When comparing Avant Window Navigator vs dmenu, the Slant community recommends dmenu for most people. In the question“What are the best app launchers for UNIX-like systems?” dmenu is ranked 4th while Avant Window Navigator is ranked 27th. The most important reason people chose dmenu is:
Programmed in smart way: less code is more usability and solid.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Tons of plugins
AWN comes with a big selections of applets such as a CPU monitor or clock or trash bin. This means one can easily turn the docks functionality into that of a taskbar. There is even an app launcher applet that will group all of ones apps in one place just like a start menu.
Pro Easily customized
There is a wide array of setting available to theming and customizing the dock.
Pro Highly usable in scripting, piping.
Programmed in smart way: less code is more usability and solid.
Cons
Con Project is dead
Has not been update since 2013 and has been already pulled from many repos. While it still can be installed and works as it did in 2013, no more fixes or features are expected.