Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Openbox VS MATE

Compare Openbox VS MATE and see what are their differences

Openbox logo Openbox

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

MATE logo MATE

The MATE Desktop Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
  • Openbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06
  • MATE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-03-06

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.

MATE features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    MATE provides a simple and intuitive interface, which is especially appealing to users who are familiar with traditional desktop environments. It mimics the look and feel of GNOME 2, making it easy for new users to adapt.
  • Lightweight Performance
    The MATE desktop environment is designed to be less resource-intensive compared to other contemporary desktop environments, which makes it suitable for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Highly Customizable
    MATE allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the desktop environment to their personal preferences, from panel configurations to themes and extensions.
  • Active Development
    MATE is actively maintained and developed, ensuring regular updates, security patches, and new features that keep the environment modern and compatible with the latest software.
  • Stable and Reliable
    As a fork of GNOME 2, MATE has a well-established codebase that emphasizes stability and reliability, making it a solid choice for users who value consistency in their desktop environment.

Possible disadvantages of MATE

  • Less Modern Features
    While MATE is stable and reliable, it may lack some of the modern features and visual effects found in more contemporary desktop environments, which could be a downside for users seeking the latest desktop innovations.
  • Community and Support
    Although MATE has an active development team, it may not have as vast a community or as many resources for troubleshooting and support as more popular desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.
  • Default Appearance
    The default appearance of MATE might feel dated to some users who prefer a more modern or sleek design, though this can be mitigated through customization.
  • Limited Integration with Cutting-edge Technologies
    MATE may have limited integration with the latest technologies and applications compared to other desktop environments that prioritize early adoption of new features and standards.

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

MATE videos

Mate Endurance PE Treatment - Two Month Review

More videos:

  • Review - Yerba Mate Review- The Next Drink Craze?
  • Review - Ubuntu MATE 20.04 Review: MATE Has Never Been This Better

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Openbox and MATE)
Linux
65 65%
35% 35
Window Manager
86 86%
14% 14
Operating Systems
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 MATE

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.

MATE Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
MATE is actively being developed in order to enable new technologies while maintaining a conventional desktop experience. Ubuntu MATE features low system requirements, making it appropriate for current workstations, single-board PCs, and older systems. The MATE desktop environment improves the performance & appearance of your machine.
Source: geekflare.com
The 8 Best Ubuntu Desktop Environments (22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Linux)
Development of Mate was started by Arch Linux as a fork and continuation of GNOME 2 in response to the negative reception of GNOME 3. Therefore, this desktop is the first choice for many users that liked GNOME 2.
Source: linuxconfig.org
Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
MATE was created as a response to the drop in user experience when Gnome 3.x was launched. Being a fork, itโ€™s very similar to Gnomeโ€™s predecessor and adds more features along with additional community support. This desktop environment caught attention when Linux Mint used MATE instead of Gnome 3 for its user interface.
The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
The story behind Mateโ€™s creation is that when the Gnome community decided to move forward from Gnome 2 to Gnome 3, then many developers of Gnome decided to use Gnome 2 existing codes and created Mate. Therefore Mate does not have different extensions like Gnome 3, but it is easy to use, faster and customizable. Developers of Mate have invested a good effort and time to...
Source: linuxhint.com
The Best Desktop Environments For Linux (We Tested Them So That You Donโ€™t Have To)
Ubuntu MATE is one of the official flavors of Ubuntu that utilizes the MATE desktop. Some other popular Linux distributions like Linux Mint, Manjaro, etc, also offer MATE editions of their distributions.
Source: itsfoss.com

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Xfce - Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

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.

LXQt - The LXQt team is proud to announce the release of qtermwidget and qterminal, both in version 0. 8. 0. Read more..

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

KDE Plasma Desktop - Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.