# i3status

> small program for generating a status bar

**Wikidata**: [Q109497290](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109497290)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/i3status

## Summary
i3status is a free software tool designed to generate a customizable status bar for window managers, particularly the i3 window manager. It displays system information such as time, battery level, network status, and more in a minimalistic format. The program runs on Unix-like systems including BSD variants and Linux distributions.

## Key Facts
- Created in 2008 by Michael Stapelberg.
- Licensed under the 3-clause BSD License.
- Part of the i3 project ecosystem.
- Stable version is 2.14, released on November 9, 2021.
- Written in C (programming language).
- Runs on operating systems like FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and various Linux distributions.
- Available through package managers including apt (Ubuntu), emerge (Gentoo), and yum (openSUSE).
- Source code hosted at https://github.com/i3/i3status.git.
- Official website: https://i3wm.org/i3status/.

## FAQs
### Q: What is i3status used for?
A: i3status generates a status line that can be displayed in tiling window managers like i3. It shows real-time system information such as CPU usage, memory consumption, disk space, network activity, and date/time.

### Q: Is i3status free to use?
A: Yes, i3status is free software distributed under the 3-clause BSD License, allowing users to run, modify, and redistribute it freely.

### Q: How do I install i3status?
A: i3status can be installed via standard package managers on supported platforms. For example, on Ubuntu you can use `sudo apt install i3status`, while on FreeBSD you can use `pkg install i3status`.

## Why It Matters
i3status plays a critical role in enhancing usability within minimalist desktop environments, especially those using the i3 window manager. By providing essential system metrics without graphical overhead, it supports efficient workflow management for developers, power users, and anyone favoring lightweight computing setups. Its modular design allows easy customization, making it adaptable across different workflows and preferences. As part of the broader i3 ecosystem, i3status contributes to the philosophy of simplicity and performance-oriented interface tools.

## Notable For
- Being specifically tailored for integration with the i3 window manager.
- Supporting multiple Unix-like operating systems including BSD derivatives.
- Offering extensibility through configuration files rather than requiring recompilation.
- Maintaining long-term stability with consistent updates since its initial release in 2008.
- Hosting all development publicly on GitHub, encouraging community contributions and transparency.

## Body
### Overview
i3status is a compact utility developed primarily for displaying live system information in status bars compatible with tiling window managers—especially i3wm. Designed for efficiency and low resource consumption, it outputs formatted strings representing current states of hardware and services.

### Development & Licensing
The software was created in 2008 by Michael Stapelberg who also maintains the project. It's licensed under the permissive 3-clause BSD License which grants broad freedoms regarding modification and redistribution.

### Technical Details
- **Language**: Primarily written in C.
- **Platforms Supported**:
  - FreeBSD (`x11/i3status`)
  - OpenBSD (`x11/i3status`)
  - NetBSD (`sysutils/i3status`)
  - Linux Distributions:
    - Debian/Ubuntu (`i3status`)
    - Gentoo (`x11-misc/i3status`)
    - openSUSE (`i3status`)
- **Latest Stable Release**: Version 2.14, published on November 9, 2021.
- **Repository URL**: https://github.com/i3/i3status.git
- **Issue Tracker**: https://github.com/i3/i3status/issues

### Integration & Usage
As part of the i3 suite, i3status integrates seamlessly into configurations defined in `.i3/config` or equivalent settings files. Users define modules they wish to display—such as time, volume, or IP address—and i3status periodically refreshes these values for presentation in the bar.

### Community & Support
Development discussions occur mainly through the official mailing list archives found at [https://www.freelists.org/archive/i3-announce/](https://www.freelists.org/archive/i3-announce/) and bug tracking happens via GitHub issues. Documentation includes both online resources and manual pages accessible locally after installation.

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. [i3status v2.14 released. 2021](https://www.freelists.org/post/i3-announce/i3status-v214-released)
3. [Release 1.0. 2009](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/1.0)
4. [Release 1.1. 2009](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/1.1)
5. [Release 1.2. 2009](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/1.2)
6. [Release 2.0. 2009](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.0)
7. [Release 2.1. 2010](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.1)
8. [Release 2.2. 2010](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.2)
9. [Release 2.3. 2011](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.3)
10. [Release 2.4. 2011](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.4)
11. [Release 2.5. 2012](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.5)
12. [Release 2.5.1. 2012](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.5.1)
13. [Release 2.6. 2012](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.6)
14. [Release 2.7. 2013](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.7)
15. [Release 2.8. 2014](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.8)
16. [Release 2.9. 2015](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.9)
17. [Release 2.10. 2016](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.10)
18. [Release 2.11. 2017](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.11)
19. [Release 2.12. 2018](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.12)
20. [Release 2.13. 2019](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.13)
21. [Release 2.15. 2024](https://github.com/i3/i3status/releases/tag/2.15)
22. [Source](https://www.freelists.org/list/i3-announce)