JWM (Joe’s Window Manager) a lightweight window manager for the X11 Window System.
Because of its small footprint, JWM makes a good window manager for older computers and less powerful systems, such as the Raspberry Pi, though it is perfectly capable of running on modern systems.
Configuration of JWM is done by editing “.jwmrc”. This file is XML making it easy to edit, either by hand or programmatically.
JWM is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Supports two focus models: click and sloppy. The default focus model is sloppy.
- Aims at conforming to the ICCCM and supports both MWM hints and Extended Window Manager Hints (EWMH).
- Provides one or more “root” menus. These menus provide a way for one to start programs. In the default configuration distributed with JWM, the root menu can be accessed by clicking on the desktop or by clicking the “JWM” button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Tray – the default configuration includes a “tray” at the bottom of the screen. This tray has a button to display the root menu and a button show the desktop. It also contains a pager, which shows the virtual desktops, a task list, a clock, and a swallowed application (xload). It’s possible to change the position and layout of this tray. In addition, it is possible to create additional trays or completely remove the tray.
- Customize the behavior of windows based upon their name or “class”. This is controlled via “groups”. You can have as many groups as you want.
Website: joewing.net/projects/jwm
Support: GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Joe Wingbermuehle
License: MIT License
JWM is written in C and uses only Xlib at a minimum. 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 |
| sowm | Itsy bitsy floating window manager |
| Compiz | OpenGL window and compositing manager |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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