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rasat

Forum Fellow

From: Finland

Registered: 2002-12-27

Posts: 2,303

Website

FvwmTabs

FvwmTabs was included in Fvwm 2. Due to the instability of Perl-Tk, it was removed, and it received no maintenance either.

It's now a Python/Tk rewrite of the old Perl FVWM tabbing module. This keeps the socket/Tk design, multiple tabbers, FVWM command functions, assigned tabber IDs, right-click menu, and autoSwallow behavior.

There is no separate FvwmTabs.py entrypoint. The tabber_client.py remains as the small command client used by FVWM functions, and fvwmmfl_client.py remains as the optional FvwmMFL socket/event helper.

# INSTALL and SETUP
# Requirements

- Python 3
- python3-tk
- FVWM3
- xdotool
- x11-utils, which provides xprop and xwininfo

1. Put the FvwmTabs files in any FVWM ModulePath directory. For example:

   mkdir -p ~/.fvwm/modules
   cp FvwmTabs tabber_client.py fvwmmfl_client.py ConfigFvwmTabs FvwmTabs.conf to ~/.fvwm/modules/

2. Make the module executable:

   chmod +x ~/.fvwm/modules/FvwmTabs

3. Add the module directory to FVWM config.

   .fvwm/config setup:

   DestroyFunc StartFunction
   AddToFunc StartFunction
   + I ModulePath ${HOME}/.fvwm/modules:+
   + I Module FvwmTabs

GitHub:
https://github.com/rasatpc/FvwmTabs

Last edited by rasat (2026-06-17 12:22:27)

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Markku

Mjaakko

Member

Registered: 2023-06-19

Posts: 16

Re: FvwmTabs

I was waiting for the Python upgrade. It works well. The black theme blends nicely with any background.

How to change the Python socket to FvwmMFL? The manual gives an idea, but to make it for FvwmTabs.

https://www.fvwm.org/Man/FvwmMFL/

amlug

Member

Registered: 2026-03-09

Posts: 3

Re: FvwmTabs

Thanks for converting the Perl FvwmTabs to Python. It works great, and navigation is much better.

I have been using the Perl tabber since it was fixed. A tabber reduces workspace overload. I never liked minimizing windows to the taskbar. With a tabber, everything is in one place.

@Mjaakko, I could not find any other FvwmMFL information. I am also curious how the tabber would work with FvwmMFL.