X window manager
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Encyclopedia
An X window manager is a window manager
which runs on top of the X Window System
, a windowing system mainly used on Unix-like
systems.
Unlike the Mac OS
(Apple Macintosh) and Microsoft Windows
platforms (excepting Microsoft Windows explorer.exe shell replacements) which have historically provided a vendor-controlled, fixed set of ways to control how windows and pane
s display on a screen
, and how the user may interact with them, window management for the X Window System was deliberately kept separate from the software providing the graphical display. The user can choose between various third-party window managers, which differ from one another in several ways, including:
When a window manager is running, some kinds of interaction between the X server
and its clients are redirected through the window manager. In particular, whenever an attempt to show a new window is made, this request is redirected to the window manager, which decides the initial position of the window. Additionally, most modern window managers are reparenting
, which usually leads to a banner being placed at the top of the window and a decorative frame being drawn around the window. These two elements are controlled by the window manager rather than the program. Therefore, when the user clicks or drags these elements, it is the window manager that takes the appropriate actions (such as moving or resizing the window).
Window managers are also responsible for icon
s. Indeed, icons do not exist at the X Window System core protocol level. When the user requests a window to be iconified, the window manager unmaps it (makes it non-visible) and takes the appropriate actions to show an icon in its place. Most modern window managers do not literally show icons to represent iconified windows anymore. Often, an auxiliary toolbar program will allow access to iconified windows.
While the main aim of a window manager is to manage the windows, many window managers have additional features such as handling mouse clicks in the root window
, presenting panes and other visual elements, handling some keystrokes (e.g., Alt-F4 may close a window), deciding which application to run at start-up, etc.
Standardized protocols exist to allow normal clients to communicate with the window manager. The original one is Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual
(ICCCM) but this has been superseded by the Extended Window Manager Hints
(EWMH).
A stacking window manager renders the windows one-by-one onto the screen at specific co-ordinates. If one window's area overlaps another, then the window "on top" overwrites part of the other's visible appearance. This results in the appearance familiar to many users in which windows act a little bit like pieces of paper on a desktop, which can be moved around and allowed to overlap.
In contrast to compositing window managers (see below), the lack of separate offscreen buffers can mean increased efficiency, but effects such as translucency are not possible.
Stacking window managers include Amiwm
, Blackbox
, Enlightenment
, evilwm, Fluxbox
, FVWM
, IceWM
, MWM
, Openbox
and Window Maker
.
A tiling window manager is a window manager with an organization of the screen into mutually non-overlapping frames (hence the name tiling
), as opposed to the traditional approach of coordinate-based stacking of objects (windows) that tries to emulate the desk paradigm.
Tiling window managers include awesome
, dwm
, Ion, larswm
, ratpoison
, Stumpwm, wmii
, xmonad
, and XWEM.
A compositing window manager may appear to the user similar to a stacking window manager. However, the individual windows are first rendered in individual buffers, and then their images are composited onto the screen buffer; this two-step process means that visual effects (such as shadows, translucency) can be applied. It also means that compositing window managers tend to be more resource-hungry than stacking window managers.
Compositing window managers include Beryl
, Compiz
, KWin
(since 4.0), Metacity
(since 2.20), Mutter
and Xfwm.
A virtual window manager is a window manager that uses virtual screens, whose resolution can be higher than the resolution of one's monitor/display adapter thus resembling a two dimensional virtual desktop
with its viewport
. This environment is very useful when one wishes to have a large number of windows open at the same time. A number of virtual window managers have been made, including FVWM
, Tvtwm
, HaZe
and others.
Some window managers are extensible, or programmable, by user scripts. For example, Sawfish
with rep, a lisp dialect, Xmonad
by haskell
, etc.
In these window managers, users can define or override reactions to window size and position changes, window creation and deletion, key and mouse input, timer, etc. They often provide on-the-fly code execution, too.
Window manager
A
window manager is system software that controls the placement and
appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user
interface. Most window managers are designed to help provide a desktop
environment...
which runs on top of the X Window System
X Window System
The
X window system is a computer software system and network protocol
that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input
device capability for networked computers...
, a windowing system mainly used on Unix-like
Unix-like
A
Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a
Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to
any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
systems.
Unlike the Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac
OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems
developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems.
The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the
graphical user interface...
