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i3 VS DirectFB

Compare i3 VS DirectFB and see what are their differences

LibHunt
LibHunt tracks mentions of software libraries on relevant social networks. Based on that data, you can find the most popular projects and their alternatives. featured
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

i3 logo i3

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

DirectFB logo DirectFB

DirectFB is a web-based platform that provides you with complete access to a software library that you can use for the acceleration of graphics, handling the input devices, and others for your Linux operating systems.
  • i3 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19
  • DirectFB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-25

i3 features and specs

  • Efficient Window Management
    i3 allows for highly efficient window management using a tree data structure, making it easy to snap windows into grids and manage multiple applications simultaneously.
  • Lightweight
    i3 is deliberately simplistic and lightweight, which allows it to run efficiently on older hardware or systems with limited resources.
  • Customizability
    Users can extensively customize keybindings and behavior through a plain text configuration file. This allows for a personalized workflow.
  • Keyboard-Centric
    i3 is designed to be used primarily through keyboard shortcuts, which can lead to increased productivity for advanced users.
  • Scriptability
    i3 supports various scripting languages through its IPC (Inter-process Communication) interface, enabling automation of complex workflows.
  • Community and Documentation
    i3 has strong community support and extensive documentation, making it easier for new users to learn and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages of i3

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find i3 difficult to learn and configure, especially if they are accustomed to traditional desktop environments.
  • Lack of GUI Configuration Tools
    i3 relies heavily on manual edits to text files for configuration, lacking user-friendly graphical interfaces for setup and customization.
  • Limited Out-of-the-Box Features
    i3 does not come with many built-in features available in more comprehensive desktop environments, such as app launchers or system tray support, requiring additional setups.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some applications may not play well with tiling window managers like i3, requiring workarounds or alternative software choices.
  • Minimal Default Appearance
    Without customization, i3 offers a very minimalistic and barebones visual experience, which may not be appealing to all users.

DirectFB features and specs

  • Performance
    DirectFB provides high-performance graphics operations on embedded systems by directly interfacing with the framebuffer, which can result in faster rendering compared to other graphics systems that use more layers of abstraction.
  • Resource Efficiency
    It is optimized for low resource usage, which makes it suitable for use on devices with limited processing power and memory, such as set-top boxes and other embedded systems.
  • Simplicity
    DirectFB offers a relatively straightforward API for 2D graphics operations, which can simplify the development process for applications that do not require the full complexity of OpenGL or similar libraries.
  • Support for Multiple Backends
    DirectFB supports various input and output backends, allowing for flexible integration with different types of hardware such as different graphics cards and input devices.

Possible disadvantages of DirectFB

  • Limited 3D Support
    While DirectFB is excellent for 2D operations, it lacks comprehensive support for 3D graphics compared to more modern graphics APIs like OpenGL or Vulkan, which might limit its use for applications requiring 3D rendering.
  • Obsolescence
    DirectFB has not seen significant updates or widespread adoption in recent years, which makes it less desirable for new projects compared to other graphics stacks that are actively developed and supported.
  • Platform Specificity
    It is designed primarily for Linux-based systems, which limits its portability to other operating systems, unlike more platform-agnostic graphics libraries.
  • Development Community
    The community and support around DirectFB are relatively small, which can make it more challenging to find help or resources when encountering issues during development.

Analysis of i3

Overall verdict

  • Yes, i3 is considered a very good window manager for users who appreciate its minimalist and efficient approach. Its lightweight design keeps resource usage low, which can improve performance on less powerful machines.

Why this product is good

  • i3wm is known for its simplicity, speed, and efficient use of screen space, making it a popular choice among power users and developers who prefer a keyboard-driven workspace. Its tiling feature allows for the seamless organization of multiple windows, enhancing productivity and multitasking. Furthermore, it is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their specific needs.

