It requires only the Xlib library to run but is capable of working with a host of other libraries including libXext for shape extension, Cairo and libRSVG for icons and backgrounds, libjpeg and libpng for JPEG and PNG backgrounds and icons respectively, etc.
The package ‘awesome‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
1. i3 – Improved Tiling WM
$ sudo apt install spectrwm [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install spectrwm [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/spectrwm [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add spectrwm [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S spectrwm [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install spectrwm [On OpenSUSE]
10. JWM
$ sudo apt install bspwm [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install bspwm [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/bspwm [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add bspwm [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S bspwm [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install bspwm [On OpenSUSE]
3. herbstluftwm
$ sudo apt install qtile [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install qtile [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
12. Ratpoison
$ sudo apt install notion [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install notion [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/notion [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add notion [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S notion [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install notion [On OpenSUSE]
15. Hyprland
$ sudo apt install dwm [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install dwm [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/dwm [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add dwm [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S dwm [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install dwm [On OpenSUSE]
14. Notion
With its sleek design, active development, and support for cutting-edge technologies, Hyprland is becoming a popular choice for Linux users seeking a lightweight yet feature-rich environment.
The package ‘bspwm‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
The package ‘Sway‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
On newer Ubuntu (18.04 or greater), Debian (10 or greater), and Fedora versions, there are Qtile packages available to install via.
$ sudo apt install tmux [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install tmux [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/tmux [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add tmux [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S tmux [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install tmux [On OpenSUSE]
9. spectrwm
The package ‘Ratpoison‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
The package ‘XMonad‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
$ sudo apt install xmonad [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install xmonad [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/xmonad [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add xmonad [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S xmonad [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install xmonad [On OpenSUSE]
7. Sway
Its features include well-documented source code and API, real multi-head support with per-screen desktops, support for D-Bus, support for Lua extensions, no floating or tiled layers, etc.
Tilix offers its users a lot of features including working with custom titles and custom hyperlinks, support for transparent background images, notifications in the background, multiple panes, and persistent layouts.
spectrwm uses a plain text configuration file, boasts defaults similar to those in xmonad and dwm, and features built-in keyboard shortcuts. Its other features include customizable colors and border width, drag-to-float, quick launch menu, customizable status bar, dynamic RandR support, etc.
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tmux makes use of all the space available to it and it is easily usable thanks to its support for keybindings which you can use to split windows and create more panes. You can also share individual shell instances between distinct sessions to be used for different purposes by different users.
As the name suggests, Linux Window Managers are responsible for coordinating how application windows work. They run quietly in the background of your operating system, handling the look and arrangement of open programs.
$ sudo apt install herbstluftwm [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install herbstluftwm [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/herbstluftwm [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add herbstluftwm [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S herbstluftwm [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install herbstluftwm [On OpenSUSE]
4. awesome
$ sudo apt install i3 [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install i3 [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge x11-wm/i3 [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add i3 [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S i3 [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install i3 [On OpenSUSE]
2. bspwm
Hyprland leverages the power of Wayland to deliver a smoother and more secure experience compared to traditional X11-based setups. It is particularly appealing to power users and enthusiasts who want to tailor their workflow with scripting and configuration files.
i3 is among the most loved manual window tiling manager apps because of its vast features which include settings in plain text, custom keyboard shortcuts, and configuration without the need to restart the underlying system.
The package ‘i3‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
herbstluftwm’s main features include tags (i.e. workspaces or virtual desktops), a configuration script that runs at startup, exactly one tag per monitor, etc.
There are several Window Managers that you can use on Linux but just as you would expect, here is an article that lists the best tiling window managers for you to choose from.
There are more tiling managers in the community that you can choose from but not many of them offer nearly a complete feature list as the apps listed above.
The package ‘herbstluftwm‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
Its features include support for keyboard shortcuts, its usage of Wayland instead of Xorg, and gaps.
The package ‘dwm‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
Qtile features easy-to-write custom layouts, commands, and widgets. It can also be scripted remotely in order to set up workspaces, update status bar widgets, manipulate windows, etc. It has comprehensive documentation in case you need clarification along the way.
The package ‘notion‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
$ sudo apt install ratpoison [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install ratpoison [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/ratpoison [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add ratpoison [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S ratpoison [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install ratpoison [On OpenSUSE]
13. dwm
The package ‘spectrwm‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
$ sudo apt install jwm [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install jwm [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/jwm [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add jwm [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S jwm [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install jwm [On OpenSUSE]
11. Qtile
Additionally, Notion supports tabbing, allowing multiple windows to be organized within a single tile. Notably, it’s a static manager, unlike many dynamic ones that automatically adjust tile sizes.
JWM is included in a couple of Linux distros e.g. Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux and has found most of its use on portable PCs like the Raspberry Pi.
dwm controls windows in tiled, monocle, and floating layouts, and all of these layouts can be added dynamically, enhancing the environment for the application in use, and the task executed.
Ratpoison’s main features include the ability to split windows into non-overlapping frames with all windows maximized within their frames. It is solely operated using keyboard commands.
i3 is a free, open-source, and completely configurable window manager app targeted at advanced Linux and BSD users and developers. It features a tree data structure that allows for more flexible layouts than its alternatives and it does not require Haskell or LUA.
$ sudo apt install tilix [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install tilix [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/tilix [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add tilix [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S tilix [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install tilix [On OpenSUSE]
6. XMonad
It is based on binary space partitioning which represents windows as the leaves of a complete binary tree and it handles key binding with a separate utility sxhkd, which allows for smoother performance and support for other input devices.
$ sudo apt install sway [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install sway [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/sway [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add sway [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S sway [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install sway [On OpenSUSE]
8. tmux
The package ‘Tilix‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
$ sudo apt install awesome [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install awesome [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux]
$ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/awesome [On Gentoo Linux]
$ sudo apk add awesome [On Alpine Linux]
$ sudo pacman -S awesome [On Arch Linux]
$ sudo zypper install awesome [On OpenSUSE]
5. Tilix
The package ‘tmux‘ is available in the distribution you’re using, simply use your package manager to install it, as demonstrated below.
bspwm’s features include support for multiple windows, partial support for EWMH, automatic mode for automatically setting the position of app tiles, and it is configured and controlled through messages, among others.
