Software Alternatives & Startups

bspwm VS CDM

Compare bspwm VS CDM and see what are their differences

bspwm logo bspwm

A tiling window manager based on binary space partitioning

CDM logo CDM

Console Display Manager. Contribute to evertiro/cdm development by creating an account on GitHub.
  • bspwm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • CDM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-07

bspwm features and specs

  • Highly Configurable
    Bspwm is known for its high level of customizability, allowing users to tweak almost every aspect of their window management experience through simple scripts and configuration files.
  • Efficient Use of Screen Space
    As a tiling window manager, Bspwm automatically arranges windows in a way that maximizes screen real estate, minimizing overlap and unused space.
  • Lightweight
    Bspwm is extremely lightweight, making it suitable for older hardware and systems with limited resources. It does not come with additional software bloat.
  • Scriptable with Unix Philosophy
    Bspwm adheres to the Unix philosophy of 'doing one thing well'. It functions without managing keybindings, allowing users to use other programs (like sxhkd) for keybinding management, which offers greater flexibility.
  • Active Community Support
    Bspwm has an active community and comprehensive documentation, which helps new users get started and troubleshoot any issues they might encounter.

Possible disadvantages of bspwm

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The configuration process can be complex and overwhelming for beginners. Unlike more mainstream window managers, bspwm requires learning various scripts and commands.
  • Lack of GUI Configuration Tools
    Bspwm does not come with graphical configuration tools, which might be inconvenient for users who prefer a GUI for managing settings.
  • Sparse on Built-in Features
    Since bspwm follows the Unix philosophy closely, it lacks many built-in features and utilities that other window managers might offer. Users need to set up additional tools for tasks such as wallpaper management or system trays.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some applications that expect a floating window manager might not work well with bspwm, requiring extra configuration or using alternative software.
  • Limited Out-of-the-box Experience
    Bspwm does not come with a pre-configured environment, which can be a disadvantage for users looking for a ready-to-use experience out of the box.

CDM features and specs

  • Customizability
    CDM is customizable and allows users to tailor the appearance and behavior of the display manager to suit their preferences.
  • Lightweight
    CDM is a lightweight console display manager, meaning it has minimal system requirements and runs efficiently without consuming excessive resources.
  • Console-Based
    Being console-based, CDM does not require a graphical environment, making it suitable for systems without a GUI.
  • Simplicity
    CDM's simple design and straightforward configuration make it easy to set up and use, especially for those familiar with command-line interfaces.

Possible disadvantages of CDM

  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Compared to graphical display managers, CDM may lack some advanced features such as graphical user interfaces, easy configuration dialogs, and multi-user support.
  • Steep Learning Curve for New Users
    Users not familiar with terminal-based applications might find CDM challenging to configure and navigate compared to graphical display managers.
  • Limited Documentation
    CDM may have less comprehensive documentation, leading to challenges in troubleshooting and configuration for new users.
  • Compatibility
    As a console-based tool, CDM might not integrate smoothly with all graphical desktop environments or offer seamless user experiences compared to graphical display managers.

Analysis of bspwm

Overall verdict

  • Yes, bspwm is generally considered to be a good window manager for users who value minimalism and customization. It is highly praised for its performance, simplicity, and the level of control it provides. However, it may not be the best choice for beginners due to the initial learning curve and the need for manual configuration.

Why this product is good

  • Bspwm is a tiling window manager that is highly configurable and minimalistic, designed to operate efficiently without relying on extensive system resources. It handles windows based on binary space partitioning, providing users with an easy way to organize their workspace. Its scriptability and flexibility allow users to tailor their environment precisely to their preferences, which is particularly appealing to advanced users who appreciate control over their system's behavior.

Recommended for

  • Advanced Linux users who prefer a minimalistic and efficient tiling window manager
  • Users who enjoy customizing their desktop environment and scripting configurations
  • Individuals who want to maximize screen real estate and improve their productivity through efficient workspace management

bspwm videos

Switching To Bspwm - Initial Thoughts

More videos:

CDM videos

THE BEST CDM IN FIFA 20!!!? | MIDDLE ICON ESSIEN PLAYER REVIEW

More videos:

  • Review - Gemini DJ Twin CD Media Player CDM-4000 Review
  • Review - REVIEW FO4 | Granit Xhaka GR | CDM | " Vua thẻ đỏ " của Châu Âu |

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to bspwm and CDM)
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Linux
71 71%
29% 29
Electronics
0 0%
100% 100
Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare bspwm and CDM

bspwm Reviews

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022
Support for multiple windows, limited support for EWMH, automatic mode for automatically determining the location of app tiles, and configuration and control via messages are among the characteristics of bspwm.
Source: www.hubtech.org
13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux
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.
Source: www.tecmint.com

CDM Reviews

We have no reviews of CDM yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, bspwm seems to be a lot more popular than CDM. While we know about 21 links to bspwm, we've tracked only 1 mention of CDM. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

bspwm mentions (21)

  • well... thinkpads are awesome
    Over on Linux, I’ve been learning kinda a-lot about linux tools and workflows. I've recently got into window managers, bspwm was my first one and I'm thinking of moving towards a Arch+Hyprland setup in future. Setting it up was way easier than I thought, and I got inspired by a YouTuber named jvscholz, who’s all about minimalism and productivity. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • What WM should I use?
    Use BSPWM. It supports right clicks by default and its modular. You might want to look for status bars that work with it, slstatus does not work. Good luck, supremacist! Source: over 3 years ago
  • What are some OpenSource apps that are the best of their kind?
    I had not heard of bspwm but I am a fan of telling WMs. Looking at the documentation now, I really like the pragmatic approach lol https://github.com/baskerville/bspwm. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Got some questions before moving to linux...
    I am not familiar with that distro at all, so no idea. KDE Plasma is fine, I use it myself (with BSPWM as my window manager, but that's irrelevant). Source: over 3 years ago
  • MacBook Setup - OS Ventura 13.1 - Samsung QLed 43” - VM: yabai - Terminal: Hyper
    There's a paradigm shift required for a lot of people to start using automatic tiling window managers. Yabai is basically a bspwm port for MacOS and it follows the rules of binary space partitioning. In fact, bspwm has a great diagram on its github readme that illustrates how it works. This will limit the number of windows you can have on any given desktop. To overcome this limitation you use multiple desktops. A... Source: over 3 years ago
View more

CDM mentions (1)

  • Cldm - Console Display Manager https://github.com/martinval9/cldm---CONSOLE-DISPLAY-MANAGER
    Just so you know, there is already a console display manager with a similar name, cdm. Source: about 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing bspwm and CDM, you can also consider the following products

i3 - A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

Console TDM - a login-manager-like desktop session selector written in bash (original source tree, now forked by dopsi https://github.com/dopsi/console-tdm) - mytbk/console-tdm

qtile - Qtile is a full-featured, hackable tiling window manager written in Python.

LightDM - A lightweight display manager

dwm - dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.

Ly - TUI (ncurses-like) display manager