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Window Maker vs Openbox: catalog facts
Window Maker	Openbox
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Best for: Linux users who want a light, classic NeXT-style desktop	Best for: Manage X11 windows with a configurable stacking window manager
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source. Hosting, hardware and any external services are separate.
Linux	Linux
Faithful NeXTSTEP look and feel Lightweight, with dockapps for small utilities Readable config files plus a graphical preferences tool	Supports custom menus and window rules Can be used alone or within another desktop setup
X11 only, no Wayland support mentioned Latest stable release dates from August 2023	A complete desktop requires separate panels, launchers and other utilities.
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Window Maker windowmaker.org Catalog checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Openbox openbox.org Catalog checked September 22, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.

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