(Apple Macintosh) and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft
Windows is a series of operating systems produced by
Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on
November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing
interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to
dominate the world's personal...
platforms (excepting Microsoft Windows explorer.exe shell replacements) which have historically provided a vendor-controlled, fixed set of ways to control how windows and pane
Paned window
A
paned window is a window that is divided into sections known as panes.
Originally, the meaning pertained to sectioned glass windows in
walls.Computer scientists have adopted the term "pane" to refer to parts
of sectioned windows on a graphical display...
s display on a screen
Computer display
A
monitor or display is an electronic visual display for computers. The
monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure...
, and how the user may interact with them, window management for the X Window System was deliberately kept separate from the software providing the graphical display. The user can choose between various third-party window managers, which differ from one another in several ways, including:
- customizability of appearance and functionality:
- textual menusMenu (computing)In computing and telecommunications, a menu is a list of commands presented to an operator by a computer or communications system. A menu is used in contrast to a command-line interface, where instructions to the computer are given in the form of commands .Choices given from a menu may be selected...
used to start programs and/or change options - docksDock (computing)The Dock is a prominent feature of the graphical user interface of the Mac OS X operating system. It is used to launch applications and switch between running applications...
and other graphical ways to start programs - multiple desktops and virtual desktopVirtual desktopIn computing, a virtual desktop is a term used with respect to user interfaces, usually within the WIMP paradigm, to describe ways in which the size of a computer's desktop environment is expanded beyond the physical limits of the screen's real estate through the use of software, This saves space...
s (desktops larger than the physical monitor size), and pagersPager (GUI)A pager is a graphical user interface feature provided by some desktop environments, mostly on the Unix and Linux platforms. It takes the form of an onscreen window or a gadget in the taskbar or panel displaying the user's virtual desktop and providing a way to switch among desktop areas or...
to switch between them
- textual menus
- consumption of memory and other system resources
- degree of integration with a desktop environmentDesktop environmentIn graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
, which provides a more complete interface to the operating system, and provides a range of integrated utilities and applications.
How X window managers work
When a window manager is running, some kinds of interaction between the X server
X Window System protocols and architecture
In
computing, the X Window System is a network-transparent windowing
system for bitmap displays. This article details the protocols and
technical structure of X11.-Client–server model and network
transparency:...
and its clients are redirected through the window manager. In particular, whenever an attempt to show a new window is made, this request is redirected to the window manager, which decides the initial position of the window. Additionally, most modern window managers are reparenting
Re-parenting window manager
A
stacking window manager is a window manager that draws all windows in a
specific order, allowing them to overlap, using a technique called
painter's algorithm...
, which usually leads to a banner being placed at the top of the window and a decorative frame being drawn around the window. These two elements are controlled by the window manager rather than the program. Therefore, when the user clicks or drags these elements, it is the window manager that takes the appropriate actions (such as moving or resizing the window).
Window managers are also responsible for icon
Icon (computing)
A
computer icon is a pictogram displayed on a computer screen and used to
navigate a computer system or mobile device. The icon itself is a small
picture or symbol serving as a quick, intuitive representation of a
software tool, function or a data file accessible on the system. It
functions as an...
s. Indeed, icons do not exist at the X Window System core protocol level. When the user requests a window to be iconified, the window manager unmaps it (makes it non-visible) and takes the appropriate actions to show an icon in its place. Most modern window managers do not literally show icons to represent iconified windows anymore. Often, an auxiliary toolbar program will allow access to iconified windows.
While the main aim of a window manager is to manage the windows, many window managers have additional features such as handling mouse clicks in the root window
Root window
In
the X Window System, every window is contained within another window,
called its parent. This makes the windows form a hierarchy. The root
window is the root of this hierarchy...
, presenting panes and other visual elements, handling some keystrokes (e.g., Alt-F4 may close a window), deciding which application to run at start-up, etc.
Standardized protocols exist to allow normal clients to communicate with the window manager. The original one is Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual
Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual
In
computing, the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual is a
standard for interoperability between X Window System clients of the
same X server. It is primarily used for communication between normal
clients and the window manager. It was designed by David S. H. Rosenthal
of the MIT X...
(ICCCM) but this has been superseded by the Extended Window Manager Hints
Extended Window Manager Hints
Extended
Window Manager Hints, aka NetWM or Net WM, is an X Window System
standard for window managers. It defines various interactions between
window managers, utilities, and applications, all part of an entire
desktop environment...
