Xmonad vs Ratpoison

Struggling to choose between Xmonad and Ratpoison? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Xmonad is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like tiling, haskell, unix, linux, window-manager.

It boasts features such as Tiling window manager, Configurable in Haskell, Dynamic window management, Keyboard-driven workflow, Extensible through plugins and pros including Highly customizable, Very efficient use of screen space, Keyboard shortcuts for everything, Lightweight and fast.

On the other hand, Ratpoison is a Os & Utilities product tagged with tiling, keyboard, lightweight, customizable, x11.

Its standout features include Keyboard driven tiling window manager, Minimalist and lightweight, Customizable through plain text configuration files, Keyboard shortcuts for window management and navigation, Support for multiple desktops and layouts, Can be controlled without a mouse, and it shines with pros like Very efficient for keyboard users, Low resource usage and system overhead, Highly customizable, Promotes keyboard-centric workflows, Tiling layout improves screen space utilization.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Xmonad

Xmonad

Xmonad is a tiling window manager for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It is written in Haskell and dynamically manages windows to maximize screen space and productivity.

Categories:
tiling haskell unix linux window-manager

Xmonad Features

  1. Tiling window manager
  2. Configurable in Haskell
  3. Dynamic window management
  4. Keyboard-driven workflow
  5. Extensible through plugins

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Highly customizable

Very efficient use of screen space

Keyboard shortcuts for everything

Lightweight and fast

Cons

Steep learning curve

Configuration requires Haskell knowledge

Not beginner friendly


Ratpoison

Ratpoison

Ratpoison is an open-source tiling window manager for the X Window System. It aims to provide keyboard-only interaction, with no reliance on the mouse. It has minimal aesthetics and is configured through plain text files, making it lightweight and customizable.

Categories:
tiling keyboard lightweight customizable x11

Ratpoison Features

  1. Keyboard driven tiling window manager
  2. Minimalist and lightweight
  3. Customizable through plain text configuration files
  4. Keyboard shortcuts for window management and navigation
  5. Support for multiple desktops and layouts
  6. Can be controlled without a mouse

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Very efficient for keyboard users

Low resource usage and system overhead

Highly customizable

Promotes keyboard-centric workflows

Tiling layout improves screen space utilization

Cons

Steep learning curve

No mouse support

Minimal aesthetics and theming

Less intuitive than mainstream window managers

Limited integration with desktop environments