Discover the Best JWM Alternative: Top Window Managers for Your Linux System

JWM (Joe's Window Manager) is renowned for its lightweight nature and minimal resource consumption, making it an excellent choice for older hardware, embedded systems like the Raspberry Pi, and compact Linux distributions such as Puppy Linux and Damn Small Linux. Written in C and relying on Xlib, JWM offers a basic yet functional desktop experience. However, users often seek a JWM alternative for more advanced features, different tiling approaches, or simply a fresh look and feel. This article explores some of the best window manager alternatives that can cater to various needs, from highly customizable tiling managers to familiar floating interfaces.

Top JWM Alternatives

Whether you're looking for more extensive customization, a specific workflow, or just a change of pace, these JWM alternatives offer diverse features and philosophies to enhance your X11 experience.

i3

i3 is a powerful, dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, drawing inspiration from wmii. Written in C, it's a popular choice for users who prefer a keyboard-driven workflow and automatic window arrangement. As a Free and Open Source option available for Linux and BSD, its lightweight nature and focus on tiling make it an excellent JWM alternative for those seeking efficiency and control.

Openbox

Openbox is a highly configurable, next-generation window manager known for its extensive standards support. As a Free and Open Source solution for Linux and BSD, Openbox offers a classic floating window manager experience while remaining exceptionally lightweight. It serves as a fantastic JWM alternative for users who appreciate flexibility and a clean, unobtrusive desktop without the complexity of tiling.

awesome

awesome is a dynamic window manager for the X Window System, developed using the C and Lua programming languages. It stands out as an extensible window manager with robust tiling capabilities, making it a compelling JWM alternative for those seeking a highly customizable and scriptable environment. Being Free and Open Source, and available for Linux and BSD, awesome allows users to tailor their desktop experience precisely to their needs.

Xmonad

Xmonad is a dynamically tiling X11 window manager written and configured in Haskell. It takes a unique approach to window management, aiming to eliminate the need for manual window alignment and searching. As a Free and Open Source solution for Mac and Linux, Xmonad's focus on an extensible tiling experience makes it an excellent JWM alternative for users who value automation and a highly efficient, keyboard-driven workflow.

Fluxbox

Fluxbox is a window manager for X based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code. It's known for being very light on resources and easy to handle, yet full of features for an efficient workflow. As a Free and Open Source option written in C++ for Linux and BSD, Fluxbox is a superb JWM alternative for those prioritizing speed, efficiency, and a clean, minimalist desktop without sacrificing functionality.

dwm

dwm is a dynamic window manager for X, capable of managing windows in tiled, monocle, and floating layouts. All layouts can be applied dynamically, optimizing the user's workspace. As a Free and Open Source project for Linux and BSD, dwm's lightweight nature and focus on efficiency make it an ideal JWM alternative for minimalists who desire a powerful, configurable tiling manager with a small footprint.

Amethyst

Amethyst is a tiling window manager for Mac, conceptually similar to the xmonad tiling window manager popular on Linux. Written in Objective-C, it offers configurable tiling layouts and robust support for keyboard shortcuts. While not for Linux, Amethyst is a Free and Open Source JWM alternative for Mac users who appreciate efficient window management and are looking for a tiling solution on their macOS machines.

Sway

Sway is a tiling Wayland compositor designed as a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager for X11. It brings the familiar and efficient tiling workflow of i3 to the modern Wayland display server. As a Free and Open Source option for Linux, Sway is an excellent JWM alternative for users looking to transition to Wayland while retaining the benefits of a powerful tiling window manager.

Bluetile

Bluetile is a tiling window manager for Linux designed to integrate seamlessly with the GNOME desktop environment. It offers both traditional stacking layout modes and efficient tiling. As a Free and Open Source solution for Linux, Bluetile provides a unique JWM alternative for users who want the benefits of tiling without abandoning a more traditional desktop environment, offering features like window snapping.

IceWM

IceWM is a Window Manager for the X Window System known for being fast and memory-efficient. It provides a highly customizable appearance, capable of mimicking various classic desktop looks, including Windows '95 and OS/2 Warp. As a Free and Open Source option for Linux and BSD, IceWM is a fantastic JWM alternative for users who desire a lightweight yet feature-rich floating window manager with extensive theming capabilities.

Choosing the right window manager depends entirely on your personal preferences and system requirements. Whether you prioritize a minimalist tiling setup, a highly configurable floating environment, or a balance of both, the alternatives to JWM presented here offer a wide range of options to explore. We encourage you to try out a few to find the perfect fit for your workflow and computing needs.