Using i3 - keys start to lag (have to hold key for more than 1 second)

Question

I'm using i3 and am having trouble with the keys suddenly and I have to restart the session to get it back to normal.  No clue what it could be.  I can use gnome, cinnamon, wmii, and awesome without issue, but i3 is what causes me problems.
When I type, I have to hold each key for more than 1 second before it registers.  So in order to type "boat" I have to press and hold b for a second, then o for a second or so, same with a and t.  Any idea what I should check first?
Thanks.
EDIT:
It just seems to happen randomly.  When I'm typing, on the web, playing a game, etc.  It's not like it's happening whenever I do a specific task or am running a specific application.
Last edited by sdouble (2013-04-07 19:30:25)

Answer 1

UnsolvedCypher wrote:What's your desktop environment?
Boots into GDM, select my session (i3), and log in that way.  only WM I'm having trouble with this way is i3.
kaszak696 wrote:Can you see how xev (xorg-xev package) reacts to keypresses? Also, posting relevant configs and logs would be helpful.
I think i had a similar issue years ago, but i can't remember the details, sorry.
I haven't checked. I'll check next time it happens.  It happens about once per day.  I'll report back next time.
Here is my i3 config file.  It's pretty raw, I've really only added a couple things to it (gimp & multimedia keys from keyboard, though I just noticed today that my vol up and down wheel isn't working anymore)
# This file has been auto-generated by i3-config-wizard(1).
# It will not be overwritten, so edit it as you like.
# Should you change your keyboard layout somewhen, delete
# this file and re-run i3-config-wizard(1).
# i3 config file (v4)
# Please see http://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html for a complete reference!
set $mod Mod4
# Font for window titles. Will also be used by the bar unless a different font
# is used in the bar {} block below. ISO 10646 = Unicode
font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
# The font above is very space-efficient, that is, it looks good, sharp and
# clear in small sizes. However, if you need a lot of unicode glyphs or
# right-to-left text rendering, you should instead use pango for rendering and
# chose a FreeType font, such as:
# font pango:DejaVu Sans Mono 10
# Use Mouse+$mod to drag floating windows to their wanted position
floating_modifier $mod
# start a terminal
bindsym $mod+Return exec i3-sensible-terminal
bindsym Control+$mod exec i3-sensible-termi
# kill focused window
bindsym $mod+Shift+c kill
# start dmenu (a program launcher)
bindsym $mod+p exec dmenu_run
# There also is the (new) i3-dmenu-desktop which only displays applications
# shipping a .desktop file. It is a wrapper around dmenu, so you need that
# installed.
# bindsym $mod+d exec --no-startup-id i3-dmenu-desktop
# app launcher
bindsym $mod+Control+g exec gimp
# multimedia keys
bindsym XF86AudioMute exec amixer set Master toggle
bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec amixer set Master 2%+
bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec amixer set Master 2%-
# change focus
bindsym $mod+j focus left
bindsym $mod+k focus down
bindsym $mod+l focus up
bindsym $mod+semicolon focus right
# resizing alternative
bindsym $mod+Control+Left resize shrink width 5 px or 5 ppt
bindsym $mod+Control+Down resize grow height 5 px or 5 ppt
bindsym $mod+Control+Up resize shrink height 5 px or 5 ppt
bindsym $mod+Control+Right resize grow width 5 px or 5 ppt
# alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym $mod+Left focus left
bindsym $mod+Down focus down
bindsym $mod+Up focus up
bindsym $mod+Right focus right
# move focused window
bindsym $mod+Shift+j move left
bindsym $mod+Shift+k move down
bindsym $mod+Shift+l move up
bindsym $mod+Shift+semicolon move right
# alternatively, you can use the cursor keys:
bindsym $mod+Shift+Left move left
bindsym $mod+Shift+Down move down
bindsym $mod+Shift+Up move up
bindsym $mod+Shift+Right move right
# split in horizontal orientation
bindsym $mod+h split h
# split in vertical orientation
bindsym $mod+v split v
# enter fullscreen mode for the focused container
bindsym $mod+f fullscreen
# change container layout (stacked, tabbed, toggle split)
bindsym $mod+s layout stacking
bindsym $mod+w layout tabbed
bindsym $mod+e layout toggle split
# toggle tiling / floating
bindsym $mod+Shift+space floating toggle
# change focus between tiling / floating windows
bindsym $mod+space focus mode_toggle
# focus the parent container
bindsym $mod+a focus parent
# focus the child container
#bindsym $mod+d focus child
# switch to workspace
bindsym $mod+1 workspace 1
bindsym $mod+2 workspace 2
bindsym $mod+3 workspace 3
bindsym $mod+4 workspace 4
bindsym $mod+5 workspace 5
bindsym $mod+6 workspace 6
bindsym $mod+7 workspace 7
bindsym $mod+8 workspace 8
bindsym $mod+9 workspace 9
bindsym $mod+0 workspace 10
# move focused container to workspace
bindsym $mod+Shift+1 move container to workspace 1
bindsym $mod+Shift+2 move container to workspace 2
bindsym $mod+Shift+3 move container to workspace 3
bindsym $mod+Shift+4 move container to workspace 4
bindsym $mod+Shift+5 move container to workspace 5
bindsym $mod+Shift+6 move container to workspace 6
bindsym $mod+Shift+7 move container to workspace 7
bindsym $mod+Shift+8 move container to workspace 8
bindsym $mod+Shift+9 move container to workspace 9
bindsym $mod+Shift+0 move container to workspace 10
# reload the configuration file
bindsym $mod+Shift+q reload
# restart i3 inplace (preserves your layout/session, can be used to upgrade i3)
bindsym $mod+Shift+r restart
# exit i3 (logs you out of your X session)
bindsym $mod+Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'You pressed the exit shortcut. Do you really want to exit i3? This will end your X session.' -b 'Yes, exit i3' 'i3-msg exit'"
# resize window (you can also use the mouse for that)
mode "resize" {
# These bindings trigger as soon as you enter the resize mode
# Pressing left will shrink the window’s width.
# Pressing right will grow the window’s width.
# Pressing up will shrink the window’s height.
# Pressing down will grow the window’s height.
bindsym j resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt
bindsym k resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
bindsym l resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
bindsym semicolon resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt
# same bindings, but for the arrow keys
bindsym Left resize shrink width 5 px or 5 ppt
bindsym Down resize grow height 5 px or 5 ppt
bindsym Up resize shrink height 5 px or 5 ppt
bindsym Right resize grow width 5 px or 5 ppt
# back to normal: Enter or Escape
bindsym Return mode "default"
bindsym Escape mode "default"
bindsym $mod+r mode "resize"
# Start i3bar to display a workspace bar (plus the system information i3status
# finds out, if available)
bar {
status_command i3status