Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

monsterwm VS Witch

Compare monsterwm VS Witch and see what are their differences

monsterwm logo monsterwm

tiny but monstrous tiling window manager. Contribute to c00kiemon5ter/monsterwm development by creating an account on GitHub.

Witch logo Witch

Welcome to the world of W. i. t. c. h.
  • monsterwm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • Witch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-22

monsterwm features and specs

  • Lightweight
    monsterwm is designed to be a minimalistic and lightweight window manager, which means it has a small memory footprint and can run efficiently on older or resource-constrained systems.
  • Minimal Dependencies
    It has very few dependencies, which simplifies installation and reduces bloat. This makes it appealing for users who want to maintain a clean and efficient system.
  • Customizable
    Despite its minimal nature, monsterwm is customizable. Users can edit the source code directly to adjust the layout, appearance, and behavior to their liking.
  • Tiling Support
    monsterwm supports various tiling layouts out of the box, providing effective management of open windows and improving workspace organization.

Possible disadvantages of monsterwm

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its minimalistic design, new users might find monsterwm challenging to configure and use, especially if they are accustomed to more feature-rich or user-friendly window managers.
  • Lack of Features
    monsterwm intentionally lacks many features found in other window managers, which might not cater to users who need more comprehensive functionality like integrated status bars or GUI configuration tools.
  • Manual Configuration
    Configuration requires altering the source code and recompiling, which might be daunting for users who are not comfortable with coding.
  • Limited Community and Support
    As a relatively niche project, it has a smaller user base and community, which can result in less available support, documentation, and fewer community-contributed patches or extensions.

Witch features and specs

  • Improved Window Management
    Witch allows users to easily switch between open windows, not just applications, making multitasking more efficient.
  • Customizable Settings
    Users can customize various settings, such as window switching behavior and appearance, to better suit their workflow and preferences.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    Witch supports customizable keyboard shortcuts, providing quick access to window management functions without relying on the mouse.
  • Application-Specific Navigation
    Users can navigate through different windows of the same application, which is particularly useful for applications with multiple open documents or instances.
  • Integration with macOS
    Witch integrates well with macOS, enhancing the native window switching capabilities without requiring significant changes to the existing workflow.

Possible disadvantages of Witch

  • Price
    Witch is a paid application, which may be a deterrent for users who are seeking free alternatives for window management.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might need some time to fully understand and configure Witch to their liking, which can be a slight barrier to initial productivity.
  • Possible Redundancy
    For users who are satisfied with the built-in macOS window management features, Witch might add unnecessary complexity without significant benefits.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Updates to macOS may occasionally cause compatibility issues with Witch, requiring users to wait for updates from the developer.
  • Resource Usage
    While not typically significant, Witch does consume system resources, which might be a concern for users on older or less powerful machines.

Analysis of Witch

Overall verdict

  • Witch is generally considered a good tool for those who require more control over window management on macOS. It is reliable, integrates well with the macOS environment, and offers a level of customization that can cater to various workflow preferences.

Why this product is good

  • Witch by Many Tricks is a utility for macOS designed to enhance window management. Users appreciate its ability to switch between not only applications but also individual windows using simple keyboard shortcuts. This added functionality can significantly improve productivity, especially for power users who often work with multiple windows and need a more refined navigation tool than the standard macOS application switcher.

Recommended for

  • Mac users who multitask frequently and need efficient window management
  • Individuals looking for an alternative to the default macOS app switcher
  • Power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts for enhanced productivity

monsterwm videos

A VERY quick look at MonsterWM

More videos:

  • Review - Window Manager (monsterwm) event

Witch videos

The Witch - Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - The Witch - movie review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to monsterwm and Witch)
Window Manager
36 36%
64% 64
Tool
100 100%
0% 0
Mac
0 0%
100% 100
Linux
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using monsterwm and Witch. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Witch seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 27 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.

monsterwm mentions (0)

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

Witch mentions (27)

  • macOS Tips and Tricks
    - check out Witch (https://manytricks.com/witch/). - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Loop: Open-Source macOS Window Manager
    There's at least Witch and Contexts. https://manytricks.com/witch/ https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • US sues Adobe for 'deceiving' subscriptions that are too hard to cancel
    There are multiple 3rd party window switchers, Witch is a popular one, afair: https://manytricks.com/witch/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • App Switcher on MAC
    I tried a lot, and https://manytricks.com/witch/ is what I stuck with for the ONLY decent alt tab experience I could find (it’s heavily customizable). I don’t understand this number thing, finding them like that takes the same reading action you could be doing while you press alt tab for each… and you’d be done, but instead I see so many apps offer that number route. It just seems like double work to me ;). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • App that shows minimized windows in control panel?
    I use Witch. It's a little older but is still fully supported and I feel still works the best for me. Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing monsterwm and Witch, you can also consider the following products

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

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

pekwm - pekwm is a window manager that once up on a time was based on the aewm++ window manager, but it has...

xfdashboard - xfdashboard provides a GMONE shell dashboard like interface for use with the Xfce desktop.

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

IceWM - icewm home page . Bug Tracking. If you have a patch, a bug report or a feature request to submit, please do so at the icewm project page at SourceForge.