Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

Contexts VS picom

Compare Contexts VS picom and see what are their differences

Fileport
The fastest way to send files over the internet featured
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Contexts logo Contexts

Switch between application windows effortlessly — with Fast Search, a better Command-Tab, a Sidebar or even a quick gesture. Free trial available.

picom logo picom

A lightweight compositor for X11 (previously a compton fork).
  • Contexts Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21
  • picom Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

Contexts features and specs

  • Intuitive Interface
    Contexts offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to switch between different tasks and applications seamlessly.
  • Productivity Enhancement
    With rapid window switching and organization, Contexts helps enhance productivity by reducing the time spent on finding and managing open applications.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    The app supports customizable keyboard shortcuts, allowing users to navigate their open applications and tasks more efficiently.
  • Compatibility
    Contexts is highly compatible with macOS and integrates well with other macOS workflows and applications.
  • Search Functionality
    It provides a powerful search functionality that lets users quickly find and switch to any open window using just a few keystrokes.

Possible disadvantages of Contexts

  • Limited to macOS
    Contexts is only available for macOS, which limits its utility for users who work across multiple operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is intuitive, new users may still require some time and practice to fully master the keyboard shortcuts and become accustomed to the workflow.
  • Cost
    Contexts is a paid application, which might be a deterrent for users looking for free alternatives or those who are budget-conscious.
  • Resource Usage
    Some users have reported that the application can be resource-intensive, which might affect the performance of older or less powerful Mac machines.
  • Feature Limitations
    While it excels in window management, Contexts lacks some advanced features found in other productivity tools, such as integration with task management or project planning software.

picom features and specs

  • Customizability
    Picom offers a wide range of customization options, allowing users to configure window transparency, animations, shadows, and other graphical effects to fit their preferences.
  • Performance
    Designed to be lightweight, Picom provides minimal resource usage while offering compositing effects, making it suitable for systems with limited resources.
  • Modern Features
    Picom includes support for hybrid backends, experimental features like VSync, and improved performance over its predecessor, Compton, making it well-suited for modern Linux systems.
  • Active Development
    The project benefits from ongoing updates and enhancements, addressing issues and introducing new features based on community feedback.

Possible disadvantages of picom

  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive range of options and settings, Picom can be complex to configure, requiring users to invest time in understanding and editing configuration files.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with specific hardware or window managers, necessitating additional troubleshooting and configuration.
  • Documentation
    Despite being actively developed, the documentation can be sparse or outdated, requiring users to seek community support or refer to insider knowledge for certain configurations.
  • Experimental Features
    Some features may be in experimental stages and could lead to instability or unpredictable behavior on certain systems.

Analysis of Contexts

Overall verdict

  • Contexts is generally considered a good tool for macOS users who want enhanced multitasking capabilities and efficient window management. It has received positive feedback for its intuitive interface and the ability to streamline workflows.

Why this product is good

  • Contexts is a window manager for macOS that helps users organize and switch between windows efficiently. It focuses on improving productivity by offering features such as a quick switcher, window navigation shortcuts, and workspace management. Its design is minimalistic, which appeals to users who prefer a clutter-free interface.

Recommended for

  • MacOS users seeking better window management
  • Individuals who multitask frequently
  • Users who prefer keyboard shortcuts over mouse interactions
  • People looking to increase productivity through better workspace organization

Contexts videos

+ Add

The Art of Discovering Bounded Contexts by Nick Tune

More videos:

  • Review - A Fresh Take on Contexts
  • Review - Contexts and Methods: Literature Review - Intro and Assessment Criteria

picom videos

+ Add

ArcoLinux : 1481 Making sure compton/picom is working on LXQt

More videos:

  • Review - ArcoLinux : 1479 Changing from compton to picom - transparency in terminals

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Contexts and picom)

Contexts

picom

Mac
84 84%
Mac
16% 16
Window Manager
72 72%
Window Manager
28% 28
Note Taking
67 67%
Note Taking
33% 33
Productivity
100 100%
Productivity
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Contexts and picom. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Contexts should be more popular than picom. It has been mentiond 63 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.

Contexts mentions (63)

View more

picom mentions (39)

  • How to make Openbox look good with ease?
    Picom is also open source and you can find its code at its GitHub repo. The version of Picom used for this tutorial was the 10.2–1 version. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • [photo] installing Debian :)
    Also I took a census and zero founding members of NWA are "straight outta Picom". That's right, you heard it here first: Not even MC Ren is running Picom. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I have two Linux computers which I use for gaming.... somehow the one with slightly inferior hardware gets significantly better performance. I'm trying to figure out why... any ideas?
    If you have compositing you are likely using picom. You can check if it's running with ps -A | grep picom. I've never dealt with this issue as I don't really game on linux often, but I'm sure there's a solution somewhere in the github docs or issues. Worst case scenario you could always just kill the process with killall picom whenever you're about to game, and re-enable it with picom -b after. Do note though that... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Picom crashes with 'I3_FLOATING_WINDOW' in a rule
    Somewhat recently in official picom, a field called corner-radius-rules was added. I would like all my floating windows to have rounded corners. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Linux Mint XFCE4. I felt like having simpler looking rice. More in reply
    • Compositor: Picom - https://github.com/yshui/picom - used it to just get shadow, under rofi. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Contexts and picom, you can also consider the following products

Witch - Welcome to the world of W. i. t. c. h.

Xcompmgr - Xcompmgr is a simple composite manager capable of rendering drop shadows and primitive window transparency. Designed solely as a proof-of-concept, Xcompmgr is a lightweight alternative to Compiz and similar composite managers.

Compiz - Project information. Maintainer: PS Project Management Team. Driver: Compiz Maintainers. Licence: GNU GPL v2, GNU LGPL v2. 1, MIT / X / Expat Licence.

rcmd - rcmd makes app switching instantaneous!When you have a lot of apps open, finding and switching to them might feel too slow using Command-Tab or the Dock.Hold down the right side |⌘ command| and press the first letter of the app name to focus it.

KWin - KWin is a window manager for the X Window System, and is in the process of becoming a Wayland...

Hyperswitch - HyperSwitch provides a compelling alternative to HyperDock for keyboard junkies. What's New

Loading...