(EWMH).
Stacking window managers
A stacking window manager renders the windows one-by-one onto the screen at specific co-ordinates. If one window's area overlaps another, then the window "on top" overwrites part of the other's visible appearance. This results in the appearance familiar to many users in which windows act a little bit like pieces of paper on a desktop, which can be moved around and allowed to overlap.
In contrast to compositing window managers (see below), the lack of separate offscreen buffers can mean increased efficiency, but effects such as translucency are not possible.
Stacking window managers include Amiwm
Amiwm
In
computing, the AMIga Window Manager is a stacking window manager for
the X Window System.Amwim was written by Marcus Comstedt. "The purpose
of amiwm is to make life more pleasant for Amiga-freaks like myself who
has/wants to use UNIX workstations once in a while."Amiwm emulates the
Amiga...
, Blackbox
Blackbox
In
Unix computing, Blackbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window
System.Blackbox has specific design goals, and some functionality is
provided only through other applications. One example is the bbkeys
hotkey application....
, Enlightenment
Enlightenment (window manager)
Enlightenment,
also known simply as E, is a stacking window manager for the X Window
System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop
environment such as GNOME or KDE...
, evilwm, Fluxbox
Fluxbox
Fluxbox
is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a
fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user
interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking
on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons...
, FVWM
FVWM
The
F Virtual Window Manager is a virtual window manager for the X Window
System. Originally a twm derivative, FVWM has evolved into a powerful
and highly configurable environment for Unix-like systems.- History:...
, IceWM
IceWM
IceWM
is a stacking window manager for the X Window System graphical
infrastructure, written by Marko Maček. It was coded from scratch in
C++ and is released under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
License...
, MWM
Motif Window Manager
In
computing, the Motif Window Manager is an X window manager based on
the Motif toolkit.MWM is a lightweight and, by today's standards,
extremely minimalist window manager. MWM lacks support for desktop icons
or virtual desktops. A plain text file is used to generate a root menu
that the user can...
, Openbox
Openbox
Openbox
is a free window manager for the X Window System, licensed under the
GNU General Public License. Originally derived from Blackbox 0.65.0 ,
Openbox has now been totally rewritten in the C programming language and
since version 3.0 is not based upon any code from Blackbox.Openbox is
designed...
and Window Maker
Window Maker
Window
Maker is a free and open source window manager for the X Window System,
allowing graphical applications to be run on Unix-like
operating-systems...
.
Tiling window managers
A tiling window manager is a window manager with an organization of the screen into mutually non-overlapping frames (hence the name tiling
Tessellation
A
tessellation or tiling of the plane is a pattern of plane figures that
fills the plane with no overlaps and no gaps. One may also speak of
tessellations of parts of the plane or of other surfaces.
Generalizations to higher dimensions are also possible. Tessellations
frequently appeared in the art...
), as opposed to the traditional approach of coordinate-based stacking of objects (windows) that tries to emulate the desk paradigm.
Tiling window managers include awesome
Awesome (window manager)
awesome
is a dynamic window manager for the X Window System developed in the C
and Lua programming languages. The latter is also used for configuring
and extending the window manager. Its development began as a fork of
dwm...
, dwm
Dwm
dwm
is a dynamic tiling window manager for X11 exhibiting the principles of
minimalism which is known for having influenced the development of
other window managers, including xmonad and awesome. It is externally
similar to wmii, but internally much simpler. dwm is written purely in C
and, for...
, Ion, larswm
Larswm
larswm
is a window manager for the X window system that follows the tiling
window manager paradigm. Using ideas from the older 9wm window manager,
it features automatic tiling and virtual desktops. It also borrows
other ideas, for example a limited form of plumbing, from the Acme
development...
, ratpoison
Ratpoison
Ratpoison
is a tiling window manager for the X Window System primarily developed
by Shawn Betts. Its user interface and much of its functionality are
inspired by the GNU Screen terminal multiplexer...
, Stumpwm, wmii
Wmii
wmii
is a tiling window manager for X11. It supports classic and tiling
window management with extended keyboard, mouse, and filesystem based
remote control...
, xmonad
Xmonad
xmonad
is a tiling window manager for the X Window System, written in the
functional programming language Haskell.Begun in March 2007, it is
similar to dwm, larswm, StumpWM and other members of the tiling window
manager family, in that it arranges windows in a nonoverlapping tiled
pattern and...
