KWin (pronounced “kay-win”) is an easy to use, but flexible, composited Window Manager for Xorg windowing systems (Wayland, X11) on Linux. Its primary usage is in conjunction with a Desktop Shell (e.g. KDE Plasma Desktop).
KWin supports compositing, which means using 3D effects for handling your windows. This can make window management smoother, easier, more efficient and more natural. It’s hardware requirements are very modest.
It is possible to run KWin as a standalone window manager although it’s not designed for this purpose.
KWin is free and open source software.
Features include:
- Stable and reliable.
- Compositing, 3D effects. Advanced compositing settings include VSync, scale method, and compositing type.
- Easy configuration.
- Improved efficiency.
- Uses motion physics to provide windows with a natural feel.
- Desktop effects like the Cube desktop switcher and Magic Lamp minimize animation.
- Detects the capabilities of the hardware and if needed gracefully scales its effects down.
- Script the window manager from the command line.
- If a machine is under heavy load, KWin automatically disables the compositing temporarily to keep things running smoothly.
- Special windows settings enables you to define and fix the size and position of an application.
- Script the window manager from the command line with the WMIface utility.
- Works well with small screens.
Website: userbase.kde.org/KWin
Support:
Developer: KDE
License: GNU General Public License
KWin is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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