Choosing Tiling WM

CaptainKirk · 2009-09-09 14:55:30

I run Xfce now mainly because it's light and fast, and probably because I feel comfortable with it coming from my old Windoze background.

I am now looking at tiling WMs and they look very interesting. In particular this article http://overstimulate.com/articles/why-xmonad makes it look it would be great for me. I like the idea of two main windows--that's how I tend to work now--I have two 17" monitors and I generally open an app full-screen on each monitor so I can look at two apps at the same time. But then I end up switching a lot and sliding apps from left to right etc. when I want to look at a different particular pair.

Someone recommended to me dwm--he said it's the best in his opinion and easiest to configure. But I'm not sure if it can be setup like that article above show. Could be that after I get used to a tiling WM, I might even end up changing how I use the PC, but anyhow that's how I have been working until now.

So can anyone provide a recommendation of which WM might work for me? Or any tips?

Thanks!

ataraxia · 2009-09-09 15:17:17

Just try them all out yourself. It's the only way to know for sure. (I'm a dwm fan myself.)

SpeedVin · 2009-09-09 15:28:01

Hello.
If you want very flexible WM - XMonad.
If you want WM with some DE features out of box - Awesome.
If you want to be light - DWM.

Last edited by SpeedVin (2009-09-09 15:28:35)

kanim · 2009-09-09 16:20:18

or if you want a diferent aproach at tiling try subtle

Wintervenom · 2009-09-09 18:20:48

Also try Openbox and PyTyle. They're both rather easy to configure, and you gain hybrid window management -- for example, you can still minimize and maximize windows while tiling, without having to switch to some kind of stacking mode.

CaptainKirk · 2009-09-09 18:47:04

Very interesting. Thanks for the comments!

Atsutane · 2009-09-09 22:31:15

Also very nice are i3 and wmii, but there are tons, just search the AUR for tiling and you'll find more than enough testing material for two months

Pox · 2009-09-09 22:53:47

Definitely try out wmii and awesome, they're my favourites - but it's really a matter of personal taste, and the extent to which you're willing to learn a programming language to configure your WM.

opothehippo · 2009-09-09 23:21:36

I love xmonad. I would recommend it for a beginner because its defaults are extremly good (IMO). Its also rock solid (I've NEVER had an error or crash with it).

The only downside (which can be considered a upside) is its configured in haskell. Its not to hard to edit stuff, but if you dont know haskell, you will need to get some help. But because its written in haskell, its extremely configurable.

Try them all if you are unsure.

zowki · 2009-09-10 00:43:11

I love Ratpoison. Its GNU Screen for X. If all you want to do is have 2 big windows open, this is the window manager for you.

cerbie · 2009-09-10 00:47:26

opothehippo wrote:

I love xmonad. I would recommend it for a beginner because its defaults are extremly good (IMO).

If and only if the OP has a Windows key, which the overwhelming majority of default bound key combos use. If without a Windows key, remapping caps lock to it is a nice way to not have to change the WM config. Good defaults shouldn't make the power button the easiest way to close an X session (yes, I enabled X zapping after that).

The only downside (which can be considered a upside) is its configured in haskell. Its not to hard to edit stuff, but if you dont know haskell, you will need to get some help. But because its written in haskell, its extremely configurable.

Haskell is wonderful, even if it does make a lightweight WM take 400MB . Xmonad's docs are also excellent, so you won't need to have entirely caught on to functional programming to make the WM gain various simple behaviors.

I still have too many bad (WIMP) habits, but Xmonad gets my vote, of tiling WMs.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-09-09 14:55:30

Choosing Tiling WM

#2 2009-09-09 15:17:17

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#3 2009-09-09 15:28:01

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#4 2009-09-09 16:20:18

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#5 2009-09-09 18:20:48

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#6 2009-09-09 18:47:04

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#7 2009-09-09 22:31:15

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#8 2009-09-09 22:53:47

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#9 2009-09-09 23:21:36

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#10 2009-09-10 00:43:11

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

#11 2009-09-10 00:47:26

Re: Choosing Tiling WM

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