Iconify

Definition

"Iconize" refers to the process of converting an application window into an icon within a graphical user environment, as implemented in TWM (Tab Window Manager). Instead of closing or deleting the window, the user can iconize it, resulting in the window being minimized to an icon in the desktop area, thus preserving the state and information of the application for quick access in the future. This approach enhances workspace organization by allowing multiple applications to remain readily accessible without cluttering the screen with open windows.

Missing features

• Tooltips (giving the complete program name; toggled by user)
• Task snapshot showing the current state of the program (toggled)
• Add to group for join operations later
• Using icon of multiple sizes (autodetect size)
• Use of other image formats for standardization (GIF, PNG, SVG...)
• Operations on the icon itself (close, kill...)
• Resources file with default values (color, border...)
• Logging when running (info, warning, error, fatal)

Dependencies

• X11

Advantages of iconizing

Quick and efficient access

Iconizing windows allows users to keep their workspace organized. By reducing applications to icons, the main screen becomes less cluttered, making it easier to focus on specific tasks.

When a window is iconized, it can be accessed quickly without needing to reopen it from the application menu or initiate startup tasks. This saves time and provides a smoother user experience. The ability to restore an application to its previous state instantly enhances productivity by reducing unnecessary interruptions.

Using a taskbar achieves the same goal, but it lacks the visual component: what icon this program has, and where I put the icon on the screen. In the taskbar, users' eyes move to the same place. In this approach, access is faster and more efficient.

Access to contextual information

Iconizing can allow users to keep certain contextual information visible through icons that can represent multiple applications more effectively. This contrasts with minimizing, where the windows lose all visual characteristics that could aid in recalling their purpose or content.

Personalized interaction

Some desktop environments and window managers allow for the customization of application icons when iconized to make them more representative or easier to identify. This ability for personalization is not present when minimizing, where the icon is often generic and less distinctive. Also, but choosing the icon on the user's demand, tasks can be easily differentiated on the spot.

Additional functionalities

In certain systems, iconizing can offer additional functionalities, such as the ability to perform quick operations on the application through the icon itself (for example, viewing notifications or quick access to contextual menus), which is typically not available in the minimized state.

Example

This is an example using the current state of development.

Giving a window ID, use the program:

$ iconify [<options>] <window_id>

How to implement it on any window manager? By calling a script that invokes xwininfo, getting the window identifier and passing it to iconify. For example, let's call this script iconify_sel:

#!/bin/sh

ICONIFY_BIN="${HOME}/.local/bin/iconify"

if [ ! -x "${ICONIFY_BIN}" ]; then
    echo "Error: could not find '${ICONIFY_BIN}'" >&2
    exit 1
fi

${ICONIFY_BIN} "$(xwininfo | grep 'Window id' | awk '{print $4}')"

Now, add to your window manager a keybinding or a mousebinding, for example, Ctrl+Shift+S to call the script, and click on the window you want to iconize.

I guess that the script could be modified if the window ID could be taken from the WM itself, and implementing the iconify on a mousebinding, such as, Ctrl+Alt+Click on the window, or adding a new button on the window decoration to iconize.