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Openbox VS Amethyst

Compare Openbox VS Amethyst and see what are their differences

Openbox logo Openbox

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

Amethyst logo Amethyst

A tiling window manager for macOS
  • Openbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06
Not present

Openbox features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Openbox is a highly efficient window manager that requires minimal system resources, making it an excellent choice for older hardware or systems with limited resources.
  • Customizable
    Openbox offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the look and feel of their desktop environment to their specific preferences.
  • Fast Performance
    Due to its lightweight nature, Openbox provides fast and responsive performance, resulting in quicker application launches and smoother overall desktop experience.
  • Comprehensive Keybindings
    Openbox supports complex keybindings, enabling power users to create efficient workflow setups through keyboard shortcuts.
  • Extensible
    Openbox can work seamlessly with other tools and additional software, allowing users to extend its capabilities with tools like panels, widgets, and additional plugins.

Possible disadvantages of Openbox

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Openbox requires a more hands-on approach and can be challenging for beginners to set up and configure due to its extensive customization options.
  • Limited Out-of-the-box Features
    Unlike full desktop environments, Openbox does not come with many built-in features, requiring users to install and configure additional software to achieve a fully functional desktop.
  • No Desktop Icons by Default
    Openbox does not support desktop icons natively, so users need to rely on additional tools like 'xfdesktop' or 'pcmanfm' to add this functionality.
  • Minimalistic Appearance
    While some users appreciate the minimalistic look, others might find it too bare-bones compared to more feature-rich environments like GNOME or KDE.
  • Manual Configuration
    Most customizations in Openbox require editing configuration files manually, which can be time-consuming and error-prone for users unfamiliar with text-based configurations.

Amethyst features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Amethyst is free to use and open source, which means you can inspect the code, contribute to its development, or modify it to suit your needs.
  • Window Tiling
    Amethyst provides automatic window tiling, which can significantly enhance productivity by organizing open applications without manual resizing.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    The application offers customizable keyboard shortcuts, allowing users to efficiently manage their window layout without relying on the mouse.
  • Customization
    Amethyst allows varying levels of customization, including different layout options, to match individual preferences for window management.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight, ensuring it doesn't use unnecessary system resources, which helps keep performance impacts minimal.

Possible disadvantages of Amethyst

  • MacOS Only
    Amethyst is only available for macOS, which limits its usability to users who are on Apple's ecosystem.
  • Learning Curve
    For users not familiar with tiling window managers, there may be a learning curve in becoming efficient with Amethyst.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Amethyst is great for basic window tiling, it may lack some advanced features found in other dedicated tiling managers.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with specific applications, which may not behave well when tiled automatically.
  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up and configuring Amethyst to perfectly match personal workflows might require editing configuration files, which can be complex for some users.

Analysis of Openbox

Overall verdict

  • Openbox is a great choice for users seeking a lightweight and highly customizable window management solution. Its performance benefits on lower-end hardware and flexibility make it a valuable tool for power users and enthusiasts alike.

Why this product is good

  • Openbox is a highly configurable and lightweight window manager for the X Window System. It's known for its speed and simplicity, allowing users to control their desktop environment efficiently. It provides a blank canvas for users wanting to customize their workspace, making it ideal for those who prefer a minimalist setup or have limited system resources. The configuration is done through plain text files, offering flexibility for advanced users who wish to personalize their user experience meticulously.

Recommended for

  • Advanced users looking for customization options
  • Users with older or less powerful hardware
  • Minimalists who prefer a robust yet simplistic interface
  • Linux enthusiasts who enjoy configuring their desktop environment
  • Developers and programmers who want a distraction-free workspace

Openbox videos

Get Rid Of That Bloated Desktop Environment And Install Openbox

More videos:

  • Review - Manjaro Openbox: First Impressions and Review
  • Tutorial - Openbox V8S Review- How to get Free TV!!!
  • Review - Open Box Review (Bx8 M-Audio Speakers) #Openbox #SpeakerReview
  • Review - Openbox A1 - Review
  • Review - OPEN BOX - @ikmultimedia TONEX #fyp #opening #openbox #review #guitar

Amethyst videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Openbox and Amethyst)
Linux
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
79 79%
21% 21
OSX Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Openbox Reviews

Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
People whoโ€™re deep into Linux, love Openboxโ€™s simplicity. Itโ€™s extremely lightweight, and comes with only a text-based right-click menu that lists all your applications. The menu is customizable too, and you can add scripts or functions within the menu as a link.

Amethyst Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers
Until Apple brings better window management to Macs, these third-party tools are the best way to improve organization and productivity. Most of them let you snap windows into position by dragging them to the edge of your displayโ€”similar to the window snapping found in Microsoft Windows. But others, like Amethyst, Mosaic, and Moom, offer some interesting alternatives....
Source: mackeeper.com
The 6 Best Mac Window Management Tools
If you don't like to drag and drop windows to arrange them all the time, you should try Amethyst. Amethyst has predefined layouts that you can cycle through a keyboard shortcut, which is, by default, Option + Shift + Space bar.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Openbox and Amethyst, you can also consider the following products

i3 - A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

Moom - Move your mouse over the green zoom button in any window, and Moom's mouse control overlay will appear (as seen in the above animation).

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.

Hammerspoon - This is a tool for powerful automation of OS X.

Fluxbox - Fluxbox is a window manager for X that was based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code.

Swish - Insanely great window management