargo/bin/swaymsg_workspace rofi_select_workspace,window,drun,ssh";
  kb-mode-next: "Control+Alt+space";
}

🖱️ useful in this context: focusing monitors

~/.config/sway/config:

bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+m focus output right, focus child
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+m+Shift move workspace to output right

bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+u focus output up, focus child
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+u+Shift move workspace to output up

bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Mod4+h move workspace to output left
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Mod4+j move workspace to output down
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Mod4+k move workspace to output up
bindsym Mod1+Ctrl+Mod4+l move workspace to output right

📺 Demo

out.mp4

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 49 Commits
.github		.github
src		src
tests		tests
.gitignore		.gitignore
.rustfmt.toml		.rustfmt.toml
Cargo.lock		Cargo.lock
Cargo.toml		Cargo.toml
LICENSE		LICENSE
README.md		README.md
THIRDPARTY.yml		THIRDPARTY.yml
bom.json		bom.json
default.nix		default.nix
flake.nix		flake.nix
rust-toolchain.toml		rust-toolchain.toml

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`swaymsg_workspace`: A Better Way to Manage Sway Workspaces

🔧 What It Does

💡 Why Use It?

Problem with Default Sway Behavior

Comparison to Sway stock behaviour:

✨ Features Overview

General Commands

Rofi integration Commands

Select workspace

Swap workspace

Index workspace

Rename workspace

Select workspace while multiple monitors are connected

Move window to workspace number while multiple monitors are connected

🚀 Quick Start

1. install Rust

2. Use Rust Nightly

3. Install the Tool

⚙️ Sway Config Example

🧠 Rofi Integration

Sway Config

Rofi Config

🖱️ useful in this context: focusing monitors

📺 Demo

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swaymsg_workspace: A Better Way to Manage Sway Workspaces

🔧 What It Does

💡 Why Use It?

Problem with Default Sway Behavior

Comparison to Sway stock behaviour:

✨ Features Overview

General Commands

Rofi integration Commands

Select workspace

Swap workspace

Index workspace

Rename workspace

Select workspace while multiple monitors are connected

Move window to workspace number while multiple monitors are connected

🚀 Quick Start

1. install Rust

2. Use Rust Nightly

3. Install the Tool

⚙️ Sway Config Example

🧠 Rofi Integration

Sway Config

Rofi Config

🖱️ useful in this context: focusing monitors

📺 Demo

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`swaymsg_workspace`: A Better Way to Manage Sway Workspaces

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