Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Xmonad

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

Xmonad

Xmonad Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Xmonad is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Xmonad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-01

Features & Specs

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Stable and Reliable

    Xmonad is known for its stability and reliability, with a strong track record of stable releases and robust performance.

Badges

Promote Xmonad. You can add any of these badges on your website.

SaaSHub badge
Show embed code

Videos

Xmonad Review

Hacking on Xmonad - GridSelect, ToggleStruts, ToggleBorders

Obscure Window Manager Project - Xmonad

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Xmonad and what they use it for.
  • 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 / over 1 year ago
  • [Media] shrs: a shell that is configurable and extensible in rust
    Hey everyone ๐Ÿ‘‹ ! 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 3 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 foremostโ€”and thus perhaps noteworthy after allโ€”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 3 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 4 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 4 years ago
  • What exactly is a tiling window manager?
    Here is another tiling wm with screenshots: Https://xmonad.org/. Source: about 4 years ago
  • What's the good window manager for a beginner?
    As far as wms go, I always liked fluxbox and xmonad. Openbox has its fans, and i3 is very popular. I prefer a de over a wm but I know a lot of people use i3. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Yode-Nvim - Focused Code Editing for NeoVim
    I had little success with manual splits because I was busy resizing most of the time. Therefore the idea with windows that are always as big as their content. The code for the windows is already built so that the logic per tab is interchangeable, how the windows should behave. You just have to implement more layouts, as I call them. The concept comes from Xmonad. In this link you can see examples when you scroll... Source: over 4 years ago
  • I want to test Window Managers over the holidays. I started with ratpoison. So i would like to get some recommandations for interesting Window Managers to test from you guys. Thanks
    Try xmonad. Havenโ€™t used it myself, but know several people (IRL) that use or used it. Seemed to work well, as far as I was told. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Any window manager guides?
    I would also suggest i3 like the others for most people but if you do have some programming experience then you could also take a look at qtile that is written and configured in Python or xmonad written and configured in Haskell. Source: over 4 years ago
  • 7 Useful Tools Written in Haskell
    Xmonad is a tile window manager for X Window System, written in Haskell. The distinctive feature of this tile manager is that itโ€™s configured in Haskell, too, which allows us to use all features of the language. Thus, while configuring the window manager, you can add weather forecast data, measure the system condition, etc. - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago
  • Hello, I need a suggestion
    Or you could go the Debian route.There's a Debian MATE version you could try. Or go the Minimal Debian netinstall and put a tiling window manager on it. My favorites are Awesome Window Manager and xmonad. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Lots of hype about Functional lately, but how can it become more viable?
    Most of what you've said is demonstrably false. There's plent of "complete programs" written in functional languages. For example, the Xmonad window manager is written in Haskell. Source: about 5 years ago
  • An Idea about Offering help in this subreddit -- xmobar part
    Xmonad-contrib is fairly huge; and the person-hours needed to parse through the modules and organize them could be spent doing other much-needed things: updating the website (which just got a new look today), moving and updating the wiki, preparing more frequent releases, improving the docs... Source: over 5 years ago
  • Full Wayland Setup on Arch Linux
    You forgot Xmonad but it looks like you didn't have enough words in that sentence anyway. Source: over 5 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Xmonad

XMonad, a tiling window manager for Linux, has carved a niche for itself among power users and developers who appreciate its dynamic nature and minimalistic design. Written in Haskell, XMonad allows users to leverage the full power of this functional programming language to customize the environment, which is often seen as both a strength and a barrier depending on one's familiarity with Haskell.

Customizability and Extensibility

One of the primary appeals of XMonad is its extensive customizability. Through its substantial extension library, users can modify and extend the window manager's functionality to suit precise needsโ€”be it status bars, window decorations, or other specific requirements. This extensibility has been noted in various discussions and is seen as a significant draw for those who desire an environment tailored to their workflow. The ability to manage complex setups with multiple monitors also adds to its appeal, making it a suitable choice for sophisticated setups common in development and research environments.

Community and Ecosystem

Despite not having the largest user base compared to competitors like i3, XMonad has managed to foster a dedicated community. This community's discussion often highlights the manager's efficiency and the intuitive nature of its keyboard shortcuts. It offers a stark contrast to some of its peers, where more manual intervention is needed to achieve similar levels of window management. The active involvement of the community is evident through continuous efforts like maintaining and updating its wiki and extension libraries, although there is an acknowledgment that these resources could often benefit from further updates and maintenance.

Comparison With Competitors

In the landscape of tiling window managers, XMonad competes with other popular choices such as dwm, i3, awesome, and bspwm. While i3 and awesome are frequently recommended for beginners due to their relative ease of setup, XMonad is often preferred by users with some programming background, especially those familiar with functional programming. Its configuration in Haskell presents both a challenge and an opportunity, offering deeper customization layers than window managers like i3 that use more straightforward configuration files.

The Learning Curve

Feedback on XMonad also includes notes on its steeper learning curve due to its Haskell-based configuration. This can deter some users who are not familiar with the language or its functional paradigms. However, those who master its intricacies often find the environment to be incredibly productive and satisfying to use. This learning curve is often mentioned in comparison discussions and product reviews, with advice given to potential users about the necessity of embracing a hands-on approach to get the most out of what XMonad has to offer.

Overall Sentiment

Public opinion positions XMonad as a robust and powerful tool for those who are willing to invest the time to learn its workings. Its role as both a practical window manager and a tool for learning and applying functional programming concepts is noted as a unique advantage that differentiates it within its category. While not suited for all users, particularly those seeking quick and easy solutions, it continues to be a favorite among its niche audience, offering a blend of flexibility, efficiency, and performance.

Do you know an article comparing Xmonad to other products?
Suggest a link to a post with product alternatives.

Suggest an article

Xmonad discussion

Log in or Post with

Is Xmonad good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Xmonad here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.