JWM, or Joe’s Window Manager, is a lightweight window manager for the X Window System. It provides a conventional desktop interface with overlapping windows, application menus, a taskbar and virtual desktops.
The software is designed to require relatively few system resources while retaining the desktop features needed for everyday graphical work. It can provide a complete basic window management environment without relying on a large desktop framework.
JWM uses an XML configuration file to define its menus, keyboard shortcuts, window behaviour and visual appearance. Users can edit this configuration to adapt the desktop to their requirements.
The window manager also supports application grouping rules, allowing particular programs to receive custom settings according to their window names or classes.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Configurable taskbar containing a window list, menus, clock and other components.
- Support for multiple taskbars with adjustable placement and appearance.
- Root menus for launching applications and executing commands.
- Multiple virtual desktops with a configurable pager.
- Click-to-focus and sloppy-focus window management policies.
- Window grouping rules based on application names and classes.
- Customisable keyboard shortcuts for launching programs and controlling windows.
- Configurable mouse bindings and window interactions.
- Window decorations, title bars and border appearance settings.
- Support for application minimisation, maximisation, shading and fullscreen operation.
- Integration with compatible system tray applications.
- Support for ICCCM, Motif and Extended Window Manager Hints conventions.
- XML configuration suitable for manual editing or automated generation.
- Background and menu customisation for lightweight desktop setups.
Website: github.com/joewing/jwm
Support:
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 |
| 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 |
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