Experimenting with using Emacs as a Rofi replacement; not working correctly--YET!

.config/emacs/config.el

@@ -51,17 +51,12 @@
   :config
   (dashboard-setup-startup-hook))
 
-(add-to-list 'display-buffer-alist
-             '("\\*launcher\\*" ;; Adjust to match your launcher's buffer name
-               (display-buffer-same-window)
-               (inhibit-same-window . nil)))
-
-;; Force the frame to strictly have one window
-(add-hook 'server-after-make-frame-hook
-          (lambda ()
-            (when (equal (frame-parameter nil 'name) "launcher")
-              (set-window-dedicated-p (selected-window) t)
-              (delete-other-windows))))
+;; IMPORTANT: This allows us to use our custom Emacs launchers
+;; without getting the annoying second window created.
+(setq display-buffer-alist
+      '(("^\\(\\*.*\\*\\|Dashboard\\)$"
+         (display-buffer-no-window)
+         (allow-no-window . t))))
 
 (use-package diminish)
 

.config/emacs/config.org

@@ -142,17 +142,13 @@ Emacs Dashboard is an extensible startup screen showing you recent files, bookma
   :config
   (dashboard-setup-startup-hook))
 
-(add-to-list 'display-buffer-alist
-             '("\\*launcher\\*" ;; Adjust to match your launcher's buffer name
-               (display-buffer-same-window)
-               (inhibit-same-window . nil)))
+;; IMPORTANT: This allows us to use our custom Emacs launchers
+;; without getting the annoying second window created.
+(setq display-buffer-alist
+      '(("^\\(\\*.*\\*\\|Dashboard\\)$"
+         (display-buffer-no-window)
+         (allow-no-window . t))))
 
-;; Force the frame to strictly have one window
-(add-hook 'server-after-make-frame-hook
-          (lambda ()
-            (when (equal (frame-parameter nil 'name) "launcher")
-              (set-window-dedicated-p (selected-window) t)
-              (delete-other-windows))))
 #+end_src
 
 * DIMINISH

.config/emacs/scripts/app-launchers.el

@@ -5,23 +5,18 @@
 ;; Counsel-Linux-App
 ;; Since we have counsel installed, we can use 'counsel-linux-app' to launch our Linux apps.  It list the apps by their executable command, so it's kind of tricky to use.
 
-(defun dt/emacs-counsel-launcher ()
-  "Create and select a frame called emacs-counsel-launcher which consists only of a minibuffer and has specific dimensions. Runs counsel-linux-app on that frame, which is an emacs command that prompts you to select an app and open it in a dmenu like behaviour. Delete the frame after that command has exited"
+(defun dt/emacs-run-launcher ()
+  "Launcher that works with the frame created by emacsclient."
   (interactive)
-  (with-selected-frame 
-    (make-frame '((name . "emacs-run-launcher")
-                  (minibuffer . only)
-                  (fullscreen . 0) ; no fullscreen
-                  (undecorated . t) ; remove title bar
-                  ;;(auto-raise . t) ; focus on this frame
-                  ;;(tool-bar-lines . 0)
-                  ;;(menu-bar-lines . 0)
-                  (internal-border-width . 10)
-                  (width . 80)
-                  (height . 11)))
-                  (unwind-protect
-                    (counsel-linux-app)
-                    (delete-frame))))
+  (let ((frame (selected-frame)))
+    (modify-frame-parameters frame
+                             '((undecorated . t)
+                               (internal-border-width . 10)
+                               (menu-bar-lines . 0)
+                               (tool-bar-lines . 0)))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (app-launcher-run-app)
+      (delete-frame frame))))
 
 ;; App-Launcher
 ;; The 'app-launcher' is a better run launcher since it reads the desktop applications on your system and you can search them by their names as defined in their desktop file.  This means that sometimes you have to search for a generic term rather than the actual binary command of the program.
@@ -31,7 +26,7 @@
 ;; create a global keyboard shortcut with the following code
 ;; emacsclient -cF "((visibility . nil))" -e "(emacs-run-launcher)"
 
-(defun dt/emacs-run-launcher ()
+(defun dt/emacs-run-launcher-old ()
   "Create and select a frame called emacs-run-launcher which consists only of a minibuffer and has specific dimensions. Runs app-launcher-run-app on that frame, which is an emacs command that prompts you to select an app and open it in a dmenu like behaviour. Delete the frame after that command has exited"
   (interactive)
   (with-selected-frame 
@@ -49,6 +44,21 @@
                     (app-launcher-run-app)
                     (delete-frame))))
 
+(defun dt/emacs-run-launcher ()
+  "Launcher that works with the frame created by emacsclient."
+  (interactive)
+  (let ((frame (selected-frame)))
+    (modify-frame-parameters frame
+                             '((undecorated . t)
+                               (width . 80)
+                               (height . 11)
+                               (internal-border-width . 10)
+                               (menu-bar-lines . 0)
+                               (tool-bar-lines . 0)))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (app-launcher-run-app)
+      (delete-frame frame))))
+
 ;;  NEW LAUNCHERS 
 (require 'json)    ;; for bookmarks and screenshots
 (require 'cl-lib)  ;; for screenshots

