Master Linux Window Managers: Boost Productivity with bspwm, i3, Sway and More

Developers using Linux can greatly improve screen utilization and multitasking efficiency by adopting a window manager, which allows resizing, repositioning, and organizing windows via keyboard shortcuts, mouse actions, or automation.

Most tips apply to Xorg; on Wayland the manager is often referred to as a compositor. For multi‑monitor setups, ensure RandR and Xinerama support.

Are Window Managers Worth It?

Before choosing a manager, read the documentation and consider these points:

Some managers offer limitless customization, which can be overwhelming without proper configuration.

Many require initial setup before use.

Arch Linux users often benefit from strong community support.

Switching between Xorg and Wayland may be necessary for certain managers.

Below are examples of custom desktops built with various window managers.

1. bspwm

bspwm is a lightweight tiling window manager. It requires a separate package for keyboard/mouse bindings and can operate in manual or automatic layout modes.

Installation (Ubuntu example):

sudo apt install bspwm sxhkd

2. Qtile

Qtile is a configurable tiling manager for X11 and Wayland, offering remote scripting capabilities.

Installation (Ubuntu example):

pip install xcffib

pip install qtile

3. herbstluftwm

herbstluftwm is a manually tiled manager with runtime configuration, eliminating the need to restart after changes.

Installation:

sudo apt install herbstluftwm

4. Awesome

Awesome is a fast, highly configurable manager that works out‑of‑the‑box on most distributions.

Installation (Ubuntu example):

sudo apt install awesome

5. IceWM

IceWM is one of the oldest tiling managers, often the default on lightweight distros like antiX.

Installation (Ubuntu example):

sudo apt install icewm

6. i3

i3 is popular among power users for its extensive customization and thorough documentation.

Installation (Ubuntu example):

sudo apt install i3

7. Sway

Sway is a Wayland compositor compatible with i3 commands, making migration straightforward.

Installation (Debian‑based systems):

sudo apt install sway

8. xmonad

xmonad is a tiling manager written and configured in Haskell, offering powerful automation.

Installation requires following the official guide, as it is not a single package on all distros.

Additional less‑common managers (e.g., Cagebreak, river, JWM, Spectrwm, dwl) are also available for experimentation.