Enlightenment is a highly configurable window manager, compositor and desktop shell. It provides a graphical environment that combines conventional window management with a broad selection of desktop functionality.
Originally developed as an X11 window manager, Enlightenment has evolved into an integrated desktop shell capable of managing application windows, launching programs, handling files and providing access to system controls.
Enlightenment places particular emphasis on visual customisation. Users can change themes, configure window behaviour, create multiple virtual desktops and extend the interface with modules and gadgets.
The desktop uses the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries for its graphical interface and supporting functionality. It aims to offer rich visual effects while remaining suitable for systems where resource efficiency is important.
Enlightenment primarily supports X11, with Wayland support also under development. Its modular approach allows users to build a desktop environment suited to their own workflow.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Integrated window manager and compositor with configurable graphical effects.
- Extensive desktop and window decoration theming capabilities.
- Multiple virtual desktops with configurable layouts and navigation.
- Flexible window placement, resizing, focus and stacking policies.
- Shelves for organising application launchers, gadgets and desktop controls.
- Modular architecture supporting optional desktop functionality.
- Built-in file management functionality.
- Application launcher and menu system with keyboard-driven access.
- Window shading, minimisation, maximisation and fullscreen handling.
- Configurable keyboard shortcuts and mouse bindings.
- Support for multiple monitors and associated display settings.
- Desktop gadgets for displaying system information and controlling desktop functions.
- Configurable desktop backgrounds, including different backgrounds for individual desktops.
- Automatic launching of selected applications and scripts during desktop startup.
- Support for desktop power management and session controls.
- Experimental Wayland compositor functionality alongside its established X11 support.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux and BSD.
Website: www.enlightenment.org
Support: Documentation
Developer: Carsten Haitzler and contributors
License: BSD License
Enlightenment is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Stacking Window Managers | |
|---|---|
| Openbox | Standards compliant, fast, light-weight, extensible window manager |
| KWin | Window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop |
| Mutter | Wayland display server and X11 window manager and compositor library |
| FVWM | Powerful ICCCM-compliant multiple virtual desktop window manager |
| berry | Healthy, bite-sized window manager |
| xfwm | Part of the Xfce desktop environment |
| Window Maker | NeXTSTEP-like window manager |
| JWM | Joe’s Window Manager |
| Gala | Designed by elementary for use with Pantheon |
| Fluxbox | Highly configurable and low resource |
| evilwm | Maximises screen real estate and provides good keyboard control |
| Worm | Tiny, dynamic, tag-based window manager |
| Blackbox | Similar to the NeXT interface and Window Maker |
| Enlightenment | Focuses on pushing the limits of existing technologies |
| PekWM | Originally based on the aewm++ window manager |
| Marco | MATE default window manager |
| 2bwm | Offers 2 borders, and written over the XCB library |
| cwm | OpenBSD fork of calmwn, a clean and lightweight window manager |
| IceWM | Win95-OS/2-Motif-like window manager |
| Sawfish | Extensible window manager using an Emacs Lisp-like scripting language |
| Moksha | Modern iteration of the Enlightenment window manager |
| Magpie | X11 window manager and compositor library |
| EMWM | Fork of the Motif Window Manager |
| sowm | Itsy bitsy floating window manager |
| CTWM | X11 window manager derived from twm |
| Compiz | OpenGL window and compositing manager |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Compositing Window Managers | |
|---|---|
| sway | i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor and a replacement for i3 |
| KWin | Window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop |
| Mutter | Wayland display server and X11 window manager and compositor library |
| Moksha | Modern iteration of the Enlightenment window manager |
| xfwm | Part of the Xfce desktop environment |
| Compiz | OpenGL window and compositing manager |
| Gala | Designed by elementary for use with Pantheon |
| Enlightenment | Focuses on pushing the limits of existing technologies |
| Magpie | X11 window manager and compositor library |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Stacking Wayland Compositors | |
|---|---|
| KWin | Window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop |
| Mutter | Wayland display server, X11 window manager and compositor library |
| Wayfire | 3D Wayland compositor, inspired by Compiz |
| labwc | Lab Wayland Compositor |
| Waybox | Minimalist Wayland compositor |
| Enlightenment | Window manager and desktop environment |
| wlmaker | Wayland compositor inspired by Window Maker |
| Weston | Lightweight and functional Wayland compositor |
| COSMIC Comp | Wayland compositor for the COSMIC desktop environment |
| Miriway | Mir based Wayland compositor |
| Woodland | wlroots-based window-stacking compositor for Wayland |
| hikari | Actively developed on FreeBSD but also supports Linux |
| croissant | Written in C |
| Otto | Visually focused desktop system and Wayland compositor |
| Hopalong | Simple Wayland compositor with a feature set that’s comparable to XFWM |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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