Sawfish

Jul 20, 2023

Extensible window manager using Lisp-based scripting language

Sawfish is an extensible window manager using a Lisp-based scripting language. Its policy is very minimal compared to most window managers. Its aim is simply to manage windows in the most flexible and attractive manner possible. All high-level WM functions are implemented in Lisp for future extensibility or redefinition.

These are some of the features that set Sawfish apart from other window managers

  • Powerful key-binding Virtually every functionality provided by Sawfish can be bound to keys or mouse buttons.
  • Event hooking For many events moving windows etc. you can customize the way Sawfish will respond.
  • Window matching When windows are created you can match them to a set of rules and automatically perform actions on them.
  • Flexible theming Sawfish allows for very different themes to be created and a variety of third-party themes is readily available


Checkout these related ports:
  • Yeahwm - Minimal X11 window manager with BeOS-like tabbed titles
  • Xfce4 - Meta-port for the Xfce Desktop Environment
  • Xfce4-wm - Xfce's window manager
  • Xfce4-session - Xfce's session manager
  • Xfce4-panel - Xfce's panel
  • Xfce4-panel-profiles - Xfce's panel multiple layouts manager
  • Xfce4-desktop - Xfce's desktop manager
  • Xdgmenumaker - Generates XDG menus for several window managers
  • Xcompmgr - Sample X compositing manager
  • Wmx - Simple window manager based on wm2
  • Wmname - Prints/sets the window manager name property of the root window
  • Wmii - Dynamic, minimalist window manager for X11
  • Wmii-devel - Dynamic, minimalist window manager for X11
  • Wmconfig - Menu generation tool for X window managers
  • Wmanager - X11 window manager selector