Do you prefer tiling or floating window managers? Dynamic Window Manager might be just up your alley. Dynamic Window Manager is a lightweight tiled window manager that makes organizing and managing open windows a breeze. Let’s see how it stacks up to the competition, shall we?

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO

Main Functionality

Dynamic Window Manager is a tilling/floating window manager for Linux.

Pros

• Manages windows in tiled, monocle, and floating layouts (in monocle layout all windows are maximized to fit the screen; in floating layout windows can be resized and moved at will)
• Supports tagging
• Can be fully customized

Cons

• Customization is limited to editing the source code.
• Very lackluster and uninteresting in the feature department

Discussion

Dynamic Window Manager (DWM) is a very boring take on the very uninteresting concept of tiled window managers. I can’t say that I like the tiled window management concept, but DWM fails to set itself apart from other tilling based window managers right from the get-go. I really dislike coming into so many reviews of so many window managers in a negative way, but I have yet to see a basic window manager impress me. I have yet to see a window manager look much more than something out of 1995, filled with an excessive amount of VIM windows and terminal windows. I have yet to see a basic window manager that I can quickly take apart and form into something else. Everyone has to turn their window manager into some sort of psudo ‘experience’.

The thing I dislike most about DWM is the simple fact that no configuration files exist. The developer states that this will allow for an ‘elitist’ user base. That’s the kind of thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The developer states that this is to curb ‘stupid questions’ from being asked. Now, I had no idea that it was that difficult to make a simple wiki with an FAQ section.  It’s not that I intend to attack the developer, because I’m pretty certain that a lot of work has gone into it’s development, but I also am really not a fan of outward animosity. It’s not a wonder why next to nobody uses DWM. As far as tiling window managers go, most people flock to awesome.

As far as DWM goes, it’s not all bad for me. I really enjoyed that I wasn’t forced to use a tiling style. I was allowed to use monocle and floating styles of managing my windows as well. I like choices. Too much of centered on one concept just makes for too much categorization. When it comes down to it, I’ll never fully understand the want or need for a window manager of this kind. It doesn’t really matter which one it is, I have a kind of bias. It’s a nice little window manager, and it has a very niche audience, and obviously I don’t fit that audience. These style of window managers are not for everyone. It is my opinion that basic window managers at this point in the game are just not enough. Most people (including me) are looking for a full experience.

CONCLUSION AND DOWNLOAD LINK

If you’re looking for a different kind of window manager, Dynamic Window Manager might be right for you. This is the type of program that has an extremely niche audience and is certainly not for everyone. If you’re the type of person that feels the need to have every window you’ve every opened right in your face all at one time, then you’ll love DWM. If you’re looking for a window manager that can tile but can also do other things too, DWM is also for you. But if you’re looking for a desktop ‘experience’ then this window manager certainly is not for you; check out the alternatives instead.

Price: Free

Version reviewed: 6.0

Supported OS: Any Linux distro

Download size: 20 KB

Is it portable? No

Dynamic Window Manager homepage