As I’m about to start renewing and expanding the computer fleet in my house I decided I want to have a machine solely for my personal use, where I can use some solutions no one else will feel comfortable with in the house.

I’ve been wanting to try window managers for a while but after researching on it for a bit I’m none the wiser on which to choose.

There are a few distros out there that already deliver this kind of experience but I want to use the opportunity to learn and start from a stock Debian and build from there to where I want to get to.

I’m fully capable of setting up my computers as is but I’m aware WMs require a bit more involvement, so having at least good documentation is a must.

I’m also not averse to learn some coding, even more when considering I want to have a fully costumized conky, but I’ve never coded before.

The machine will be used essentially for writing, web surfing and email and, if possible, running Stardew Valley.

Any advice will be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

  • krey@sh.itjust.works
    21·
    1 year ago

    You can have multiple installed in parallel and you should be able to switch during login. Some are super small and fast. Not sure if it matters if you run Xorg or Wayland, but those are cool: WindowMaker (wmaker), enlightenment (version DR16 was the best, but has been discontinued), blackbox (extra small and fast), notion (a tiling WM that allows to do some things with the mouse and can be user scripted with Lua)

    • qyron@sopuli.xyzOP
      01·
      1 year ago

      I can’t stand Enlightenment. I tried using it for some time and simply wasn’t to my liking and I truly wanted to move over to it, has I would benefit from having less resources tied to the DE alone.

      Currently, the systems I have run on Xorg but opting for a wm capable of working under wayland or xorg makes sense.

      • krey@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        1 year ago

        In Wayland, window managers are usually called compositors, though. There aren’t many good. I thought about making one, but the keyboard layout stuff seems not to work out-of-the-box with the reference compositor Weston, which made me pause my efforts.

        • qyron@sopuli.xyzOP
          1·
          1 year ago

          Ideally, I’d board a window manager capable of moving into a compositor, under Wayland, since it seems Xorg is reaching the point where it may be left behind.

          Whatever knowledge I gain from whatever solution I pick won’t be a waste but I’d like not to have to jump from one solution to another.

          That is why I’m not considering Openbox, as per what I’ve read its development has ceased, making it a finished product for Xorg. Fluxbox seems to be on the same scheme, per what I’ve read.