Window Maker
An X11 stacking window manager that reproduces the look and feel of NeXTSTEP.
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About Window Maker
Window Maker is an X11 window manager originally built to integrate with the GNUstep desktop, though it runs on its own. It recreates the NeXTSTEP interface, with a dock, dynamic menus and small dockable applets called dockapps.
It is a stacking window manager with semi-automatic tiling, configurable keyboard shortcuts, human-readable configuration files and a graphical preferences application. Many Linux distributions package it, and source releases are available from the project site.
Strengths
- Faithful NeXTSTEP look and feel
- Lightweight, with dockapps for small utilities
- Readable config files plus a graphical preferences tool
Limitations
- X11 only, no Wayland support mentioned
- Latest stable release dates from August 2023
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The Window Maker contributors
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Linux users who want a light, classic NeXT-style desktop
- Categories
- Window tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Window Maker
Compare allSoftware that can replace Window Maker for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Openbox
Manage X11 windows with a configurable stacking window manager.
Openbox is another configurable X11 stacking window manager with custom menus and window rules, but drops the NeXTSTEP look and needs separate panels and launchers.
FVWM3
A highly configurable X11 window manager, the successor to fvwm2, with multi-monitor support.
FVWM3 is an extremely configurable X11 window manager with RandR multi-monitor support and active development, but its configuration has a steep learning curve.
IceWM
A lightweight X11 window manager with a taskbar, workspaces and a familiar Windows-like layout.
IceWM trades the NeXT-style dock for a Windows-like layout with a built-in taskbar, tray and menu, keeping low resource use on X11.
JWM
Joe's Window Manager, a lightweight stacking window manager for X11 written in C.
JWM is a very small X11 stacking window manager needing only Xlib, with a plain appearance and no NeXTSTEP styling or dockapps.
Enlightenment
A window manager, compositor and minimal desktop for Linux, BSD and other UNIX systems.
Enlightenment combines window manager, compositor and desktop shell built on EFL, with experimental Wayland support and source-only official releases.
labwc
A lightweight wlroots-based stacking Wayland compositor inspired by Openbox.
labwc moves to Wayland as a lightweight stacking compositor inspired by Openbox, needing other programs for panels and a complete desktop.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
BunsenLabs Linux
A Debian-based distribution with a preconfigured, lightweight Openbox desktop, continuing CrunchBang Linux.
Tint2
Lightweight panel and taskbar for Linux and BSD window managers.
picom
A lightweight standalone compositor for X11 that adds shadows, transparency, blur, fading and animations.
Xfce
Use a modular desktop environment built around traditional panels and windows.
LXQt
A lightweight, modular Qt-based desktop environment for Linux and BSD with X11 and Wayland sessions.
MATE
A traditional desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like systems that continues the GNOME 2 design.
