herbstluftwm vs i3

herbstluftwm — herbstluftwm is a manual tiling window manager for X11 using Xlib and Glib. It arranges windows in a grid by default and allows you to switch between layouts using tags and monitors. It features gaps,

i3 — i3 is a tiling window manager for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be simple, fast, and lightweight while still being customizable and flexible. i3 organizes application

herbstluftwm offers Manual tiling window manager, Arranges windows in a grid by default, Allows switching between layouts using tags and monitors, Supports gaps between windows, Supports tabbed and stacked windows, while i3 provides Tiling window manager, Tree-like window organization, Customizable keyboard shortcuts, Simple, lightweight and fast, Support for multiple workspaces.

herbstluftwm stands out for Lightweight and fast, Highly customizable, Keyboard driven; i3 is known for Very efficient use of screen space, Highly customizable, Light on system resources.

Feature	herbstluftwm	i3
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities
Pricing	N/A	Free

Product Overview

herbstluftwm

Description: herbstluftwm is a manual tiling window manager for X11 using Xlib and Glib. It arranges windows in a grid by default and allows you to switch between layouts using tags and monitors. It features gaps, tabbed or stacked windows, split layouts, floating windows and more.

i3

Description: i3 is a tiling window manager for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be simple, fast, and lightweight while still being customizable and flexible. i3 organizes application windows in a tree-like structure and allows efficient window switching and placement.

Key Features Comparison

herbstluftwm Features

• Manual tiling window manager
• Arranges windows in a grid by default
• Allows switching between layouts using tags and monitors
• Supports gaps between windows
• Supports tabbed and stacked windows
• Supports split layouts
• Supports floating windows

i3 Features

• Tiling window manager
• Tree-like window organization
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts
• Simple, lightweight and fast
• Support for multiple workspaces

Pros & Cons Analysis

herbstluftwm

Pros

• Lightweight and fast
• Highly customizable
• Keyboard driven
• Supports multiple monitors well

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Configuration can be complex
• Not as actively maintained as some other tiling WMs

i3

Pros

• Very efficient use of screen space
• Highly customizable
• Light on system resources
• Keyboard-driven workflow
• Stable and mature codebase

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Manual configuration required
• Not designed for touchscreens
• Less flexibility in window arrangements
• Less integrated with desktop environment

Pricing Comparison

herbstluftwm

• Not listed

i3

• Free