Desktop environments and Window managers - Revision history

John3-16: /* Window managers */ Added mangowc; removed spurious reference in a Pkg template

2026-02-19T06:36:09Z

Window managers: Added mangowc; removed spurious reference in a Pkg template

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:36, 19 February 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| [[LabWC]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Stacking \|\| C/wlroots\|\|[[Openbox]]		\| [[LabWC]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Stacking \|\| C/wlroots\|\|[[Openbox]]
			\|-
			\| {{Pkg\|mangowc\|arch=}} \|\| Wayland \|\| Tiling \|\| C/Nix/other \|\| {{Pkg\|dwl\|arch=}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Pkg\|marco\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Stacking \|\| C \|\| {{Pkg\|metacity\|arch=}}		\| {{Pkg\|marco\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Stacking \|\| C \|\| {{Pkg\|metacity\|arch=}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Pkg\|metacity\|arch=~~kwin~~}} \|\| X11 \|\| Compositing \|\| C \|\|		\| {{Pkg\|metacity\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Compositing \|\| C \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Pkg\|mutter\|arch=}} \|\| X11/Wayland \|\| Compositing \|\| C \|\|		\| {{Pkg\|mutter\|arch=}} \|\| X11/Wayland \|\| Compositing \|\| C \|\|

John3-16: 1. Added budgie* to list of desktop environments; 2. Added subsection /* Mobile/tablet UI /; moved sxmo there from Desktop Environments listing

2026-01-14T02:34:08Z

1. Added budgie* to list of desktop environments; 2. Added subsection Mobile/tablet UI: ; moved sxmo* there from Desktop Environments listing

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:34, 14 January 2026
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	A ''desktop environment'' (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common ''graphical user interface'' (GUI), sometimes described as a ''graphical shell''. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers and desktop widgets, and might also provide drag-and-drop functionality.		A ''desktop environment'' (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common ''graphical user interface'' (GUI), sometimes described as a ''graphical shell''. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers and desktop widgets, and might also provide drag-and-drop functionality.

			* {{Pkg\|budgie*}}
	* [[COSMIC]]		* [[COSMIC]]
	* [[GNOME]]		* [[GNOME]]
	* [[KDE\|KDE Plasma]]		* [[KDE\|KDE Plasma]]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri*\|arch=}}
	* [[Lumina]]		* [[Lumina]]
	* [[LXQt]]		* [[LXQt]]
	* [[MATE]]		* [[MATE]]
	* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}}
	* [[Xfce]]		* [[Xfce]]

			=== Mobile/tablet UI ===
			Certain desktop environments have been ported for use as ''mobile user interfaces'' (UI) while other mobile/tablet UIs may have been developed using other existing unix toolkits. ''Convergent desktop environments'' are designed with a view to be consistent regardless of the platform used (pc, mobile, tablet, etc) such as the aforementioned '''lomiri''' environment.
			* {{Pkg\|phosh*}} - Wayland shell for GNOME on [https://phosh.mobi/ mobile devices].
			* {{Pkg\|plasma-mobile*}} - [https://plasma-mobile.org/ Mobile UI using a KDE Plasma foundation].
			* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}} - [https://sxmo.org/ Minimalist mobile Linux environment.]

	== Window managers ==		== Window managers ==

D1nuc0m: /* Desktop environments */ Sort DEs

2026-01-05T17:45:02Z

Desktop environments: Sort DEs

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 5 January 2026
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	== Desktop environments ==		== Desktop environments ==

	A ''desktop environment'' (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common ''graphical user interface'' (GUI), sometimes described as a ''graphical shell''. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers and desktop widgets, and might also provide drag-and-drop functionality.		A ''desktop environment'' (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common ''graphical user interface'' (GUI), sometimes described as a ''graphical shell''. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers and desktop widgets, and might also provide drag-and-drop functionality.
	* [[~~Xfce~~]]
	* [[~~LXQt~~]]		* [[COSMIC]]
			* [[GNOME]]
	* [[KDE\|KDE Plasma]]		* [[KDE\|KDE Plasma]]
	* [[GNOME]]
	* [[MATE]]
	* [[COSMIC]]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* [[Lumina]]		* [[Lumina]]
			* [[LXQt]]
			* [[MATE]]
	* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}}		* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}}
			* [[Xfce]]

	== Window managers ==		== Window managers ==

D1nuc0m: /* Desktop environments */ Add Lumina page

2026-01-05T17:37:31Z

Desktop environments: Add Lumina page

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:37, 5 January 2026
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	* [[COSMIC]]		* [[COSMIC]]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* ~~{{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}~~		* [[Lumina]]
	* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}}		* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}}

John3-16: 1. Converted listing of "pros" for using as a "general" daily desktop into list form; 2. Updated internal links; 3. Style and grammar amendments.

