IPC & Commands🔗

Triad communicates over a Unix socket at $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/triad.sock (falls back to /tmp/triad.sock).

Send any command with:

triad msg <command> [arguments]

General & Diagnostics🔗

Command	Description
`commands [--json]`	List all available commands.
`validate <command…>`	Validate a command locally without sending it.
`request <json>`	Send a raw JSON IPC request.
`state`	Print current session state as JSON.
`layout-state`	Print layout state for all visible workspaces.
`perf-status`	Print daemon performance and timing diagnostics.
`mem-status`	Print memory diagnostics.
`config-reload`	Reload the configuration file.
`triad-reload`	Write a live-restore snapshot and restart the manager.
`dispatch-binding <kind> <chord>`	Trigger a configured binding, e.g. `key Super+Return`.

Command	Description
`focus-next` / `focus-prev`	Shift focus to the next or previous window.
`focus-left` / `focus-right` / `focus-up` / `focus-down`	Move focus spatially.
`focus-last`	Return focus to the previously focused window.
`focus-workspace <index>`	Focus a workspace by compact index.
`focus-tag <id>`	Focus a workspace by stable tag ID.
`focus-window <id>`	Focus a specific window by ID.
`new-workspace`	Create and focus a new dynamic workspace.
`focus-tag-left` / `focus-tag-right`	Move to the adjacent workspace.
`focus-occupied-tag-left` / `focus-occupied-tag-right`	Skip empty workspaces.
`focus-column-first` / `focus-column-last`	Jump to the first or last column in the scroller.
`toggle-overview`	Toggle the bird's-eye workspace view.
`recent-window-next` / `recent-window-prev`	Navigate the MRU switcher.
`recent-window-confirm` / `recent-window-cancel`	Confirm or cancel the switcher selection.
`toggle-scratchpad`	Show or hide the default scratchpad.
`toggle-named-scratchpad <name>`	Show or hide a named scratchpad pool.

Command	Description
`layout-scroller`	Activate the scroller layout.
`layout-tile`	Activate master-stack tiling.
`layout-grid`	Activate grid layout.
`layout-monocle`	Activate monocle (fullscreen stack) layout.
`layout-deck`	Activate deck layout.
`layout-spiral`	Activate spiral layout.
`layout-tgmix`	Activate tgmix layout.
`layout-custom <name>`	Select a declared Janet layout by name.
`layout-native <name>`	Select a native substrate: `frame-tree`, `bsp-tree`, or `i3`.
`switch-layout`	Cycle through the configured `layout-cycle`.
`set-layout-for-workspace <tag> <layout>`	Set a layout on a specific workspace by tag ID.

Command	Description
`master-count <n>` / `adjust-master-count <delta>`	Set or adjust the number of master windows.
`master-ratio <ratio>` / `adjust-master-ratio <delta>`	Set or adjust the master area size.

Command	Description
`frame-split-horizontal` / `frame-split-vertical`	Split the focused frame.
`frame-unsplit`	Remove the focused empty frame.
`frame-tab-next` / `frame-tab-prev`	Cycle tabs within a frame.

Command	Description
`bsp-balance` / `bsp-equalize`	Rebalance the tree or reset split ratios.
`bsp-preselect-left` / `-right` / `-up` / `-down`	Set the insertion target for the next window.
`bsp-preselect-cancel`	Clear the pending insertion target.

Command	Description
`split-tree-split-horizontal` / `split-tree-split-vertical`	Set insertion direction.
`split-tree-layout-toggle-split`	Toggle horizontal/vertical orientation.
`split-tree-layout-stacking` / `split-tree-layout-tabbed`	Set container mode.
`split-tree-focus-parent` / `split-tree-focus-child`	Navigate the container hierarchy.

Command	Description
`close-window`	Request the focused window to close.
`toggle-floating`	Toggle between tiled and floating.
`fullscreen-window`	Toggle fullscreen mode.
`toggle-maximized`	Toggle the client-visible maximized state.
`move-to-tag <id>` / `move-to-workspace <index>`	Move the window and follow focus.
`move-window-to-tag <id> <tag> [follow]`	Move a specific window by ID.
`move-to-scratchpad` / `move-to-named-scratchpad <name>`	Send the window to a scratchpad pool.
`group-windows`	Group the window with its neighbor.
`ungroup-window`	Dissolve the active group.
`maximize-column`	Toggle the focused column to full width.
`set-column-width <proportion>`	Set exact column width, e.g. `0.5`.
`resize-width <delta>` / `resize-height <delta>`	Adjust window proportions.
`move-column-left` / `move-column-right`	Swap columns in the scroller.
`move-window-left` / `-right` / `-up` / `-down`	Swap windows directionally.
`consume-window` / `expel-window`	Merge or split windows from columns.

Command	Description
`spawn <argv…>`	Run a command.
`spawn-terminal`	Launch the configured terminal.
`screenshot [--path <path>]`	Capture a region, window, or screen.
`lock-session`	Launch the configured screen locker.
`exit-session`	Exit the session (requires `allow-exit-session #true` in config).
`rename-tag <name>`	Rename the active workspace.
`warp-pointer <x> <y>`	Warp the pointer on all active seats.

Triad broadcasts state changes in a Niri-compatible JSON format. Subscribe with:

triad msg event-stream

Event	Fired when
`WorkspaceActivated`	Workspace switches.
`WindowFocusChanged`	Focus moves to a different window.
`WindowOpened` / `WindowClosed`	A window appears or disappears.

For scripting, send requests directly over $TRIAD_SOCKET.

{"triad":{"version":1,"request":"state"}}

{
  "ok": true,
  "triad": {
    "version": 1,
    "type": "state",
    "state": { }
  }
}

{"triad":{"version":1,"request":"action","action":"focus-workspace","workspace_idx":2}}

{"triad":{"version":1,"request":"event-stream","events":["state","layout"]}}

Triad sends an initial snapshot for each requested kind, then streams updates as they occur.