Bspwm

Features

Tiling Window Managers - A window manager for X11 that organizes application windows into non-overlapping rectangular tiles using binary space partitioning.
Binary - Uses a binary space partitioning tree to automatically organize application windows into non-overlapping rectangular tiles.
Multi-Monitor Workspace Managers - Manages independent window trees and desktops across several physical displays.
Per-Monitor Workspace Stacks - Maintains independent window tree structures and workspace stacks for each detected physical monitor.
Binary Tree Layout Engines - Organizes windows as leaves of a binary tree to partition the screen into rectangular regions using split types and ratios.
Binary - Treats the screen as a tree of rectangular regions to automatically manage window placement.
Socket-Based Configuration - Provides a dedicated communication socket for updating layout changes and configuration settings in real time.
Socket-Based Window Controllers - Updates window layouts and configuration settings via a communication socket instead of a built-in config file.
X11 Protocol Implementations - Implements X11 protocols including RandR, Xinerama, EWMH, and ICCCM to ensure compatibility with system tools.
Dynamic Layout Engines - Allows changing window arrangements and system configurations in real time via a socket-based control engine.
Binary Space Partitioning - Arranges windows using a binary tree structure to split screen regions into precise rectangular areas.
Window Managers - Implements Extended Window Manager Hints (EWMH) to ensure compatibility with system pagers and task switchers.
Dynamic Window Insertion - Determines how new windows are placed into the layout tree using predefined insertion modes.
Desktop Screen Partitioning - Divides available screen real estate into smaller segments using split types and ratios defined within the binary tree.
Desktop Environment Components - Provides the core window management component for a customized X11-based Linux desktop environment.
Node-Based Layout Insertion - Places new windows into the layout hierarchy using specific split modes and coordinate-based insertion points.
Window Managers - Tiling window manager using a binary tree layout.

Open-source alternatives to Bspwm

Similar open-source projects, ranked by how many features they share with Bspwm.

yalter/niri
YaLTeR/niri
25,282View on GitHub
Niri is a Wayland compositor that provides a desktop environment for Linux. Its primary purpose is to implement a scrollable tiling window management system, which organizes application windows in a non-overlapping layout that allows horizontal scrolling to access content beyond the screen edge. The compositor features multi-monitor workspace coordination, managing window arrangements and fractional scaling across displays with different resolutions and pixel densities. It supports a dynamic workspace organization model where independent vertical workspace stacks are maintained per monitor.
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i3/i3
i3/i3
10,489View on GitHub
i3 is a configurable tiling window manager for the X11 window system. It organizes application windows into non-overlapping tiles to maximize screen real estate, utilizing a dynamic layout engine that removes the need for manual positioning or resizing. The system is designed for keyboard-driven desktop workflows, where window organization and behavior are defined through a plain text configuration file. It enables X11 desktop customization by allowing users to programmatically define layouts and keybindings. The manager provides inter-process communication via a Unix domain socket, allowing
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ianyh/amethyst
ianyh/Amethyst
16,009View on GitHub
Amethyst is a tiling window manager for macOS designed to automate the arrangement of application windows. It functions as a productivity utility that organizes windows into non-overlapping layouts, allowing users to manage their desktop environment through keyboard-driven controls rather than manual mouse interaction. The application distinguishes itself by providing a state-machine engine that calculates window geometry based on user-defined tiling patterns. It maintains an accurate representation of the desktop by monitoring system-level notifications for window events, enabling it to auto
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airblader/i3
Airblader/i3
5,799View on GitHub
i3 is an X11 tiling window manager for Linux that organizes application windows into a non-overlapping grid to maximize screen space. It functions as a configurable window layout engine and a desktop environment component that interfaces with the X Window System to handle window placement and input events. The manager specifically provides the ability to add configurable visual spacing and gaps between windows and screen edges. It determines window borders and spacing by parsing a text configuration file at startup or during runtime. The system covers workspace layout optimization and interf
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See all 30 alternatives to Bspwm

baskervillebspwm

Features

Open-source alternatives to Bspwm

YaLTeR/niri

i3/i3

ianyh/Amethyst

Airblader/i3

Star history

Open-source alternatives to Bspwm

YaLTeR/niri

i3/i3

ianyh/Amethyst

Airblader/i3