.config/qtile/README.org

@@ -137,8 +137,10 @@ A list of available commands that can be bound to keys can be found at: https://
 keys = [
     # The essentials
     Key([mod], "Return", lazy.spawn(myTerm), desc="Terminal"),
-    # Use 'rofi' as a run launcher.
-    Key([mod, "shift"], "Return", lazy.spawn("rofi -show drun -show-icons"), desc='Run Launcher'),
+    # Use 'rofi' as your run launcher.
+    # Key([mod, "shift"], "Return", lazy.spawn("rofi -show drun -show-icons"), desc='Run Launcher'),
+    # Use 'emacs' as your run launcher
+    Key([mod, "shift"], "Return", lazy.spawn('emacsclient -ce "(dt/emacs-run-launcher)" -F "((name . \\"emacs-run-launcher\\")(minibuffer . only)(width . 80)(height . 11))"'), desc='Run Launcher'),
     Key([mod], "w", lazy.spawn(myBrowser), desc='Web browser'),
     Key([mod], "b", lazy.hide_show_bar(position='all'), desc="Toggles the bar to show/hide"),
     Key([mod], "Tab", lazy.next_layout(), desc="Toggle between layouts"),
@@ -236,7 +238,7 @@ keys = [
     ]),
     # Dmenu/rofi scripts launched using the key chord SUPER+p followed by 'key'
     KeyChord([mod], "p", [
-        Key([], "Return", lazy.spawn("emacsclient -cF \"(visibility . nil)\" -e \"(dt/emacs-command-launcher)\""), desc='Emacs command launcher'),
+        Key([], "Return", lazy.spawn('emacsclient -cF "((visibility . nil))" -e "(dt/emacs-command-launcher)"'), desc='Emacs command launcher'),
         Key([], "h", lazy.spawn("dm-hub -r"), desc='List all dmscripts'),
         Key([], "a", lazy.spawn("dm-sounds -r"), desc='Choose ambient sound'),
         Key([], "b", lazy.spawn("dm-setbg -r"), desc='Set background'),
@@ -607,25 +609,26 @@ floating_layout = layout.Floating(
     float_rules=[
         # Run the utility of `xprop` to see the wm class and name of an X client.
         *layout.Floating.default_float_rules,
-        Match(wm_class="confirmreset"),   # gitk
-        Match(wm_class="dialog"),         # dialog boxes
-        Match(wm_class="download"),       # downloads
-        Match(wm_class="error"),          # error msgs
-        Match(wm_class="file_progress"),  # file progress boxes
-        Match(wm_class='kdenlive'),       # kdenlive
-        Match(wm_class="makebranch"),     # gitk
-        Match(wm_class="maketag"),        # gitk
-        Match(wm_class="notification"),   # notifications
-        Match(wm_class='pinentry-gtk-2'), # GPG key password entry
-        Match(wm_class="ssh-askpass"),    # ssh-askpass
-        Match(wm_class="toolbar"),        # toolbars
-        Match(wm_class="Yad"),            # yad boxes
-        Match(title="branchdialog"),      # gitk
-        Match(title='Confirmation'),      # tastyworks exit box
-        Match(title='Qalculate!'),        # qalculate-gtk
-        Match(title="pinentry"),          # GPG key password entry
-        Match(title="tastycharts"),       # tastytrade pop-out charts
-        Match(title="tastytrade"),        # tastytrade pop-out side gutter
+        Match(wm_class="confirmreset"),    # gitk
+        Match(wm_class="dialog"),          # dialog boxes
+        Match(wm_class="download"),        # downloads
+        Match(wm_class="error"),           # error msgs
+        Match(wm_class="file_progress"),   # file progress boxes
+        Match(wm_class='kdenlive'),        # kdenlive
+        Match(wm_class="makebranch"),      # gitk
+        Match(wm_class="maketag"),         # gitk
+        Match(wm_class="notification"),    # notifications
+        Match(wm_class='pinentry-gtk-2'),  # GPG key password entry
+        Match(wm_class="ssh-askpass"),     # ssh-askpass
+        Match(wm_class="toolbar"),         # toolbars
+        Match(wm_class="Yad"),             # yad boxes
+        Match(title="branchdialog"),       # gitk
+        Match(title='Confirmation'),       # tastyworks exit box
+        Match(title="emacs-run-launcher"), # dt/emacs-run-launcher
+        Match(title="pinentry"),           # GPG key password entry
+        Match(title='Qalculate!'),         # qalculate-gtk
+        Match(title="tastycharts"),        # tastytrade pop-out charts
+        Match(title="tastytrade"),         # tastytrade pop-out side gutter
         Match(title="tastytrade - Portfolio Report"), # tastytrade pop-out allocation
         Match(wm_class="tasty.javafx.launcher.LauncherFxApp"), # tastytrade settings
     ]

