Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

bug.n VS Open Shell

Compare bug.n VS Open Shell and see what are their differences

bug.n logo bug.n

Provide views (i. e. virtual desktops) for showing only those windows, which you need to do your work..

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...
  • bug.n Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-04
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07

bug.n features and specs

  • Tiling Window Management
    bug.n provides efficient tiling capabilities similar to those found in Linux-based tiling window managers, which can significantly enhance productivity by organizing windows in a non-overlapping manner.
  • Customizability
    The software allows for extensive customization of window layouts, key bindings, and other settings, making it adaptable to individual workflow preferences.
  • Lightweight
    bug.n is a lightweight tool, meaning it has minimal impact on system performance and memory usage compared to more resource-intensive window management solutions.
  • Free and Open Source
    As an open-source project, bug.n is free to use, and its source code is accessible for modifications, allowing users to contribute to its development or tailor it to specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of bug.n

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users might find bug.n challenging to set up and use effectively, especially if they are not familiar with the concepts of tiling window managers.
  • Limited Windows Integration
    While bug.n brings tiling window management to Windows, it may not integrate as smoothly with all Windows applications and can sometimes cause unexpected behaviors with certain programs.
  • Community Support
    Being a niche tool, the user community and support resources for bug.n are relatively limited compared to more mainstream software, which can make troubleshooting issues more difficult.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    bug.n may encounter compatibility issues with certain versions of Windows or other system utilities, requiring additional configuration or workaround solutions.

Open Shell features and specs

  • Customization
    Open Shell provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the Start menu to fit their preferences, from design to functionality.
  • Familiar Interface
    It offers a classic start menu which is familiar to users of older Windows versions, making it easier for them to navigate.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, it allows for community contributions, making it more transparent and potentially more secure.
  • No Cost
    Open Shell is free to use, providing a cost-effective solution for users who want a different Start menu experience without paying for software.
  • Regular Updates
    The project is fairly well-maintained, receiving updates that add new features and fix potential issues, improving user experience over time.

Possible disadvantages of Open Shell

  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility problems with certain Windows updates or third-party applications, requiring troubleshooting and fixes.
  • Learning Curve
    While it offers many customization options, new users might find the settings and customization process overwhelming and confusing initially.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing prompt assistance.
  • Resource Usage
    Though generally lightweight, Open Shell can consume additional system resources, which might be impactful on less powerful machines.

bug.n videos

Bug.n: Dynamic Tiling Window Manager for Windows 10

More videos:

  • Review - Bug.n : Install, configuration, status bar, settings :☜(゚ヮ゚☜)

Open Shell videos

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to bug.n and Open Shell)
Note Taking
39 39%
61% 61
Image Optimisation
100 100%
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
100% 100
OS & Utilities
20 20%
80% 80

User comments

Share your experience with using bug.n and Open Shell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, bug.n seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. 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.

bug.n mentions (9)

  • Somehow AutoHotKey is kinda good now
    There is even a dwm-style extremely comprehensive tiling window manager called bug.n [1], which I downloaded it way back in windows 8 days. Made a lot of changes myself and plan to open source it as a fork. Its too good. And combined with the rest of my AHK scripts, my windows setup turns out to be even more customised than many Linux systems I use. See my post of my windows setup fooling r/unixporn [2] for how it... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • [Windows] Bester gekachelter Fenstermanager für Windows?
    Bug.n — Amongst other flavours is a dynamic, tiling window manager, which tries to clone the functionality of dwm. Source: about 2 years ago
  • is there any software that lets me open a scpecific number of programs in specific places on my screen?
    Another comment mentioned what you're looking for is a window manager: another for windows is bug.n. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How do you manage your git commits?
    So when I said "window manager based Linux" I was mostly referring to the stereotypes of the Linux window manager; which 1 person not even having a mouse; staring apps; moving windows doing everything with their keyboard. If you wanna look a bit more into window managers for windows the only "okay" one that I've personally used is bug.n and for Linux there's tons; but my personal fav is I3. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Show HN: AutoHotkey for Linux
    You can implement the wm manager of your dreams in ahk ... In like 500 lines. it's amazing stuff. You can also go all out: https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

Open Shell mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Open Shell yet. Tracking of Open Shell recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing bug.n and Open Shell, you can also consider the following products

VirtuaWin - VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called 'workspaces').

Fences - Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.

Cairo Shell - Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows.

Classic Shell - Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

Dexpot - If you don't have Dexpot yet, the new update makes it a must-have tool for Windows, adding a ton of features to your desktop that you never knew you wanted.

Start Menu X - Start Menu X with Start Button. Power users know how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to launch programs from the system menu.