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Overview

Mango supports multiple window states that affect how windows are displayed and behave. Windows can be in special states like minimized, maximized, fullscreen, floating, global, and overlay modes.

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Core Window States

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Floating vs. Tiled

Tiled windows follow the layout algorithm, while floating windows can be positioned and resized freely. 
# Toggle between floating and tiled
bind=ALT,backslash,togglefloating,
Window is considered tiled when: 
#define ISTILED(A) \
    (A && !(A)->isfloating && !(A)->isminimized && !(A)->iskilling && \
     !(A)->ismaximizescreen && !(A)->isfullscreen && !(A)->isunglobal)
Floating window behavior:
  • Ignores layout algorithm
  • Can be moved with SUPER + btn_left
  • Can be resized with SUPER + btn_right
  • Respects window size hints (unless isnosizehint is set)

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Minimized State

Minimized windows are hidden from view but remain in memory. 
# Minimize focused window
bind=SUPER,i,minimized,

# Restore last minimized window
bind=SUPER+SHIFT,I,restore_minimized
Implementation details: 
int32_t isminimized;      // Window is minimized
uint32_t mini_restore_tag; // Tag to restore to
When minimized:
  • Window scene node is disabled
  • Window is removed from visible clients
  • Tag assignment is saved for restoration
  • Foreign toplevel is notified (for taskbars)
Restoration behavior: 
// Restoring brings window back to its original tag
c->tags = c->mini_restore_tag;
c->isminimized = 0;

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Maximized State

“Maximize screen” mode expands the window to fill the entire monitor while maintaining borders. 
# Toggle maximize
bind=ALT,a,togglemaximizescreen,

# Mouse gesture
mousebind=NONE,btn_middle,togglemaximizescreen,0
Behavior:
  • Overrides tiling layout
  • Fills monitor work area
  • Keeps borders and decorations
  • Stores original geometry for restoration
Maximized geometry: 
if (c->ismaximizescreen) {
    // Fill monitor work area
    c->geom = m->w;  // m->w is the usable area (minus panels)
}
Border color indicator: 
maximizescreencolor=0x89aa61ff  # Green border when maximized

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Fullscreen State

True fullscreen mode that covers the entire output, including panels. 
# Toggle fullscreen
bind=ALT,f,togglefullscreen,

# Toggle fake fullscreen (respects panels)
bind=ALT+SHIFT,f,togglefakefullscreen,
Fullscreen modes:
  1. True fullscreen (isfullscreen):
    • Covers entire monitor including panels
    • Hides borders
    • Bypasses compositor effects
    • Best for games and media
  2. Fake fullscreen (isfakefullscreen):
    • Maximizes within work area
    • Respects panels and bars
    • Keeps borders (optional)
    • Better for applications with UI chrome
Geometry backup: 
// Geometry is saved before fullscreen
int32_t fullscreen_backup_x, fullscreen_backup_y;
int32_t fullscreen_backup_w, fullscreen_backup_h;

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Global State

Global windows appear on all tags. 
# Toggle global state
bind=SUPER,g,toggleglobal,
Characteristics:
  • Visible regardless of active tag
  • Tags automatically update to match current view
  • Useful for persistent overlays
  • Color-coded border:
globalcolor=0xb153a7ff  # Purple border for global windows
Implementation: 
if (c->isglobal && VISIBLEON(c, m)) {
    // Update tags to match monitor's active tagset
    c->tags = m->tagset[m->seltags];
}

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Unglobal State

Temporarily removes a window from normal visibility: 
int32_t isunglobal;  // Hidden from tag system
  • Window exists but isn’t visible on any tag
  • Not counted in visible client calculations
  • Can be restored to normal visibility

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Overlay State

Overlay windows float above all other windows. 
# Toggle overlay mode
bind=SUPER,o,toggleoverlay,
Behavior:
  • Always on top
  • Renders in special layer (LyrOverlay)
  • Floating by default
  • Colored border:
overlaycolor=0x14a57cff  # Teal border for overlay windows
Scene layer assignment: 
if (c->isoverlay && c->scene) {
    wlr_scene_node_reparent(&c->scene->node, layers[LyrOverlay]);
}

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Special Window Properties

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No Border

Removes borders from a window: 
int32_t isnoborder;  // Disable border rendering

# Border configuration
borderpx=4
no_border_when_single=0  # Hide borders when only one window

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No Shadow

Disables shadow rendering: 
int32_t isnoshadow;  // Disable shadow effects

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No Radius

Disables rounded corners: 
int32_t isnoradius;  // Disable corner radius

border_radius=6
no_radius_when_single=0

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No Animation

Skips animations for a window: 
int32_t isnoanimation;  // Disable animations

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Scratchpad Windows

Special toggleable windows that appear on demand: 
int32_t is_in_scratchpad;      // Window is scratchpad
int32_t is_scratchpad_show;    // Currently visible
int32_t isnamedscratchpad;     // Named scratchpad instance

