Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

i3 VS Interplanetary

Compare i3 VS Interplanetary and see what are their differences

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i3 logo i3

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

Interplanetary logo Interplanetary

Turn-based space exploration sweetness
  • i3 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19
  • Interplanetary Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-07-16

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.

Interplanetary features and specs

  • Unique Orbital Mechanics Gameplay
    The core mechanic of calculating trajectories using real physics-like orbital mechanics (accounting for gravity, planetary rotation, and travel time) creates a genuinely unique and satisfying strategic experience not found in most other strategy games.
  • Deep Strategic Layer
    Players must balance economy, building placement, defense systems, and offensive weaponry, creating a layered strategic experience where planning ahead and adapting to opponents' moves is crucial.
  • Satisfying Long-Range Warfare
    Successfully landing a shot on an enemy planet after calculating the correct trajectory across a solar system feels rewarding and skill-based, giving a strong sense of accomplishment.
  • Solid Multiplayer Component
    The game supports competitive multiplayer matches where players can test their strategic and calculation skills against real opponents, adding replay value beyond the single-player campaign.
  • Attractive Visual Style
    The game features a clean, stylized art style for planets, solar systems, and explosions that makes the strategic warfare visually appealing and easy to parse.

Possible disadvantages of Interplanetary

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The physics-based aiming system requiring players to account for gravity, rotation, and travel time can be confusing and unintuitive for newcomers, creating a significant barrier to entry.
  • Slow-Paced Matches
    Due to the turn-based nature and the time it takes for projectiles to travel across space, matches can feel slow and drawn out, which may not appeal to players seeking fast-paced action.
  • Limited Content Variety
    The game offers a relatively small number of maps, scenarios, and unit types, which can lead to repetitive gameplay after extended play sessions.
  • Weak AI Opponents
    The single-player AI can be underwhelming and predictable, making the campaign or skirmish modes less challenging compared to human multiplayer opponents.
  • Niche Appeal
    The math and physics-heavy approach to strategy may alienate players who prefer more traditional or straightforward RTS mechanics, limiting the game's broader audience.

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.

Analysis of Interplanetary

Overall verdict

  • Interplanetary is a solid pick for strategy fans who enjoy tense, tactical artillery-style combat combined with city-building and resource management, though its steep learning curve and dated presentation may not appeal to everyone.

Why this product is good

  • Unique blend of city-building, resource management, and physics-based artillery combat set on a planetary scale
  • Turn-based strategic depth requires careful planning of trajectories, gravity, and timing for attacks
  • Offers both single-player campaign and multiplayer modes for varied replayability
  • Distinct sci-fi setting with planetary destruction mechanics that feel satisfying and strategic
  • Relatively affordable price point on Steam compared to other strategy titles

Recommended for

  • Fans of turn-based strategy and tactics games
  • Players who enjoy physics-based combat mechanics like trajectory and gravity calculations
  • Those looking for a niche sci-fi strategy experience outside mainstream 4X titles
  • Gamers who enjoy multiplayer strategic showdowns
  • Players patient enough to learn a moderately complex system with unique mechanics

i3 videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - 2016 BMW i3 - Review and Road Test
  • 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

Interplanetary videos

No Interplanetary videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to i3 and Interplanetary)
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Games
0 0%
100% 100
Linux
100 100%
0% 0
Action
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

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.
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 WMโ€™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 isnโ€™t really that lightweight. I had Mate desktop environment use the same amount of RAM. Maybe I was mislead to...

Interplanetary Reviews

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

Based on our record, i3 seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 92 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 (92)

  • Why I traded my custom "Opinionated Linux" for Omarchy
    I've been using Omarchy as my main setup since June 26, 2025, the day DHH released the first version. Before that I had my own custom Opinionated Linux, mclovin-ARCHived: an Arch + i3wm installer set up exactly the way I liked. It was total control over the OS: me deciding what goes in, keeping every piece (i3wm, polybar, picom, kitty, dotfiles) up to date and making sure they all talked to each other for the... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Omarcacca
    Then few years back, in 2015, I got shown i3wm and used it on my ubuntu-netinstall until 2020, then I switched to Budgie and my personal laptop has been using that ever since. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • 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 / about 2 years 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 2 years 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: about 3 years ago
View more

Interplanetary mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Interplanetary yet. Tracking of Interplanetary recommendations started around Jul 2026.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Mars Colonies - A free old-school RTS... on Mars

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.

Galcon - Galcon is an Action Strategy, Single and Online Multiplayer video game developed and published by Hassey Enterprises Inc.

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

Warbits - Warbits, developed by Risky Lab, is a Turn-based Tactical, Single-player and Multiplayer video game available to play on iOS.