1] designs).
Figure 8-6. Xfce Session logout dialog
8.7
130 Chapter 8: Session Managers, Desktop Environments, and Window Managers
Although there are dozens of window managers available, the granddaddy of them
all is twm, which has been distributed with X since Release 4. twm was the first of the
re-parenting window managers, which wrap each window in a larger window to add
a border and title bar, and its code formed the foundation for many other window
managers.
twm is still distributed with X. Most OS distributions also include additional window
managers; Table 8-1 lists some common ones that are not part of a desktop environment.
Remember that window managers included with desktop environments, such as
kwin and Metacity, can also be used independently of those environments.
When using a window manager by itself, you need to ensure that one or more clients
are automatically started for the user, or that the window manager is configured
with a program-launching menu. Here is a very simple script that will start an X
server along with a window manager and selected clients:
#!/bin/sh
# Start an X server with specific clients
# === CONFIGURATION VARIABLES
Table 8-1. Common window managers
Window
manager
(binary) Name
Virtual
desktop
capability Themes Notes
enlightenment Enlightenment Y Y Image-intensive window
manager, evolving into a
desktop environment.
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