FVWM3
A highly configurable X11 window manager, the successor to fvwm2, with multi-monitor support.
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About FVWM3
FVWM3 is version 3 of the long-running FVWM window manager for X11 and the successor to fvwm2. Nearly every part of window behaviour, decoration, menus and key bindings can be changed through its configuration, and it ships with a default configuration as a starting point.
It supports virtual desktops and multi-monitor setups through RandR, and includes modules that add extra desktop functions. It suits users who want a lightweight, deeply customisable desktop and are comfortable editing configuration files.
Strengths
- Extremely configurable behaviour and appearance
- Multi-monitor support through RandR
- Lightweight, with a long history and active development
- Includes a default configuration to start from
Limitations
- X11 only, no Wayland support
- Configuration has a steep learning curve
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree, with source code published on GitHub.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The FVWM contributors
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- X11 users who want a lightweight window manager they can shape completely
- Categories
- Window tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to FVWM3
Compare allSoftware that can replace FVWM3 for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Openbox
Manage X11 windows with a configurable stacking window manager.
Openbox is a configurable X11 stacking window manager with custom menus and window rules, needing separate panels and launchers for a complete desktop.
IceWM
A lightweight X11 window manager with a taskbar, workspaces and a familiar Windows-like layout.
IceWM is a lightweight X11 window manager with a built-in taskbar, tray and menu and many themes, offering less deep configurability than FVWM3.
JWM
Joe's Window Manager, a lightweight stacking window manager for X11 written in C.
JWM is a very small stacking X11 window manager needing only Xlib, suited to old hardware and the Raspberry Pi, with a plainer appearance.
Window Maker
An X11 stacking window manager that reproduces the look and feel of NeXTSTEP.
Window Maker reproduces the NeXTSTEP look on X11 with dockapps, readable config files and a graphical preferences tool, though its latest stable release is from August 2023.
awesome
Build a keyboard-driven X11 desktop with a window manager configured in Lua.
awesome is an X11 window manager configured in Lua with tiling and floating layouts, programmable widgets and window rules.
labwc
A lightweight wlroots-based stacking Wayland compositor inspired by Openbox.
labwc is a lightweight Openbox-inspired stacking compositor that runs on Wayland instead of X11, needing other programs for a complete desktop.
Enlightenment
A window manager, compositor and minimal desktop for Linux, BSD and other UNIX systems.
Enlightenment bundles a window manager, compositor and minimal desktop shell built on EFL, with experimental Wayland support and source-only releases.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
picom
A lightweight standalone compositor for X11 that adds shadows, transparency, blur, fading and animations.
Tint2
Lightweight panel and taskbar for Linux and BSD window managers.
Polybar
Build a configurable status bar for an X11 desktop.
Lemonbar
Featherweight, scriptable status bar for X11 built on xcb.
xdotool
A command-line tool that simulates keyboard and mouse input and manages windows on X11.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
