Workaround to have an empty workspace in I3 Window manager

empty_workspace.json

{
  "border": "pixel",
  "floating": "auto_off",
  "layout": "stacked",
  "percent": 1,
  "type": "con",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "border": "pixel",
      "current_border_width": 3,
      "floating": "auto_off",
      "geometry": {
        "height": 523,
        "width": 802,
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0
      },
      "name": "",
      "percent": null,
      "swallows": [
        {
          "class": ".*"
        }
      ],
      "type": "con"
    }
  ]
}

newwk.sh

WKNAME=$1
echo workspace name given is $WKNAME
if i3-msg -t get_workspaces | jq ".[] | .name" | grep -q -w $WKNAME; then
  i3-msg "workspace $WKNAME"
else
  i3-msg "workspace $WKNAME; append_layout ~/.i3/empty_workspace.json"
fi

spkill.sh

currentDesk=$(xdotool get_desktop)
awkArgs="'\$2 == \"$currentDesk\" {print \$3}'"
getNumWindows="wmctrl -l | awk ${awkArgs} | wc -l"
numWindows=`eval $getNumWindows`

echo $numWindows
if ((numWindows > 1)); then
  i3-msg "kill"
else 
  i3-msg "kill; append_layout ~/.i3/empty_workspace.json"
fi