Xmonad alternative. Features and Limitations of Xmonad Window Manager.

Xmonad is a tiling window manager known for its simplicity, efficiency, and extensibility. It follows the philosophy of automatically arranging windows in a non-overlapping tiled layout, maximizing screen space utilization.

Here are the key features of Xmonad window manager:

• Tiling Layout: Xmonad automatically arranges windows in a non-overlapping tiled layout, maximizing screen space utilization and promoting an organized workspace.
• Keyboard-Driven Navigation: Xmonad emphasizes keyboard-driven navigation and control, allowing users to perform window management tasks, switch between workspaces, and launch applications through customizable keybindings.
• Extensibility: Xmonad is written and configured in Haskell, providing users with the ability to customize and extend the window manager’s behavior using Haskell’s powerful programming capabilities.
• Efficient Workflow: With its tiling approach, Xmonad streamlines window management by automatically handling window placement and resizing, enabling users to work with multiple applications and windows more efficiently.
• Lightweight: Xmonad is lightweight and resource-efficient, making it suitable for systems with limited hardware resources or users who prefer a minimalistic environment.
• Customizable Configuration: Users can modify Xmonad’s default configuration or create their own from scratch, tailoring the window manager to their specific needs and preferences.
• Minimalistic Design: Xmonad follows a minimalist design philosophy, focusing on simplicity and functionality, without unnecessary visual clutter or complex graphical elements.
• Workspace Management: Xmonad provides support for multiple workspaces, allowing users to organize their applications and windows into separate virtual desktops for better organization and task separation.
• Community Support: Xmonad benefits from an active community of users who share configurations, provide support, and contribute to the ongoing development of the window manager.
• Efficient Resource Usage: Xmonad is designed to be lightweight and efficient in its resource usage, ensuring smooth performance even on lower-end hardware configurations.

While Xmonad offers many benefits, it also has some limitations or drawbacks to consider:

• Steep Learning Curve: Xmonad is primarily targeted towards users who are comfortable with programming and have a good understanding of Haskell. For less technically inclined users, the initial setup and configuration process may be challenging and require a significant learning curve.
• Configuration Complexity: Customizing and configuring Xmonad requires editing Haskell code. This can be intimidating for users who are not familiar with programming or the Haskell language. Making changes to the configuration may require additional time and effort compared to other window managers with more user-friendly configuration options.
• Limited Graphical Configuration: Xmonad’s configuration relies on editing Haskell code files, which means that users must have a solid understanding of the underlying code structure to make modifications. Unlike window managers with graphical configuration tools, Xmonad lacks a built-in GUI interface for configuring settings, which may be less accessible to some users.
• Lack of Native Multi-Monitor Support: Xmonad’s support for multiple monitors is not as seamless or intuitive compared to some other window managers. While multi-monitor setups can be achieved with Xmonad, additional configuration and customization may be required to fully optimize the workspace across multiple screens.
• Limited Documentation: Although Xmonad has an active community, the documentation and resources available for beginners may be relatively limited. Finding comprehensive and up-to-date documentation or tutorials specifically tailored to Xmonad can sometimes be challenging.
• Limited Out-of-the-Box Functionality: Xmonad provides a basic set of features and a minimalistic design by default. Users who desire more advanced functionality, such as desktop widgets, system tray integration, or visual effects, may need to rely on external tools or write custom code to implement these features.
• Lack of Graphical Configuration Tools: Xmonad lacks graphical configuration tools that allow users to easily modify settings and customize their window manager through a visual interface. This can make the initial setup and configuration process more complex and time-consuming for users who prefer a point-and-click approach.

If Xmonad isn’t right for you and you’re looking for an alternative, we suggest looking at SMBAct. It’s a cross-platform solution with a user video tutorial, good custom support, constant updates and improvements, not only serving as a tiling window manager but also as a window switcher.

Here you can find detailed information about SMBAct