Creating a window manager for Linux

Question

I want to create a simple stacking window manager (in C) for private use, mainly for the purpose of learning and challenging myself.

I\'ve looked throug

Answer 1

metacity uses gtk for certain UI elements. See its HACKING and README.

see also Where are some good Xlib programming guides?

Answer 2

Xmonad might be a good place to start.

Answer 3

http://code.google.com/p/partiwm/ is an attempt to write a window manager (tiling, not stacking) from scratch, it might be useful to you to read through the code.

Answer 4

I've written an in-depth tutorial series that shows you how to write an X11 window manager in C++:

• http://seasonofcode.com/posts/how-x-window-managers-work-and-how-to-write-one-part-i.html

In addition, you can check out a simple example window manager, basic_wm, at

• https://github.com/jichu4n/basic_wm

It's heavily commented for pedagogical purposes.

On Xlib vs XCB - I would recommend Xlib over XCB if you're first starting out. XCB is more efficient, but it's much more low-level and much more verbose (think assembly language for the GUI). You don't want to burden yourself with premature optimization until you already have a prototype working.

Answer 5

Have a look at the code for dwm. The codebase is beautiful and easy to understand. The entire thing is about 2000 lines.

Answer 6

Whatever you do, use XCB and not Xlib. It' modern, asynchronous, simpler and gives you direct access to the X11 protocol.