Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

spectrwm VS IceWM

Compare spectrwm VS IceWM and see what are their differences

spectrwm logo spectrwm

spectrwm is a small dynamic tiling window manager for X11.

IceWM logo IceWM

icewm home page . Bug Tracking. If you have a patch, a bug report or a feature request to submit, please do so at the icewm project page at SourceForge.
  • spectrwm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01
  • IceWM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-07

spectrwm features and specs

  • Lightweight
    spectrwm is designed to be a minimalistic and lightweight window manager, which results in fast performance and low system resource consumption.
  • Keyboard-driven
    It has strong keyboard-focused navigation, allowing users to efficiently manage windows and enhance productivity without relying on a mouse.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize key bindings and appearance by editing a straightforward configuration file, providing flexibility to tailor the window manager to individual preferences.
  • Multi-head support
    spectrwm provides built-in support for multiple monitors, making it a good choice for users who require multi-display setups.
  • Scriptable
    The window manager supports scripting, which lets users automate tasks and create custom scripts to further extend functionality.

Possible disadvantages of spectrwm

  • Steeper learning curve
    The lack of a graphical user interface might pose a challenge for new users, as it requires familiarity with configuration files and command-line operations.
  • Requires manual configuration
    Initial setup may require manual editing of configuration files, which can be inconvenient for users who prefer plug-and-play solutions.
  • Limited features out-of-the-box
    Compared to more comprehensive desktop environments, spectrwm might lack certain features and conveniences that users expect, requiring additional setup and configuration.
  • Community and support
    Being one of several niche tiling window managers, it might not have as large a community or extensive documentation as some other options, potentially making it harder to find support.

IceWM features and specs

  • Lightweight
    IceWM is designed to be fast and frugal with system resources, making it ideal for older hardware or systems with limited RAM and processing power.
  • Customizable
    Users can easily customize the look and feel of IceWM using themes and configurations without needing advanced technical knowledge.
  • Simple and Intuitive
    The window manager offers a straightforward, no-frills interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for new users.
  • Stable and Reliable
    IceWM is known for its robustness and stability, reducing the likelihood of crashes and bugs compared to more complex window managers.
  • Efficient with X Resources
    IceWM is very efficient in how it utilizes X resources, contributing to its overall speed and responsiveness.
  • Integrated Taskbar
    The built-in taskbar includes features like a system tray, app launcher, and workspace switcher, providing essential functionality without additional software.

Possible disadvantages of IceWM

  • Limited Advanced Features
    IceWM might lack some of the advanced features and eye-candy that are available in more modern or feature-rich window managers and desktop environments.
  • Basic Default Appearance
    Out of the box, IceWM may appear somewhat basic or outdated, requiring user customization to enhance its aesthetics.
  • Manual Editing for Customization
    While IceWM is customizable, it often requires manual editing of text files for configuration, which might be cumbersome for some users.
  • Limited Community and Support
    Compared to more popular desktop environments like GNOME or KDE, IceWM has a smaller user community, which may lead to fewer resources and less community support.
  • Minimalist Approach
    The minimalist approach, while beneficial for resource usage, might not cater to users looking for a fully integrated and richly featured desktop environment.

spectrwm videos

Spectrwm Is An Impressive Tiling Window Manager

More videos:

  • Review - Spectrwm - More Adventures in Tiling WM Land
  • Review - Discovered Some Cool Stuff In Spectrwm and Qtile

IceWM videos

Obscure Window Manager Project - IceWM

More videos:

  • Tutorial - IceWM Tutorial - The fastest Linux window manager
  • Demo - antiX 19 beta 3 IceWM Demo Features Review II

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to spectrwm and IceWM)
Window Manager
41 41%
59% 59
Linux
35 35%
65% 65
Utilities
44 44%
56% 56
Productivity
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 spectrwm and IceWM

spectrwm Reviews

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022
spectrwm has a plain text configuration file, defaults that are identical to xmonad and dwm, and built-in keyboard shortcuts. Other features include colour and border width customization, drag-to-float, quick launch menu customization, adjustable status bar, dynamic RandR compatibility, and more.
Source: www.hubtech.org
13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux
spectrwm uses a plain text configuration file, boasts defaults similar to those in xmonad and dwm, and features built-in keyboard shortcuts. Its other features include customizable colors and border width, drag-to-float, quick launch menu, customizable status bar, dynamic RandR support, etc.
Source: www.tecmint.com

IceWM Reviews

We have no reviews of IceWM yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, spectrwm seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. 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.

spectrwm mentions (11)

  • Rubywm: An X11 window manager in pure Ruby
    I am not sure what you want out of I3, but if it is "i3 configuration is too complicated" might I suggest spectrwm. I like it because it hits that sweet spot for a tilling WM between "more configurable than dwm" and "less configurable than i3" https://github.com/conformal/spectrwm Plus I find it handles multiple monitors well. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Ask HN: Why does Apple refuse to add window snapping to macOS?
    I use the tiling WM spectrwm. It lets me pull windows out of tiling mode and into window mode. I think a common operation on most tiling window managers. Most of the time I don't want overlapping windows(thus the tiling WM) but every once in a while I do, so the best of both worlds. It is a bit obscure but I quite like spectrwm, it fills this sweet spot where it is much simpler than I3 but much more feature... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Easy window manager?
    Spectrwm is by far the easiest WM I've tested. Also Fluxbox is pretty much straightforward. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Which WM should I use ?
    Spectrwm is by far the most beginner-friendly WM I've ever tested. Im now running EXWM the buffers management is something else. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How can I undo mod+v?
    I'm a recent convert to i3/sway, after a solid decade using spectrwm (which has not been ported to Wayland, I'm afraid). Source: over 3 years ago
View more

IceWM mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of IceWM yet. Tracking of IceWM recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing spectrwm and IceWM, 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.

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

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

bspwm - A tiling window manager based on binary space partitioning

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