Recommended for

    i3wm is recommended for advanced users, developers, and anyone who prefers a keyboard-centric interface. It is ideal for users who like to customize their environment extensively and are comfortable with configuring software via text files. New users with a willingness to learn may also find it rewarding.

i3 videos

+ Add

30k Miles with the BMW i3 - End of Lease Review

More videos:

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  • Review - 2018 BMW i3s Range Extender (REx) Review - The Future Of Cars?
  • Demo - Gaming With Intel's Core i3 9100F - The First Turbo Boosted Desktop i3
  • Review - The best EV for the money? Used BMW i3 Review

DirectFB videos

+ Add

Odroid c1 directfb porting : booting time 14sec

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to i3 and DirectFB)

i3

DirectFB

Window Manager
91 91%
Window Manager
9% 9
OS & Utilities
0 0%
OS & Utilities
100% 100
Linux
90 90%
Linux
10% 10
Utilities
100 100%
Utilities
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using i3 and DirectFB. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare i3 and DirectFB

i3 Reviews

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022
Sway is a tiling Wayland i3-compatible window manager that dynamically arranges app windows to rationally maximise desktop space. It is free, open-source, and lightweight. By default, it arranges windows in a grid and supports practically all of the i3 commands.
Source: www.hubtech.org
Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
i3-wm is one of my most loved standalone window managers, qualifying it to easily fit under the desktop environment list! The configuration is just very easy, and you can change everything that you see on screen. This includes what information you see on the bottom panel, how windows behave, and keyboard shortcuts to move, align, and set up windows on the screen.
Source: www.journaldev.com
13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux
Sway is a free, open-source, and lightweight tiling Wayland i3-compatible window manager that automatically arranges app windows to logically maximize desktop space. It arranges windows into a grid by default and supports almost all the commands included in i3.
Source: www.tecmint.com
5 Great Tiling Window Managers for Linux
I begun testing i3 just this week. I was always fascinated by the Tiling WM’s as they seem really light on system resources and functional. To my surprise , although i3 is really easy to customize, and works really well (at least for my needs) , I found that it isn’t really that lightweight. I had Mate desktop environment use the same amount of RAM. Maybe I was mislead to...
Source: www.maketecheasier.com

DirectFB Reviews

We have no reviews of DirectFB yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, i3 seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 90 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.

i3 mentions (90)

  • Automatic Visual Feedback for System Volume Change in I3wm via Dunst
    I switched to the i3 tiling based window manager. Because it's a whole different environment and thinking, it was very different from what I was used to. The volume buttons were working on my keyboard, but I didn't get any visual feedback. Furthermore, the volume percentage could go down below zero and increase up to more than hundread percent. There were times when I was confused why the keys stopped working, but... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • "We understand" ;)
    This is partially why I use tools like i3 (/ sway). I like the tool; it works extremely well for me; the design has stayed the same for 20 years; there's no profit motive to come along and fuck everything up. It just works. It is boring in the best way possible. Source: over 1 year ago
  • what machines have you used for development, and what do you prefer?
    I use MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid-2014) with Manjaro as OS using i3 as a window manager. It isn't perfect, but I'm thrilled with it. I have been a Mac OS user for the last 15 years and wouldn't change what I have now for a Mac OS because I don't need more than what I'm using for development. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Machine for pentesting and general use?
    For daily usage I really like kubuntu with i3wm, but it takes some configuration and getting used to the shortcuts, but it's well worth it. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What's the difference between Gnome and KDE? Do applications written for one work in the other?
    Some window managers are meant to be used as-is, and provide a minimalist yet functional environment that use very little resources or give power users an almost HUD-like interface. Examples of those window managers are OpenBox and i3wm for X, and Weston and Hyprland for Wayland. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

DirectFB mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DirectFB yet. Tracking of DirectFB recommendations started around Apr 2022.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing i3 and DirectFB, you can also consider the following products

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.

Mir - The purpose of Mir is to enable the development of user interfaces shells.

Sway - Sway is a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager, but for Wayland instead of X11.

Y Window System - Y Window System is a platform that allows you to improve the speed, working, and efficiency of the application in your operating system and helps you to increase the responsiveness of applications similar to any locally based app.

Openbox - Openbox is a highly configurable, next generation window manager with extensive standards support.

Xynth Window System - Xynth Window System is a web-based software that is used for the deployment of resources within a minimum resource and offers you features that are alternatives to the X Window System.

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