This is a library / command line tool that let's you save and reload your opened programs and the positions of their windows. Supports Unity and Gnome Desktops and possibly all other compositing window managers using X (including XWayland).

There's also a companion tool in form of an indicator applet, a gnome-shell-extension and a Ulauncher extension if you like such things but this package can also be used standalone.

NodeJs needs to be installed properly before you can use lwsm. Have a look at google if you need help with that.

npm install -g linux-window-session-manager

For older distros, you also might need to install the locate command via sudo apt-get install mlocate.

npm uninstall -g linux-window-session-manager && npm i -g linux-window-session-manager
# (optional) delete config to update it to the newest version
rm ~/.config/lwsm/config.json

# save the current session to ~/.config/lwsm/sessionData/DEFAULT.json
lwsm save

# save the current session to ~/.config/lwsm/sessionData/my-session.json
lwsm save my-session   

Note that the session are stored for the specific display combination, you're currently running. If you want to store a different layout for when you have an external monitor plugged in this is possible. Just run the save command again for the same session.

# restore the session from ~/.config/lwsm/sessionData/DEFAULT.json
lwsm restore

# restore the session from ~/.config/lwsm/sessionData/my-session.json
lwsm restore my-session   

# gracefully close all running apps before starting the session
lwsm restore --closeAllOpenWindows

lwsm list

lwsm rename oldName newName

You can manually edit the config file present at ~/.config/lwsm/config.json and the session files in ~/.config/lwsm/sessionData/[sessionName].json.

# Automatically install command-line completion
lwsm --setupCompletion
# Generate command-line completion code for bash and zsh shells for manual installation
lwsm --completion
# Generate command-line completion code for fish shell for manual installation
lwsm --completion-fish

Command-line completion implemented by omelette, so you may refer it's README to check file where completion code will be added on automatic install. Restart your shell after automatic install to apply changes.

In order to resize and move the windows the X window manager is used. Unfortunately it has some bugs:

• Windows moved to the very left of the screen will always be off by some pixels in Unity
• Sometimes a window can't be restored properly any more. In those cases it helps to close the window and restart the application.
• When you're using Wayland as display manager all gnome applications won't be saved or restored. Only XWayland applications will work.
  • You easily switch back to Xorg

!!! please read this before opening up an issue !!!

If you're using Wayland, have a look at above at the known qurks section

Related error message: undefined findDesktopFile cant find file

lwsm needs to guess the right executable path for your applications. In some cases lwsm might be unable to do so. There are a couple of things, that you can do:

1. You can locate the executable or desktop file manually for the application which isn't started (e.g. via the locate command), and add it to ~/.config/lwsm/{currentSessionName}.json (depending on the version used the file might be located here instead: ~/.config/lwsm/{currentSessionName}.json). If you want to persist that mapping you might also want to open ~/.config/lwsm/config.json (depending on the version used the file might be located here instead: ~/.config/lwsm/config.json) and edit the WM_CLASS_AND_EXECUTABLE_FILE_MAP property. You can find out which property name to use by executing xprop and clicking on an open window of the application. Look for WM_CLASS(STRING) (Or just execute xprop | grep "WM_CLASS(STRING)"). For finding the desktop file the locate command is usful (e.g.: locate google-chrome.desktop).

# example  entry in ~/.config/lwsm/config.json:
# WM_CLASS(STRING)             Desktop file name
"google-chrome.Google-chrome": "google-chrome.desktop",

2. If the desktop files are consistently stored in a folder not mapped by lwsm you might want to add it's location to the DESKTOP_FILE_LOCATIONS property in ~/.config/lwsm/config.json(depending on the version used the file might be located here instead: ~/.config/lwsm/config.json) to make sure this folder is also searched the next lwsm tries to guess an desktop file path. If you think the path should be there per default please open up an issue.

You can also see this comment for more detailed instructions.

If you want lwsm to ignore the application, you can add it to the ignore list in ~/.config/lwsm/config.json (depending on the version used the file might be located here instead: ~/.config/lwsm/config.json) which is located under the WM_CLASS_EXCLUSIONS property.

If everything fails please open up an issue.

Chances are you're running Wayland as a display manager. I'd recommend switching back to Xorg.

I'm happy for any reported issue or feature request.