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Development
Linux
Productivity
What are the best Linux stacking window managers for developers?
7
Options
Considered
38
User
Recs.
Dec 24, 2023
Last
Updated
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5
Options
Considered
Best Linux stacking window managers for developers
Price
Type
License
54
Openbox
-
Stacking
GPL 2.0 (or later)
--
KWin
-
Stacking
GPL
--
Enlightenment
-
stacking, tiling
BSD
--
IceWM
-
Stacking
-
--
twm
-
-
-
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54
Openbox
My Rec
ommendation
for
Openbox
My Recommendation for
Openbox
All
11
Pros
8
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Big community, industry standard
It's used as the default window manager in few desktop environments so it gets tested more often, resulting in more bug fixes and more stable behaviour.
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Top
Con
•••
XML config files
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Specs
Type:
Stacking
License:
GPL 2.0 (or later)
Programming Language:
C
Default Desktop Environment:
LXDE
See All Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Highly configurable with a short learning curve
Configuring Openbox is very easy to do by editing the few of its config files. There are even programs that allow for an even easier method of editing these files by doing so in a UI.
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Top
Con
•••
Sparse boot
The first time loading default Openbox is pretty sparse with nothing on the desktop and little in the menu.
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Top
Pro
•••
Lightweight
Openbox is a lightweight window manager, it's process uses around 5mb of memory.
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Top
Pro
•••
Tame defaults easy to quickstart
Openbox has a tame set of defaults, though a bit sparse. They are easily editable to anyones liking though.
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Top
Pro
•••
XML config files
XML configuration allows both graphical tools as well as hand-editing config files.
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Top
Pro
•••
Very well documented
Due to wide use and a long history, there is a lot of documentation available on the use and customization of Openbox.
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Top
Pro
•••
Uncluttered
Openbox does away with many traditional desktop elements, like menu buttons, bars, etc. and places everything in the (insanely customizable) context menu. If any of the missing pieces are desired, they can be added through others apps (e.g. tint2 for taskbar).
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Top
Pro
•••
Stable
Openbox is used as a default window manager in few desktop environments so it offers more testing, more bugfixes, and more stable behavior.
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here
Recommend
15
2
--
KWin
My Rec
ommendation
for
KWin
My Recommendation for
KWin
All
8
Pros
5
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Highly configurable
KWin allows for a very configurable environment.
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Top
Con
•••
Some effects such as present windows are slow and jerky
Some of KWins effects can be a bit slow or jerky, resulting in an uneven fluidness.
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Specs
Type:
Stacking
License:
GPL
Programming Language:
C++
Number of themes:
>468
See All Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Integrated compositing manager
KWin has compositing built into it with options on how it performs that are able to be changed by the user in the settings.
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Top
Con
•••
Dependent on some KDE libraries
This just makes standalone kwin a little bit of a hassle to set up, as opposed to openbox, awesome, etc.
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Top
Pro
•••
Beautiful interface with Eyecandy
KWin allows for the UI to have an assortment of eye candy and desktop effects, creating what can be a beautiful interface.
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Top
Pro
•••
Window effects
KWin has an assortment of effects such as wobbly windows and window shadows/glow.
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Top
Pro
•••
Offers desktop workflow
In an age where everyone seems to be moving to touch interfaces, KDE remains one of the last DEs that still caters for desktop users.
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Recommend
6
1
--
Enlightenment
My Rec
ommendation
for
Enlightenment
My Recommendation for
Enlightenment
All
2
Pros
1
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Quick mouse-driven menus
Enlightenments menu is easily and quickly accessible by left clicking anywhere on the desktop.
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Specs
Type:
stacking, tiling
License:
BSD
Programming Language:
C
Widget Toolkit:
EFL
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Hide
Get it
here
Recommend
2
1
--
IceWM
My Rec
ommendation
for
IceWM
My Recommendation for
IceWM
All
1
Specs
Specs
Type:
Stacking
Number of themes:
421
Hide
Get it
here
Recommend
4
--
twm
My Rec
ommendation
for
twm
My Recommendation for
twm
All
4
Pros
3
Cons
1
Top
Pro
•••
Provided the base code for many other window managers
The code of twm was often built upon to create newer window managers such as FVWM.
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Top
Con
•••
Can be difficult to use
Most aspects of twm's interface operate differently than the more common UIs used in computing, thus reading the manual will more often than not be a prerequisite to using it.
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Top
Pro
•••
Simple and fast
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Top
Pro
•••
Was adopted as the default window manager for X11
twm was renamed Tab Window Manager (from Tom's Widow Manager) when it was adopted as X11's default window manager back in 1982. It was left behind many years ago but still stands as the foundation for every window manager that followed.
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here
Recommend
3
1
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--
IceWM
My Rec
ommendation
for
IceWM
My Recommendation for
IceWM
Get it
here
Recommend
2
--
GridWM (KDE Plasma)
My Rec
ommendation
for
GridWM (KDE Plasma)
My Recommendation for
GridWM (KDE Plasma)
Get it
here
Recommend
1
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