Cwm (window manager)
Encyclopedia
cwm is a stacking window manager for X Window System
available on OpenBSD
(included in base system), NetBSD
, DragonFlyBSD and Linux distribution
s using pkgsrc
, Gentoo Linux
and some other Linux distributions.
The acronym cwm stands for Calm Window Manager.
code was used for rewrite. The last release by the original author came out in August 2005.
In April 2007 the cwm was imported into OpenBSD source tree. By January 2008 substantial part of the original source code (including all of the 9wm code) was rewritten.
Currently cwm is distributed with OpenBSD since release 4.2, where it replaced wm2
. Some Linux
ports also exist.
cwm includes several menus:
All these menus are operated in search as you type manner.
cwm allows raising, hiding switching and searching windows with no use of mouse, making it suitable to use as terminal emulator
multiplexer. Furthermore, it allows using manipulating pointing device with keyboard.
Though not reviewed separately, cwm is noted to be used mainly due to its status of one of the default window managers in OpenBSD, though other reasons are sometimes cited, such as being out of the ordinary or allowing nice interaction with GUI. Though it often gets no explanation, several OpenBSD users prefer to use cwm under Linux, even if it requires modifying and supporting source code. cwm is also praised for its flexibility, ability to interact in non-disruptive way and no dependency on mouse.
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
available on OpenBSD
OpenBSD
OpenBSD is a Unix-like computer operating system descended from Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix derivative developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It was forked from NetBSD by project leader Theo de Raadt in late 1995...
(included in base system), NetBSD
NetBSD
NetBSD is a freely available open source version of the Berkeley Software Distribution Unix operating system. It was the second open source BSD descendant to be formally released, after 386BSD, and continues to be actively developed. The NetBSD project is primarily focused on high quality design,...
, DragonFlyBSD and Linux distribution
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
s using pkgsrc
Pkgsrc
pkgsrc is a package management system for Unix-like operating systems. It was forked from the FreeBSD ports collection in 1997 as the primary package management system for NetBSD. Since then it has evolved independently: in 1999, support for Solaris was added, later followed by support for other...
, Gentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...
and some other Linux distributions.
The acronym cwm stands for Calm Window Manager.
History
Development of cwm started from patches to evilwm by Marius Aamodt Eriksen, but the evilwm's codebase "did not accomodate well for the new features added". Some of 9wm9wm
9wm is an Open Source stacking window manager for X11, written by David Hogan in 1994 to emulate the Plan 9 SecondEdition window manager, 8½...
code was used for rewrite. The last release by the original author came out in August 2005.
In April 2007 the cwm was imported into OpenBSD source tree. By January 2008 substantial part of the original source code (including all of the 9wm code) was rewritten.
Currently cwm is distributed with OpenBSD since release 4.2, where it replaced wm2
Wm2
wm2 is a minimalistic reparenting window manager for the X Window System written by Chris Cannam. It provides support for moving, resizing, and deleting windows, but does not support icons. In place of icons, wm2 allows for temporary hiding of windows from the desktop; hidden windows can be...
. Some Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
ports also exist.
Description
cwm is a stacking window manager oriented towards heavy keyboard usage, small footprint and ease of use. While it lacks explicit virtual desktops functionality, it can be emulated by using the window groups mechanism. cwm doesn't draw window decorations except for 1 pixel border around the windows.cwm includes several menus:
- exec menu (application launcher)
- window menu (searching windows of running applications)
- ssh to menu (start a Secure ShellSecure ShellSecure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
session) - exec wm menu (switch window managerX window managerAn X window manager is a window manager which runs on top of the X Window System, a windowing system mainly used on Unix-like systems.Unlike the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows platforms which have historically provided a vendor-controlled, fixed set of ways to control how windows and panes display...
)
All these menus are operated in search as you type manner.
cwm allows raising, hiding switching and searching windows with no use of mouse, making it suitable to use as terminal emulator
Terminal emulator
A terminal emulator, terminal application, term, or tty for short, is a program that emulates a video terminal within some other display architecture....
multiplexer. Furthermore, it allows using manipulating pointing device with keyboard.
Reception
cwm is generally positively received in software minimalist communities and is totally ignored by most other computer users.Though not reviewed separately, cwm is noted to be used mainly due to its status of one of the default window managers in OpenBSD, though other reasons are sometimes cited, such as being out of the ordinary or allowing nice interaction with GUI. Though it often gets no explanation, several OpenBSD users prefer to use cwm under Linux, even if it requires modifying and supporting source code. cwm is also praised for its flexibility, ability to interact in non-disruptive way and no dependency on mouse.