gnome-magic-window

Bind a key to a specific program in Gnome Shell:

• When the key is pressed and this program is in background, its window is brought up to front.
• When the key is pressed and this program is already in front, the last window if brought in front again.
• When the key is pressed and the program isn't launched yet, it is spawned.

It is comparable to Guake and Compiz Put, except that gnome-magic-window works with Gnome Shell and the new Wayland display server. (It does not use xdotool and wmctrl, that worked with X11 but not with Wayland.)

Demo

Quick install

The following commands assume that the trigger key is F12 and the program to bring to front is Terminator.

• Replace F12 with Pause, <Super>a or whichever key you prefer.
• Replace Terminator by the program to be brought to front when the key is pressed.
• Replace /usr/bin/terminator by the command to run if no window named Terminator is found. Make sure you use a absolute path.

1. Install the extension

Since Gnome 41, gnome-magic-window is shipped as a Gnome extension. To install this extension from the Git repository:

cd ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions
git clone https://github.com/adrienverge/gnome-magic-window gnome-magic-window@adrienverge

2. Customize

Edit extension.js to set your favorite key, window name and command to run:

const SHORTCUT = 'F12';
const TITLE = 'Terminator';
const COMMAND = '/usr/bin/terminator';

3. Enable the extension

After installing files and customizing, you probably need to close your session and log in again in order for Gnome to the extension.

Either run:

gnome-extensions enable gnome-magic-window@adrienverge

Or open Gnome "Extensions" utility to enable the extension.

You're set! Try pressing your magic key.

4. Debug

In case it doesn't work, you may need to add your gnome version in metadata.json and reload your session, or debug futher.

# Alt+F2↵ r↵
gdbus call --session --dest org.gnome.Shell --object-path /org/gnome/Shell/Extensions/GnomeMagicWindow --method org.gnome.Shell.Extensions.GnomeMagicWindow.magic_key_pressed Terminator terminator

For Gnome versions < 41

Use this repo on commit 26230da or before, and read the README file from that version.