Window manager
A window manager (half a loan translation for English window manager , literally " window manager ") is a program that has the task in window systems of offering the user programs functions such as minimizing , enlarging and closing windows . The graphical user interface can possibly have a client-server system (such as the X Window System ) as a substructure, but this is by no means mandatory.
The window manager often determines the title bar and frame of the window. However, the window content is usually created independently of this with the help of program libraries, which make work easier for programmers of graphic interfaces and also ensure that the programs appear uniformly. In most cases, these program libraries are then expanded to include a uniform appearance ( or design , also in connection with so-called themes ) - with taskbar (s) , additional small applications , an (electronic) recycle bin and uniform menus - which takes the step towards a desktop environment marked.
Window manager for the X Window System
Popular window managers for the X Window System (X) on different operating systems:
- Compiz (OpenGL-based; includes a composition manager ; requires Xgl , AIGLX or the driver from Nvidia . In addition, there is a plug-in collection called Compiz Fusion )
- Enlightenment (successor to E16)
- Fluxbox (based on blackbox )
- GNU Window Maker (design based on NeXTStep - can also be used with GNUstep )
- IceWM (compatible with Gnome and KDE )
- KWin (standard at KDE )
- Marco (standard of the MATE Desktop Environment )
- Metacity (standard with Gnome up to version 2.x)
- Muffin (standard of the Cinnamon Desktop Environment)
- Mother (standard with Gnome 3.x)
- Openbox ( similar to Blackbox , standard with LXDE and LXQt )
- Xfwm (standard with Xfce )
Other window managers for X are:
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Window manager for other systems
Web links
- Xwinman.org an overview of window managers and desktop environments for X
- Window manager in the Arch Linux Wiki