, and XWEM.
Compositing window managers
A compositing window manager may appear to the user similar to a stacking window manager. However, the individual windows are first rendered in individual buffers, and then their images are composited onto the screen buffer; this two-step process means that visual effects (such as shadows, translucency) can be applied. It also means that compositing window managers tend to be more resource-hungry than stacking window managers.
Compositing window managers include Beryl
Beryl (window manager)
Beryl
was a compositing window manager for the X Window System which forked
from Compiz in September 2006 and was re-merged in 2007, under the name
of Compiz Fusion.-Origin:...
, Compiz
Compiz
Compiz
is one of the first compositing window managers for the X Window System
that uses 3D graphics hardware to create fast compositing desktop
effects for window management. The effects, such as a minimization
effect and a cube workspace are implemented as loadable plugins...
, KWin
KWin
KWin is a window manager for the X Window System. It is an integral part of
the KDE Software Compilation, although it can be used on its own or with
other desktop environments.- History :- Look and feel :...
(since 4.0), Metacity
Metacity
Metacity
was the window manager used by default in the GNOME desktop environment
until GNOME 3, where it was replaced by Mutter. The development of
Metacity was started by Havoc Pennington and it is released under the
GNU General Public License....
(since 2.20), Mutter
Mutter (window manager)
Mutter is the window manager for which GNOME Shell is a plugin in GNOME 3, replacing Metacity....
and Xfwm.
Virtual window managers
A virtual window manager is a window manager that uses virtual screens, whose resolution can be higher than the resolution of one's monitor/display adapter thus resembling a two dimensional virtual desktop
Virtual desktop
In
computing, a virtual desktop is a term used with respect to user
interfaces, usually within the WIMP paradigm, to describe ways in which
the size of a computer's desktop environment is expanded beyond the
physical limits of the screen's real estate through the use of software,
This saves space...
with its viewport
Viewport
A
viewport is a rectangular viewing region in computer graphics, or a
term used for optical components. It has several definitions in
different contexts:- Computing :...
. This environment is very useful when one wishes to have a large number of windows open at the same time. A number of virtual window managers have been made, including FVWM
FVWM
The
F Virtual Window Manager is a virtual window manager for the X Window
System. Originally a twm derivative, FVWM has evolved into a powerful
and highly configurable environment for Unix-like systems.- History:...
, Tvtwm
Tvtwm
tvtwm
is an X window manager derived from twm to which it adds the virtual
desktop feature from swm. All of these window managers were originally
written by Tom LaStrange...
, HaZe
HaZe
HaZe
is an X window manager extensively based on the Takashi Hasegawa
creation known as MLVWM, the Apple Macintosh interface-mimicking window
manager....
and others.
Window managers that are extensible
Some window managers are extensible, or programmable, by user scripts. For example, Sawfish
Sawfish (window manager)
Sawfish
is an extensible window manager for the X Window System. Its aim is
simply to manage windows in the most flexible and attractive manner
possible. Formerly known as Sawmill, the name was changed because
another software program had the same name....
with rep, a lisp dialect, Xmonad
Xmonad
xmonad
is a tiling window manager for the X Window System, written in the
functional programming language Haskell.Begun in March 2007, it is
similar to dwm, larswm, StumpWM and other members of the tiling window
manager family, in that it arranges windows in a nonoverlapping tiled
pattern and...
by haskell
Haskell (programming language)
Haskell
is a standardized, general-purpose purely functional programming
language, with non-strict semantics and strong static typing. It is
named after logician Haskell Curry. In Haskell, "a function is a
first-class citizen" of the programming language. As a functional
programming language, the...
, etc.
In these window managers, users can define or override reactions to window size and position changes, window creation and deletion, key and mouse input, timer, etc. They often provide on-the-fly code execution, too.
X Window managers
- 2wm
- 3dwm
- 4Dwm
- 5Dwm (derived from mwm, true SGI look and feel)
- 9wm (clone of the original windowing system of Plan 9Plan 9 from Bell LabsPlan 9 from Bell Labs is a distributed operating system. It was developed primarily for research purposes as the successor to Unix by the Computing Sciences Research Center at Bell Labs between the mid-1980s and 2002...
