A 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 a few different types of window managers. This article focuses on tiling window managers. They automate the common task of arranging windows.
What does a tiling window manager offer?
- This type of window manager can help you to optimize your workflow. It lets you configure your desktop how you want it.
- Efficiently use screen real-estate by automatically arranging windows with minimal visual complications.
- Tiling window managers are usually designed to be used entirely with the keyboard or with keyboard & mouse. This is to boost productivity (constantly switching between a keyboard and mouse is slow). It may also help to reduce repetitive strain injury.
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Let’s explore the tiling window managers. Click the links in the table below to learn more about each window manager.
| X11 Tiling Window Managers | |
|---|---|
| i3 | Improved tiling window manager |
| StumpWM | Common Lisp window manager |
| bspwm | Based on binary space partitioning |
| EXWM | Full-featured tiling X window manager for Emacs |
| herbstluftwm | Basic tiling concept is that the layout is represented by a binary tree |
| wmderland | Offers no bloated features, an easy-to-use config, and a very small footprint |
| Notion | Originally a fork of Ion |
| Ratpoison | Keyboard-only window manager |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
Dynamic window managers for X11 are covered separately.
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for those who are too lazy to customize, try a arch based distro called Hash, 3 tilingwm plus Awesome to choose with out-of-the-box settings to use, highly recommend!