Guide to X11/Window Managers/aewm++

Type: stacking Language: C++ Licence:

The aewm++ window manager is minimalistic and is controlled entirely by the mouse. It contains no visible user interface components except window frames. It is based on aewm, but rewritten in C++.

Operation

Raising windows

A window can be raised by clicking on it.

Resizing windows

Resizing of windows is achieved by applying a middleclick event to the meta button.

Showing and hiding windows

Windows are hidden by applying a rightclick event to the titlebar button. Windows can be shaded by applying a middleclick event to the titlebar button.

There is no iconification of hidden windows, making it necessary to apply a rightclick context event to the desktop to restore the window via the tasklist.

Context events

The following context events are available from the desktop:

Left Click - Launch menu
Middle Click - Task List
Right Click - Open a terminal

The following context events are available from the meta button:

Left Click - Hide Window
Middle Click - Resize Window
Right Click - Hide Window

The following context events are available from the titlebar:

Click and Drag - Provides window motion
Middle Click - Shade and unshade window
Right Click - Move to workspace (0 to 3)
Double Click - Maximize, Restore or Unshade Window

Features

Features of the aewmpp window manager include:

Stacking windows
Written in C++
Window decorations include borders and titlebars
Useless borders
Titlebar has a meta button
Click to focus
Program launch via a context event on the desktop
Context operations on the desktop, titlebar and meta button
Task listing via a desktop context operation
No menubar
Multiple desktop support
No theme support
No grouped windows
No desktop icons
Lightweight (rated as 2 on the hammer scale)
Requires a 3 button mouse

Review

The aewm++ window manager is awkward to use because it is necessary for the desktop to be visible in order to launch programs and to show hidden tasks.

The aewm++ window manager is not accessibility friendly because it does not provide keyboard equivalents for its operations and is not touchscreen friendly because it requires a multibutton mouse.