What is a WM (Window Manager)?
A window manager, known as WM, is the component responsible for placing, redimensioning and decorating the application windows in a graphic environment. Unlike a full desktop environment, which includes panels, menus and applets, a WM focuses exclusively on window management, allowing much less resource consumption and greater flexibility to customize the way we interact with our desktop.
Type of window managers
- WM stacking: The windows are drawn on each other, as in traditional systems. Classic examples are Openbox and Fluxbox.
- WM mosaic (tiling): The windows are automatically organized in a grid without overlap, optimizing the use of the screen space. i3, Awesome WM and Xmonad belong to this category.
- WM composers: In addition to managing the position, they add visual effects such as transparency, shadows and animations. Compton and Picom are examples of composers who can work with any WM.
Advantages of using a light WM
By dispensing with the heavy components of a full desktop environment, a light WM significantly consumes less RAM and CPU. This translates into a faster start, greater response capacity in old hardware or with limited resources and more fluid experience even when running multiple demanding applications. In addition, most WM allows a simple text file configuration, which facilitates the creation of custom keyboard shortcuts and user-friendly workflows.
The most popular WM in the Linux community
- i3: WM mosaic much appreciated for its simple configuration and focus on productivity by keyboard shortcuts.
- Awesome WM: Based on Lua's widgets framework, it offers a high customization capacity and informative widgets in the status bar.
- Openbox: WM extremely light stacking, ideal for users who prefer a minimalist environment without giving up the possibility of using menus and external panels.
- Xmonad: Written in Haskell, it combines mosaic philosophy with a strong static typing, resulting in a very safe and predictable configuration.
- Fluxbox: Similar to Openbox but with an integrated task bar and support for more elaborate graphic styles.
How to choose the right WM for you
The choice depends on several factors: your level of comfort with the command line, the importance you give to aesthetics versus efficiency, and the type of hardware you use. If you are new to WM and look for a smooth transition from a traditional desktop environment, Openbox or Fluxbox can be good starting points. If you prioritize the maximization of the screen space and like to control everything with the keyboard, i3 or Awesome WM will offer you a powerful tilting experience. For those who enjoy experimenting and customizing each detail using configuration languages like Lua or Haskell, Awesome WM and Xmonad are ideal options.
Basic installation and configuration
- Install WM from your distribution repositories, for example
sudo apt install i3for Debian / Ubuntu. - Close the session and select the newly installed WM in the login manager (GDM, LightDM, SDDM, etc.).
- When starting, most WM present a help box with the default keyboard shortcuts; take a few minutes to check them.
- Edit the configuration file (usually located in
~/.config/i3/configor~/.awesome/rc.lua) to adjust shortcuts, themes and behaviors according to your preferences. - Reboot the WM (many allow recharge the configuration with a shortcut asMod + Shift + Ctrl + r) and verifies the changes.
Conclusion
A well-chosen window manager can radically transform the way you interact with your Linux system, offering higher performance, customization and productivity. Whether you prefer the simplicity of a stacking WM or the power of a mosaic environment, there are options for each work style and level of experience. Dedicate time to try several WM, adjust your settings and discover which one best suits your daily workflow.
