Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

spectrwm VS monsterwm

Compare spectrwm VS monsterwm and see what are their differences

spectrwm logo spectrwm

spectrwm is a small dynamic tiling window manager for X11.

monsterwm logo monsterwm

tiny but monstrous tiling window manager. Contribute to c00kiemon5ter/monsterwm development by creating an account on GitHub.
  • spectrwm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01
  • monsterwm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

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.

monsterwm features and specs

  • Lightweight
    monsterwm is designed to be a minimalistic and lightweight window manager, which means it has a small memory footprint and can run efficiently on older or resource-constrained systems.
  • Minimal Dependencies
    It has very few dependencies, which simplifies installation and reduces bloat. This makes it appealing for users who want to maintain a clean and efficient system.
  • Customizable
    Despite its minimal nature, monsterwm is customizable. Users can edit the source code directly to adjust the layout, appearance, and behavior to their liking.
  • Tiling Support
    monsterwm supports various tiling layouts out of the box, providing effective management of open windows and improving workspace organization.

Possible disadvantages of monsterwm

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its minimalistic design, new users might find monsterwm challenging to configure and use, especially if they are accustomed to more feature-rich or user-friendly window managers.
  • Lack of Features
    monsterwm intentionally lacks many features found in other window managers, which might not cater to users who need more comprehensive functionality like integrated status bars or GUI configuration tools.
  • Manual Configuration
    Configuration requires altering the source code and recompiling, which might be daunting for users who are not comfortable with coding.
  • Limited Community and Support
    As a relatively niche project, it has a smaller user base and community, which can result in less available support, documentation, and fewer community-contributed patches or extensions.

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

monsterwm videos

A VERY quick look at MonsterWM

More videos:

  • Review - Window Manager (monsterwm) event

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to spectrwm and monsterwm)
Window Manager
65 65%
35% 35
Linux
100 100%
0% 0
Tool
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 spectrwm and monsterwm

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

monsterwm Reviews

We have no reviews of monsterwm 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

monsterwm mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing spectrwm and monsterwm, 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.

pekwm - pekwm is a window manager that once up on a time was based on the aewm++ window manager, but it has...

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

Compiz - Project information. Maintainer: PS Project Management Team. Driver: Compiz Maintainers. Licence: GNU GPL v2, GNU LGPL v2. 1, MIT / X / Expat Licence.

bspwm - A tiling window manager based on binary space partitioning

xfdashboard - xfdashboard provides a GMONE shell dashboard like interface for use with the Xfce desktop.