) - aegis
- aewm
- aewm++
- AfterStep
- ahwm
- alloywm
- alptwm
- amaterus
- amiwm (AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
workbenchWorkbench (AmigaOS)-Overview:Commodore named their Amiga computer's first operating system Workbench 1.0 and continued with the Workbench name until version 3.1, when it was changed to AmigaOS, prompted by Apple renaming their propriety OS from "System" to "MacOS"...
unix cloneUnix-likeA Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
) - anarchy
- antiwm
- asclassic
- awesome
- awmArdent Window ManagerIn computing, the Ardent Window Manager was an early window manager for the X Window System. It was descended from uwm.awm was written by Jordan Hubbard for the Ardent Computer Corporation's TITAN line of workstations in 1988, which ran a version of X11R2...
- badwm
- BerylBeryl (window manager)Beryl was a compositing window manager for the X Window System which forked from Compiz in September 2006 and was re-merged in 2007, under the name of Compiz Fusion.-Origin:...
- Blackbox (minimalist)
- bluetile
- blwm
- clfswm
- Compiz
- CTWMCTWMIn Unix computing, CTWM is a stacking window manager for the X Window System in the twm family of window managers...
- cwmCwm (window manager)cwm is a stacking window manager for X Window System available on OpenBSD , NetBSD, DragonFlyBSD and Linux distributions using pkgsrc, Gentoo Linux and some other Linux distributions....
- evilwm
- EnlightenmentEnlightenment (window manager)Enlightenment, also known simply as E, is a stacking window manager for the X Window System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE...
- EvilPoison (a fork of evilwm with Ratpoison-like keybindings)
- FluxboxFluxboxFluxbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons...
(lightweight, based on Blackbox) - FVWMFVWMThe F Virtual Window Manager is a virtual window manager for the X Window System. Originally a twm derivative, FVWM has evolved into a powerful and highly configurable environment for Unix-like systems.- History:...
(a virtual window manager, derived from twm) - FVWM95
- hackedbox
- HaZeHaZeHaZe is an X window manager extensively based on the Takashi Hasegawa creation known as MLVWM, the Apple Macintosh interface-mimicking window manager....
- IceWM
- Ion (a tiling tabbed window manager designed with keyboard users in mind)
- JWM (Joe's Window Manager)
- Kahakai
- KWin
(originally called KWM, default for KDE
KDEKDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
) - luminocity (experimentation in compositing)
- LWM
Lightweight window managerlwm is a lightweight X11 window manager written by Elliott Hughes. It was based upon the 9wm window manager.- Features :Features of the lightweight window manager are:* A stacking window manager* Written in C* Uses the xlib toolkit...
- Matchbox
- Mutter (GNOME Shell) (the current default for the GNOMEGNOMEGNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
desktop environmentDesktop environmentIn graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
) - MetacityMetacityMetacity was the window manager used by default in the GNOME desktop environment until GNOME 3, where it was replaced by Mutter. The development of Metacity was started by Havoc Pennington and it is released under the GNU General Public License....
(the previous default for the GNOMEGNOMEGNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
desktop environmentDesktop environmentIn graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
) - mwmMotif Window ManagerIn computing, the Motif Window Manager is an X window manager based on the Motif toolkit.MWM is a lightweight and, by today's standards, extremely minimalist window manager. MWM lacks support for desktop icons or virtual desktops. A plain text file is used to generate a root menu that the user can...
(MotifMotif (widget toolkit)In computing, Motif refers to both a graphical user interface specification and the widget toolkit for building applications that follow that specification under the X Window System on Unix and other POSIX-compliant systems. It emerged in the 1980s as Unix workstations were on the rise, as a...
Window Manager) - olwmOlwmolwm was the default stacking window manager for OpenWindows, the original desktop environment included with SunOS and Solaris...
(OPEN LOOK window managers) - olvwm (olwmOlwmolwm was the default stacking window manager for OpenWindows, the original desktop environment included with SunOS and Solaris...
with virtual desktops) - OpenboxOpenboxOpenbox is a free window manager for the X Window System, licensed under the GNU General Public License. Originally derived from Blackbox 0.65.0 , Openbox has now been totally rewritten in the C programming language and since version 3.0 is not based upon any code from Blackbox.Openbox is designed...
(default for the LXDELXDELXDE is a free and open source desktop environment for Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux or BSD. The goal of the project is to provide a desktop environment that is fast and energy efficient...
desktop environment) - Orion (a nested (tiled or floating) window manager written in Scheme and scsh)
- Oroborus
- PekWM
- PLWMPLWMIn Unix computing, PLWM is a Python package, containing classes suitable for implementing an X window manager, and also a window manager created using the PLWM package...