2025-12-17T18:44:37Z

1. Converted listing of "pros" for using as a "general" daily desktop into list form; 2. Updated internal links; 3. Style and grammar amendments.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:44, 17 December 2025
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	-->		-->

	'''Alpine Linux''' has no official desktop although setting up a graphical environment is proposed in the [[Installation#Post-Installation\|post-installation]] guide. Alpine Linux desktops may meet the needs for ''general'' daily desktop use~~, as lesser use cases now~~ require [https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/ glibc], ~~several~~ Alpine Linux desktop environments have been benchmarked to be competitive for both [https://everybytecounts.org/#desktop-environment-comparison speed and memory]~~, and arguably~~, there is a reduced attack surface through the use of ~~[https://~~musl~~.libc.org/ musl]~~ and [[BusyBox]].		'''Alpine Linux''' has no official desktop although setting up a graphical environment is proposed in the [[Installation#Post-Installation\|post-installation]] guide. Alpine Linux desktops may meet the needs for ''general'' daily desktop use:-
			* Fewer packages still require [https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/ glibc], as numerous popular applications are now available here on [https://musl.libc.org/ musl]: {{Pkg\|libreoffice}}, {{Pkg\|chromium}}, [[Firefox]], etc
			* Several Alpine Linux desktop environments have been benchmarked to be competitive for both [https://everybytecounts.org/#desktop-environment-comparison speed and memory]
			* Arguably, there is a reduced attack surface through the use of a comparatively lightweight '''musl''' and [[BusyBox]] system core

	All window managers and desktop environments that are available in Alpine Linux are listed in this page. A quick installation using the [[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-desktop\|setup-desktop]] script is available for several [[Setup-desktop\|desktops]].		All window managers and desktop environments that are available in Alpine Linux are listed on this page. A quick installation using the [[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-desktop\|setup-desktop]] script is available for several [[Setup-desktop\|desktops]].

	{{Tip\|For servers, consider using [[Alpine_Configuration_Framework_Design\|Alpine Configuration Framework (ACF)]] for security ~~reasons~~.}}		{{Tip\|For servers, consider using [[Alpine_Configuration_Framework_Design\|Alpine Configuration Framework (ACF)]] for security considerations in that use case.}}

	== Desktop environments ==		== Desktop environments ==

	A desktop environment (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphical shell. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers desktop widgets and might also provide drag and drop.		A ''desktop environment'' (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common ''graphical user interface'' (GUI), sometimes described as a ''graphical shell''. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers and desktop widgets, and might also provide drag-and-drop functionality.
	* [[Xfce]]		* [[Xfce]]
	* [[LXQt]]		* [[LXQt]]
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	* [[GNOME]]		* [[GNOME]]
	* [[MATE]]		* [[MATE]]
	* [[~~Cosmic\|~~COSMIC]]		* [[COSMIC]]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}
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	== Window managers ==		== Window managers ==

	A window manager is software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. In the case of [[Wayland]], these are called compositors because they additionally perform the task of a compositing window manager.		A ''window manager'' is software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. In the case of [[Wayland]], these are called ''compositors'' because they additionally perform the task of a ''compositing window manager''.

	Almost all components of a desktop need to be added manually by the user. A [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#S\|stacking]] (a.k.a. ''floating'') or [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#T\|tiling]]/''dynamic'' ~~layout is~~ commonly used for window management.		Almost all components of a desktop need to be added manually by the user. Both [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#S\|stacking]] (a.k.a. ''floating'') and [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#T\|tiling]]/''dynamic'' layouts are commonly used for window management.

	{\|class="wikitable sortable" align="center" style="width:100%; border:1px #0771a6 solid; background:#f9f9f9; text-align:left; border-collapse:collapse;"		{\|class="wikitable sortable" align="center" style="width:100%; border:1px #0771a6 solid; background:#f9f9f9; text-align:left; border-collapse:collapse;"
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	\| {{Pkg\|ratpoison\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Kiosk \|\| C \|\|		\| {{Pkg\|ratpoison\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Kiosk \|\| C \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[River]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Tiling \|\| Zig \|\| [[dwm]], [https://xmonad.org/ xmonad]		\| [[River\|river-classic/River]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Tiling \|\| Zig \|\| [[dwm]], [https://xmonad.org/ xmonad]
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Pkg\|spectrwm \|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Tiling \|\| C\|\| [https://xmonad.org/ xmonad], [[dwm]]		\| {{Pkg\|spectrwm \|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Tiling \|\| C\|\| [https://xmonad.org/ xmonad], [[dwm]]

John3-16: 1. Alpine Linux as a general daily desktop use case in Beginning; 2. Changed Cosmic to upstream style, COSMIC; 3. Amalgamated tiling and dynamic using slash(/) for some distinction (i3, herbstluftwm, ratpoison arguably not dynamic); 4. Style and grammar amendments.