# Toggle scratchpad
bind=ALT,z,toggle_scratchpad

# Scratchpad sizing
scratchpad_width_ratio=0.8
scratchpad_height_ratio=0.9
Scratchpad features:
  • Hidden by default
  • Toggle to show/hide
  • Floats when shown
  • Centers on screen
  • Can cross monitors if configured:
scratchpad_cross_monitor=1
single_scratchpad=1  # Only one scratchpad visible at a time

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Window State Rules

Define window states in configuration: 
# Example window rules with states
windowrule=appid:floating-app,isfloating:1
windowrule=appid:overlay-app,isoverlay:1
windowrule=appid:terminal,isnamedscratchpad:1
windowrule=title:Picture-in-Picture,isglobal:1,isnoborder:1

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Available Rule Properties

// State flags
isfloating, isfullscreen, isfakefullscreen
isoverlay, isglobal, isunglobal
isnoborder, isnoshadow, isnoradius, isnoanimation
isnamedscratchpad

// Behavior flags
ignore_maximize, ignore_minimize
force_maximize, force_tiled_state
allow_csd  // Allow client-side decorations
nofocus, nofadein, nofadeout
no_force_center

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State Transitions and Priority

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State Conflicts

Some states are mutually exclusive: 
// Fullscreen and maximize can't coexist
if (c->isfullscreen) {
    c->ismaximizescreen = 0;
}
if (c->ismaximizescreen) {
    c->isfullscreen = 0;
}

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State Clearing

When entering overview mode, certain states are cleared: 
void overview_backup(Client *c) {
    // Save current states
    c->overview_isfullscreenbak = c->isfullscreen;
    c->overview_ismaximizescreenbak = c->ismaximizescreen;
    
    // Clear incompatible states
    c->isfullscreen = 0;
    c->ismaximizescreen = 0;
    c->isglobal = 0;
    c->isminimized = 0;
    c->isoverlay = 0;
}

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Border Color by State

Mango uses colored borders to indicate window states: 
bordercolor=0x444444ff          # Normal unfocused
focuscolor=0xc9b890ff           # Focused window
maximizescreencolor=0x89aa61ff  # Maximized (green)
urgentcolor=0xad401fff          # Urgent/notification
scratchpadcolor=0x516c93ff      # Scratchpad (blue)
globalcolor=0xb153a7ff          # Global (purple)
overlaycolor=0x14a57cff         # Overlay (teal)

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State Opacity

Control opacity per state: 
# Global opacity
focused_opacity=1.0
unfocused_opacity=1.0

# Per-window opacity (window rules)
windowrule=appid:terminal,focused_opacity:0.95
windowrule=appid:terminal,unfocused_opacity:0.85

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Foreign Toplevel Protocol

Mango reports window states to external tools (like taskbars) via the Foreign Toplevel protocol: 
// Notify taskbar of minimized state
if (c->isminimized && c->foreign_toplevel) {
    wlr_foreign_toplevel_handle_v1_set_minimized(c->foreign_toplevel, true);
}

// Notify of fullscreen state
wlr_foreign_toplevel_handle_v1_set_fullscreen(c->foreign_toplevel, 
                                              c->isfullscreen);

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Overview Mode State

Overview mode is a special state for the monitor: 
int32_t isoverview;  // Monitor in overview mode

# Toggle overview
bind=ALT,Tab,toggleoverview,

# Overview hotarea (mouse trigger)
enable_hotarea=1
hotarea_size=10
During overview:
  • All windows shown in grid
  • States are backed up
  • Special sizing and gaps applied
  • Different animations

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State Query Macros

Mango defines useful macros for state checking: 
// Check if window is fullscreen (including maximize)
#define ISFULLSCREEN(A) \
    ((A)->isfullscreen || (A)->ismaximizescreen || \
     (A)->overview_ismaximizescreenbak || (A)->overview_isfullscreenbak)

// Check if window is tiled
#define ISTILED(A) \
    (A && !(A)->isfloating && !(A)->isminimized && !(A)->iskilling && \
     !(A)->ismaximizescreen && !(A)->isfullscreen && !(A)->isunglobal)

// Check if window is visible on monitor
#define VISIBLEON(C, M) \
    ((C) && (M) && (C)->mon == (M) && ((C)->tags & (M)->tagset[(M)->seltags]))

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Best Practices

State Management

Use states purposefully:
  • Floating: For dialogs and tools
  • Global: For persistent monitoring
  • Overlay: For always-visible references
  • Scratchpad: For quick-access terminals
  • Minimize: For temporary hiding

Window Rules

Automate state assignment:
windowrule=appid:pavucontrol,isfloating:1
windowrule=appid:mpv,isfullscreen:1
windowrule=class:dropdown,isnamedscratchpad:1
  • Tags - How states interact with tag visibility
  • Layouts - How states override layout behavior
  • Animations - State transition animations

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