- PWM
- Qvwm (Windows 95/98 look-alike)
- ratpoisonRatpoisonRatpoison is a tiling window manager for the X Window System primarily developed by Shawn Betts. Its user interface and much of its functionality are inspired by the GNU Screen terminal multiplexer...
- SawfishSawfish (window manager)Sawfish is an extensible window manager for the X Window System. Its aim is simply to manage windows in the most flexible and attractive manner possible. Formerly known as Sawmill, the name was changed because another software program had the same name....
(a past default for GNOME, originally called Sawmill) - ScwmScwmScwm or Scheme Constraints Window Manager is a window manager for the X Window System. Its main features are dynamic configurability and programmability via a language based on GNU Guile and the embedded arithmetic Cassowary constraint solver. The primary developers were Greg Badros and Maciej...
(the Scheme constraints window manager) - SithWM evilwm-based, virtual window manager (German page)
- Stumpwm (a tiling window manager written in Lisp)
- swmSwmswm is an X Window System window manager developed by Tom LaStrange at Solbourne Computer in 1990. The most important innovation of swm was the introduction of the virtual desktop...
(the original virtual desktop implementation) - Toy'd (a portable window manager for MS-Windows & UNIX / Linux platforms)
- TrsWM
- twmTwmIn computing, twm is the standard window manager for the X Window System, version X11R4 onwards...
(default for the X Window System since version X11R4) - µwm
- Ultrix Window Manager uwm
- vtwmVtwmVtwm is an X window manager that was developed from the twm codebase. The first release was in 1990, and it is very much an "old school" window manager. It added features like xpm icons, autoraising of windows, and a virtual desktop; the latter feature is from where the program takes its name...
- Waimea
- WindowLabWindowLabWindowLab is an X window manager for Unix-like systems. It is based on aewm and retains that window manager's small and lightweight nature. In many aspects, WindowLab has looked to the Amiga's user interface for inspiration without cloning it completely...
- Window MakerWindow MakerWindow Maker is a free and open source window manager for the X Window System, allowing graphical applications to be run on Unix-like operating-systems...
- wm2Wm2wm2 is a minimalistic reparenting window manager for the X Window System written by Chris Cannam. It provides support for moving, resizing, and deleting windows, but does not support icons. In place of icons, wm2 allows for temporary hiding of windows from the desktop; hidden windows can be...
- wmiiWmiiwmii is a tiling window manager for X11. It supports classic and tiling window management with extended keyboard, mouse, and filesystem based remote control...
- wmx
- Xfwm4 (a window manager for the XfceXfceXfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...
desktop environment) - xmonadXmonadxmonad is a tiling window manager for the X Window System, written in the functional programming language Haskell.Begun in March 2007, it is similar to dwm, larswm, StumpWM and other members of the tiling window manager family, in that it arranges windows in a nonoverlapping tiled pattern and...
- XPwm (for XPde, Windows XP Look alike)
- xwm
See also
- Comparison of X window managersComparison of X window managersThis article compares variety of different X window managers. For an introduction to the topic, see X Window System.- See also :* Comparison of X Window System desktop environments* Window manager...
- Re-parenting window managerRe-parenting window managerA stacking window manager is a window manager that draws all windows in a specific order, allowing them to overlap, using a technique called painter's algorithm...
for a popular implementation technique - X Window System protocols and architectureX Window System protocols and architectureIn computing, the X Window System is a network-transparent windowing system for bitmap displays. This article details the protocols and technical structure of X11.-Client–server model and network transparency:...
for context - Windowing systemWindowing systemA windowing system is a component of a graphical user interface , and more specifically of a desktop environment, which supports the implementation of window managers, and provides basic support for graphics hardware, pointing devices such as mice, and keyboards...
- WmctrlWmctrlwmctrl is a command used to control windows in EWMH and NetWM compatible, X Window, window manager. Some of its common operations are list, resize, and close window. It also has the ability to interact with virtual desktops, and give information about the window manager...
- a command line utility used to control windows in EWMH and NetWM compatible window managers
External links
- Window Managers and Desktop Environments
- Window Managers for X by Matt Chapman
- Software List:Window Managers - list of window managers with summaries