2025-11-15T04:37:09Z

1. Alpine Linux as a general daily desktop use case in Beginning; 2. Changed Cosmic to upstream style, COSMIC; 3. Amalgamated tiling and dynamic using slash(/) for some distinction (i3, herbstluftwm, ratpoison arguably not dynamic); 4. Style and grammar amendments.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:37, 15 November 2025
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	-->		-->

	'''Alpine Linux''' has no official desktop ~~and~~ setting up a graphical environment is ~~not even part of~~ [[Installation]]. ~~All window managers and~~ desktop ~~environments that are available in~~ Alpine Linux ~~are listed in this page~~. ~~Quick installation using [[Alpine_setup_scripts~~#~~setup~~-~~desktop\|setup~~-~~desktop~~]] ~~script is available for few~~ [[~~Setup-desktop\|desktops~~]].		'''Alpine Linux''' has no official desktop although setting up a graphical environment is proposed in the [[Installation#Post-Installation\|post-installation]] guide. Alpine Linux desktops may meet the needs for ''general'' daily desktop use, as lesser use cases now require [https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/ glibc], several Alpine Linux desktop environments have been benchmarked to be competitive for both [https://everybytecounts.org/#desktop-environment-comparison speed and memory], and arguably, there is a reduced attack surface through the use of [https://musl.libc.org/ musl] and [[BusyBox]].

	{{Tip\|For servers consider using [[Alpine_Configuration_Framework_Design\|Alpine Configuration Framework(ACF)]] for security reasons.}}		All window managers and desktop environments that are available in Alpine Linux are listed in this page. A quick installation using the [[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-desktop\|setup-desktop]] script is available for several [[Setup-desktop\|desktops]].

			{{Tip\|For servers, consider using [[Alpine_Configuration_Framework_Design\|Alpine Configuration Framework (ACF)]] for security reasons.}}

	== Desktop environments ==		== Desktop environments ==

	~~Desktop~~ environment (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphical shell. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers desktop widgets and might also provide drag and drop.		A desktop environment (DE) is made of a bundle of programs that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphical shell. A desktop environment typically consists of icons, windows, toolbars, folders, wallpapers desktop widgets and might also provide drag and drop.
	* [[Xfce]]		* [[Xfce]]
	* [[LXQt]]		* [[LXQt]]
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	* [[GNOME]]		* [[GNOME]]
	* [[MATE]]		* [[MATE]]
	* [[Cosmic]]		* [[Cosmic\|COSMIC]]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}
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	== Window managers ==		== Window managers ==

	A window manager is software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. In case of [[Wayland]], these are called compositors because they additionally perform the task of a compositing window manager.		A window manager is software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. In the case of [[Wayland]], these are called compositors because they additionally perform the task of a compositing window manager.

	Almost all components of a desktop ~~needs~~ to be added manually by the user. A [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#S\|stacking]] a.k.a. floating or [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#T\|tiling]] ~~a.k.a.~~ dynamic layout is commonly used for window management.		Almost all components of a desktop need to be added manually by the user. A [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#S\|stacking]] (a.k.a. ''floating'') or [[Alpine_Linux:Glossary#T\|tiling]]/''dynamic'' layout is commonly used for window management.

	{\|class="wikitable sortable" align="center" style="width:100%; border:1px #0771a6 solid; background:#f9f9f9; text-align:left; border-collapse:collapse;"		{\|class="wikitable sortable" align="center" style="width:100%; border:1px #0771a6 solid; background:#f9f9f9; text-align:left; border-collapse:collapse;"

John3-16: Changed internal link from cosmic* packages to new Cosmic page.

2025-10-28T23:52:55Z

Changed internal link from cosmic* packages to new Cosmic page.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 28 October 2025
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	* [[GNOME]]		* [[GNOME]]
	* [[MATE]]		* [[MATE]]
	* ~~{{Pkg\|cosmic*}}~~		* [[Cosmic]]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}

John3-16: Removed Hikari from list of window managers: removed from repo Sept 2025

2025-09-09T12:09:10Z

Removed Hikari from list of window managers: removed from repo Sept 2025

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:09, 9 September 2025
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	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Pkg\|herbstluftwm\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Tiling \|\| C++ \|\|		\| {{Pkg\|herbstluftwm\|arch=}} \|\| X11 \|\| Tiling \|\| C++ \|\|
	\|-
	~~\| [[Hikari]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Stacking \|\| C/wlroots/pango \|\| {{Pkg\|cwm\|arch=}}~~
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Hyprland]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Tiling \|\| C++ \|\|		\| [[Hyprland]] \|\| Wayland \|\| Tiling \|\| C++ \|\|

John3-16: 1. Added sxmo* packages link for desktop environment; 2. Internal link to cosmic* packages for COSMIC desktop environment instead of external link.

2025-08-27T23:58:15Z

1. Added sxmo* packages link for desktop environment; 2. Internal link to cosmic* packages for COSMIC desktop environment instead of external link.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:58, 27 August 2025
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	* [[GNOME]]		* [[GNOME]]
	* [[MATE]]		* [[MATE]]
	* ~~[https://system76.com/~~cosmic~~/ COSMIC]~~		* {{Pkg\|cosmic*}}
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}
			* {{Pkg\|sxmo*}}

	== Window managers ==		== Window managers ==

John3-16 at 02:55, 22 July 2025

2025-07-22T02:55:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:55, 22 July 2025
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	* [https://system76.com/cosmic/ COSMIC]		* [https://system76.com/cosmic/ COSMIC]
	* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lomiri\|arch=}}
	* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop\|arch=}}		* {{Pkg\|lumina-desktop*\|arch=}}

	== Window managers ==		== Window managers ==