Xmonad VS bspwm

Compare Xmonad VS bspwm and see what are their differences

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Xmonad

xmonad is a dynamically tiling X11 window manager that is written and configured in Haskell.

bspwm

A tiling window manager based on binary space partitioning

Landing page //
2022-04-01

Landing page //
2023-09-14

Xmonad

Website: xmonad.org
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bspwm

Website: github.com
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Xmonad features and specs

Highly Customizable
Xmonad is written in Haskell and allows for extensive customization. Users can write custom configurations and extensions to tailor the window manager to their exact needs.
Efficient and Minimalist
Xmonad is designed to be efficient and lightweight. It uses minimal system resources, making it ideal for older hardware or systems where performance is a priority.
Keyboard-Centric
Xmonad is optimized for keyboard operation, providing a highly efficient and fast way to manage windows without relying on a mouse, which can improve productivity.
Tiling Window Manager
As a tiling window manager, Xmonad automatically arranges windows to use screen space efficiently, reducing the need to manually resize and position windows.
Stable and Reliable
Xmonad is known for its stability and reliability, with a strong track record of stable releases and robust performance.

Possible disadvantages of Xmonad

Steep Learning Curve
New users may find Xmonad difficult to learn due to its reliance on Haskell for customization and a lack of graphical configuration tools.
Limited Out-of-the-Box Functionality
Xmonad comes with a very basic setup by default, requiring significant configuration and customization to fully utilize its capabilities.
Haskell Knowledge Required
Customization of Xmonad requires knowledge of Haskell, which can be a barrier for users unfamiliar with the language.
Sparse Community and Documentation
Compared to more popular window managers, Xmonad has a smaller community and less extensive documentation, which can make troubleshooting and learning more challenging.
Not Newbie-Friendly
Xmonad is not the most user-friendly option for beginners. Its lack of GUI tools and reliance on command-line configuration can be intimidating for new users.

bspwm features and specs

Highly Configurable
Bspwm is known for its high level of customizability, allowing users to tweak almost every aspect of their window management experience through simple scripts and configuration files.
Efficient Use of Screen Space
As a tiling window manager, Bspwm automatically arranges windows in a way that maximizes screen real estate, minimizing overlap and unused space.
Lightweight
Bspwm is extremely lightweight, making it suitable for older hardware and systems with limited resources. It does not come with additional software bloat.
Scriptable with Unix Philosophy
Bspwm adheres to the Unix philosophy of 'doing one thing well'. It functions without managing keybindings, allowing users to use other programs (like sxhkd) for keybinding management, which offers greater flexibility.
Active Community Support
Bspwm has an active community and comprehensive documentation, which helps new users get started and troubleshoot any issues they might encounter.

Possible disadvantages of bspwm

Steep Learning Curve
The configuration process can be complex and overwhelming for beginners. Unlike more mainstream window managers, bspwm requires learning various scripts and commands.
Lack of GUI Configuration Tools
Bspwm does not come with graphical configuration tools, which might be inconvenient for users who prefer a GUI for managing settings.
Sparse on Built-in Features
Since bspwm follows the Unix philosophy closely, it lacks many built-in features and utilities that other window managers might offer. Users need to set up additional tools for tasks such as wallpaper management or system trays.
Compatibility Issues
Some applications that expect a floating window manager might not work well with bspwm, requiring extra configuration or using alternative software.
Limited Out-of-the-box Experience
Bspwm does not come with a pre-configured environment, which can be a disadvantage for users looking for a ready-to-use experience out of the box.

Analysis of Xmonad

Overall verdict

Xmonad is highly regarded within the Linux and BSD communities, especially among users who prefer or don't mind configuring their environments through coding. It is considered a reliable tool for those who value efficiency and are comfortable with or interested in writing Haskell code for customization. While it has a steep learning curve due to the necessity of understanding Haskell for complex configurations, its performance and flexibility make it a strong choice for the right user.

Why this product is good

Xmonad is a dynamically tiling window manager written in Haskell, known for its minimalism, stability, and high customization options. It efficiently manages windows and is ideal for keyboard-driven workflows. Users appreciate its lightweight nature and ability to extend its functionality through Haskell scripts. Being a tiling window manager, it automatically organizes windows to make the best use of screen space, which can significantly enhance productivity for power users.

Recommended for

Developers and programmers who appreciate Haskell or are interested in learning more about it.
Linux or BSD users seeking a highly customizable and efficient window manager.
Power users who prefer or are comfortable with keyboard-driven interfaces and have the willingness to spend time configuring their setup.
Users who value system performance and resource efficiency, as Xmonad uses minimal system resources.

Analysis of bspwm

Overall verdict

Yes, bspwm is generally considered to be a good window manager for users who value minimalism and customization. It is highly praised for its performance, simplicity, and the level of control it provides. However, it may not be the best choice for beginners due to the initial learning curve and the need for manual configuration.

Why this product is good

Bspwm is a tiling window manager that is highly configurable and minimalistic, designed to operate efficiently without relying on extensive system resources. It handles windows based on binary space partitioning, providing users with an easy way to organize their workspace. Its scriptability and flexibility allow users to tailor their environment precisely to their preferences, which is particularly appealing to advanced users who appreciate control over their system's behavior.