.config/qtile/config.py

@@ -61,8 +61,10 @@ def maximize_by_switching_layout(qtile):
 keys = [
     # The essentials
     Key([mod], "Return", lazy.spawn(myTerm), desc="Terminal"),
-    # Use 'rofi' as a run launcher.
-    Key([mod, "shift"], "Return", lazy.spawn("rofi -show drun -show-icons"), desc='Run Launcher'),
+    # Use 'rofi' as your run launcher.
+    # Key([mod, "shift"], "Return", lazy.spawn("rofi -show drun -show-icons"), desc='Run Launcher'),
+    # Use 'emacs' as your run launcher
+    Key([mod, "shift"], "Return", lazy.spawn('emacsclient -ce "(dt/emacs-run-launcher)" -F "((name . \\"emacs-run-launcher\\")(minibuffer . only)(width . 80)(height . 11))"'), desc='Run Launcher'),
     Key([mod], "w", lazy.spawn(myBrowser), desc='Web browser'),
     Key([mod], "b", lazy.hide_show_bar(position='all'), desc="Toggles the bar to show/hide"),
     Key([mod], "Tab", lazy.next_layout(), desc="Toggle between layouts"),
@@ -160,7 +162,7 @@ keys = [
     ]),
     # Dmenu/rofi scripts launched using the key chord SUPER+p followed by 'key'
     KeyChord([mod], "p", [
-        Key([], "Return", lazy.spawn("emacsclient -cF \"(visibility . nil)\" -e \"(dt/emacs-command-launcher)\""), desc='Emacs command launcher'),
+        Key([], "Return", lazy.spawn('emacsclient -cF "((visibility . nil))" -e "(dt/emacs-command-launcher)"'), desc='Emacs command launcher'),
         Key([], "h", lazy.spawn("dm-hub -r"), desc='List all dmscripts'),
         Key([], "a", lazy.spawn("dm-sounds -r"), desc='Choose ambient sound'),
         Key([], "b", lazy.spawn("dm-setbg -r"), desc='Set background'),
@@ -464,25 +466,26 @@ floating_layout = layout.Floating(
     float_rules=[
         # Run the utility of `xprop` to see the wm class and name of an X client.
         *layout.Floating.default_float_rules,
-        Match(wm_class="confirmreset"),   # gitk
-        Match(wm_class="dialog"),         # dialog boxes
-        Match(wm_class="download"),       # downloads
-        Match(wm_class="error"),          # error msgs
-        Match(wm_class="file_progress"),  # file progress boxes
-        Match(wm_class='kdenlive'),       # kdenlive
-        Match(wm_class="makebranch"),     # gitk
-        Match(wm_class="maketag"),        # gitk
-        Match(wm_class="notification"),   # notifications
-        Match(wm_class='pinentry-gtk-2'), # GPG key password entry
-        Match(wm_class="ssh-askpass"),    # ssh-askpass
-        Match(wm_class="toolbar"),        # toolbars
-        Match(wm_class="Yad"),            # yad boxes
-        Match(title="branchdialog"),      # gitk
-        Match(title='Confirmation'),      # tastyworks exit box
-        Match(title='Qalculate!'),        # qalculate-gtk
-        Match(title="pinentry"),          # GPG key password entry
-        Match(title="tastycharts"),       # tastytrade pop-out charts
-        Match(title="tastytrade"),        # tastytrade pop-out side gutter
+        Match(wm_class="confirmreset"),    # gitk
+        Match(wm_class="dialog"),          # dialog boxes
+        Match(wm_class="download"),        # downloads
+        Match(wm_class="error"),           # error msgs
+        Match(wm_class="file_progress"),   # file progress boxes
+        Match(wm_class='kdenlive'),        # kdenlive
+        Match(wm_class="makebranch"),      # gitk
+        Match(wm_class="maketag"),         # gitk
+        Match(wm_class="notification"),    # notifications
+        Match(wm_class='pinentry-gtk-2'),  # GPG key password entry
+        Match(wm_class="ssh-askpass"),     # ssh-askpass
+        Match(wm_class="toolbar"),         # toolbars
+        Match(wm_class="Yad"),             # yad boxes
+        Match(title="branchdialog"),       # gitk
+        Match(title='Confirmation'),       # tastyworks exit box
+        Match(title="emacs-run-launcher"), # dt/emacs-run-launcher
+        Match(title="pinentry"),           # GPG key password entry
+        Match(title='Qalculate!'),         # qalculate-gtk
+        Match(title="tastycharts"),        # tastytrade pop-out charts
+        Match(title="tastytrade"),         # tastytrade pop-out side gutter
         Match(title="tastytrade - Portfolio Report"), # tastytrade pop-out allocation
         Match(wm_class="tasty.javafx.launcher.LauncherFxApp"), # tastytrade settings
     ]