21 of the Best Free Linux Window Managers
An X Window manager is software that manages the windows that
applications bring up. For example, when you start an application,
there will be a window manager
running in the background, responsible for the placement and appearance
of windows.
It is important not to confuse a window manager with a desktop
environment. A desktop environment typically consists of icons,
windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers, and desktop widgets.
They provide a collection of libraries and applications made to operate
cohesively together. A desktop environment contains its own window
manager.
There are three main types of window manager: Compositing,
stacking and tiling. This article focuses on selecting the
best managers that fit these three classes. Compositing
window managers allow windows to be created and drawn
separately and then put together and displayed in various 2D and 3D
environments, whereas stacking window managers allow windows to overlap
by drawing background windows first. The last type, tiling window
managers, ensure that no window ever covers another.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is
available, we have compiled a list of 21 high quality free Linux window
managers. Hopefully, there will be something of
interest for anyone who wishes to have more control over managing their
desktop.
Now, let's explore the 21 window managers at hand. For each
title we have compiled its own portal page, providing a screenshot of
the
software in action, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its
features, together with links to relevant resources and reviews.
| Compositing |
| Compiz
Fusion |
Adds more functionality
to
Compiz
with more plugins, tools and libraries |
| Compiz |
OpenGL
window and compositing |
| Metacity |
Small window manager, using GTK+2 to do everything |
|
|
| Stacking |
| Blackbox |
Similar to the NeXT interface and Window
Maker |
| Fluxbox |
Highly
configurable and low resource |
| FVWM |
Minimize memory consumption, provide a 3D
look to windows, and a virtual desktop |
| Enlightenment |
Focuses
on pushing the limits of existing
technologies |
| Openbox |
Standards compliant, fast, light-weight, extensible
window manager |
| Sawfish |
Extensible
window manager using an Emacs Lisp-like scripting language |
|
|
| Minimalistic |
| IceWM |
Win95-OS/2-Motif-like window manager |
| Afterstep |
NEXTSTEP
look and feel |
| Window
Maker |
NeXTSTEP-like window manager |
| Pekwm |
Originally
based on the aewm++ window manager |
|
|
| Tiling |
| Xmonad |
Minimalist, tiling window manager written in Haskell |
| Ratpoison |
Keyboard-only
window manager |
| StumpWM |
Common Lisp window manager |
| wmii |
Lightweight
tabbed and tiled |
| Ion |
Tiling tabbed window manager designed for keyboard users |
| Awesome |
Dynamic
and tiling |
| dwm |
Dynamic window manager |
|
|
| Other |
| evilwm |
Maximises screen real estate and provides good keyboard
control |
|
|
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Last Updated Monday, February 20 2012 @ 01:15 PM EST
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