Recommended for

Advanced Linux users who prefer a minimalistic and efficient tiling window manager
Users who enjoy customizing their desktop environment and scripting configurations
Individuals who want to maximize screen real estate and improve their productivity through efficient workspace management

Xmonad videos

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Xmonad Review

bspwm videos

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Switching To Bspwm - Initial Thoughts

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Xmonad and bspwm)

bspwm

Window Manager

39 39%

Window Manager

61% 61

Linux

41 41%

Linux

59% 59

Utilities

33 33%

Utilities

67% 67

Productivity

39 39%

Productivity

61% 61

User comments

Share your experience with using Xmonad and bspwm. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

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

Xmonad Reviews

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022

XMonad is a dynamic tiling X11 window manager that allows you to automate window finding and alignment. It may be customised with its own extension library, which includes choices for status bars and window decorations. It’s also simple to set up, stable, and minimal.

Source: www.hubtech.org

13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux

spectrwm is a small, dynamic, xmonad, and dwm-inspired reparenting and tiling window manager built for X11 to be fast, compact, and concise. It was created with the aim of solving the issues of xmonad and dwm face.

Source: www.tecmint.com

5 Great Tiling Window Managers for Linux

Xmonad is a tiling window manager written in Haskell. Like most (if not all) window managers, it comes with no frills or window decorations. The keyboard shortcuts are top notch. It works out-of-the-box and is very user friendly. On top of all that, Xmonad sports a fairly big extension library (which can add on even more functionality).

Source: www.maketecheasier.com

bspwm Reviews

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022

Support for multiple windows, limited support for EWMH, automatic mode for automatically determining the location of app tiles, and configuration and control via messages are among the characteristics of bspwm.

Source: www.hubtech.org

13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux

bspwm’s features include support for multiple windows, partial support for EWMH, automatic mode for automatically setting the position of app tiles, and it is configured and controlled through messages, among others.

Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

bspwm might be a bit more popular than Xmonad. We know about 21 links to it since March 2021 and only 15 links to Xmonad. 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.

Xmonad mentions (15)

Rubywm: An X11 window manager in pure Ruby
If you want tiling, but i3 requires too much manual work, you might like the more managed layouts that are the default in XMonad: https://xmonad.org/ XMonad works fine with multiple monitors. Each monitor displays one of the many virtual desktops. The normal keys for desktops and for windows work pretty intuitively with multiple monitors. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
[Media] shrs: a shell that is configurable and extensible in rust
Hey everyone 👋 ! I'm currently working on a rust library for building and configuring your own shell! It's inspired by projects like xmonad and penrose where the configuration of the program is done in code. This means that for example, instead of using Bash's arcane syntax for configuring the prompt, it can be configured instead using a rust builder pattern! The project itself is still at a very young stage, so... Source: over 2 years ago
What LaTeX setup do you use?
There are a few other things I could mention, but there are more like side issues, and not relevant to my actual LaTeX setup. First and foremost—and thus perhaps noteworthy after all—is bibliography management with arxiv-citation (see here for more words). This is integrated very well with the XMonad window manager, which makes it even more of a joy to use. Source: over 2 years ago
How to map arrows keys to CapsLock+(h,i,j,k) shortcuts in i3
Another way to do it (and works on Linux and other platforms) is with XMonad, defining Caps Lock as a layer key. Source: about 3 years ago
Can ISTP like abstract things and theories?
I tried it once, it was alright. https://xmonad.org/ But I prefer to build my own. Source: about 3 years ago

bspwm mentions (21)

well... thinkpads are awesome
Over on Linux, I’ve been learning kinda a-lot about linux tools and workflows. I've recently got into window managers, bspwm was my first one and I'm thinking of moving towards a Arch+Hyprland setup in future. Setting it up was way easier than I thought, and I got inspired by a YouTuber named jvscholz, who’s all about minimalism and productivity. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
What WM should I use?
Use BSPWM. It supports right clicks by default and its modular. You might want to look for status bars that work with it, slstatus does not work. Good luck, supremacist! Source: over 2 years ago
What are some OpenSource apps that are the best of their kind?
I had not heard of bspwm but I am a fan of telling WMs. Looking at the documentation now, I really like the pragmatic approach lol https://github.com/baskerville/bspwm. Source: over 2 years ago
Got some questions before moving to linux...
I am not familiar with that distro at all, so no idea. KDE Plasma is fine, I use it myself (with BSPWM as my window manager, but that's irrelevant). Source: over 2 years ago
MacBook Setup - OS Ventura 13.1 - Samsung QLed 43” - VM: yabai - Terminal: Hyper
There's a paradigm shift required for a lot of people to start using automatic tiling window managers. Yabai is basically a bspwm port for MacOS and it follows the rules of binary space partitioning. In fact, bspwm has a great diagram on its github readme that illustrates how it works. This will limit the number of windows you can have on any given desktop. To overcome this limitation you use multiple desktops. A... Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Xmonad and bspwm, 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.

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

awesome - A dynamic window manager for the X Window System developed in the C and Lua programming languages.

qtile - Qtile is a full-featured, hackable tiling window manager written in Python.

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

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