DisplayFusion Free plan 9.2 Visit awesome
awesomewm.org
What it is
awesome is a Linux window manager for X built as a configurable framework, not a complete desktop environment. It is aimed at power users, developers and others who want detailed control over their graphical environment. Lua provides its extension mechanism, while keyboard control covers all operations without a mouse. Windows can be assigned to one or more tags, with multiple tags visible at once; XRandR provides per-screen desktops for multihead setups. The manager implements EWMH, XDG Base Directory, XEmbed, Desktop Notification and System Tray standards, and supports D-Bus. Lua extensions cover dynamic tagging, widgets, tabs and layouts. Its maker says asynchronous XCB makes it less subject to latency than window managers based on Xlib. Packages are available for several Linux and BSD distributions. The listed latest stable release is version 4.3, dated 28 January 2019. The free software is licensed under GNU GPLv2.
Spec sheet
- Integrations
- Awesome supports D-Bus and offers Lua extensions for dynamic tagging, widgets, tabs and layouts.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Support
- The project directs users to the #awesome channel on OFTC IRC, Stack Overflow, Reddit and GitHub for questions and issue reports.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- License
- Awesome is licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Configuration
- Awesome is designed as a framework window manager that is extensible using the Lua programming language.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Distribution support
- Packages are available for distributions including Arch Linux, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD and others.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Documentation
- Official documentation includes Lua API documentation, the awesome manpage, awesomerc manpage and awesome-client manpage.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Keyboard control
- Everything in Awesome can be performed with the keyboard without using a mouse.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Latest stable release
- The download page identifies version 4.3 as the latest stable release, released on 28 January 2019.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Multihead support
- Awesome provides real multihead support through XRandR with per-screen desktops called tags.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Not a desktop environment
- The FAQ states that Awesome is a window manager, not a desktop environment.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Performance
- Awesome uses the asynchronous XCB library and says this makes it less subject to latency than Xlib-based window managers.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Product type
- Awesome is a highly configurable framework window manager for X.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Release verification
- The stable source archives are provided with GPG signatures.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Source installation
- The project recommends using the package supplied by your distribution because source builds can have LGI and Lua 5.1 package-search-path problems.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Standards
- Awesome implements EWMH, XDG Base Directory, XEmbed, Desktop Notification and System Tray standards.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Target users
- It is primarily targeted at power users, developers and people who want fine-grained control of their graphical environment.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
- Window organization
- Windows can be assigned to one or more tags, and several tags can be displayed at the same time.Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
Plans and prices
Awesome Free GNU GPLv2 license · X window manager Read 1 Oct 2026 · awesomewm.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Keyboard operation without a mouse
- Lua extensions for tags, widgets, tabs and layouts
- Per-screen desktops through XRandR
- Windows can appear on multiple tags
Limits
- It is a window manager, not a desktop environment
- Latest stable release listed is version 4.3 from 2019
- Source builds can encounter LGI and Lua path problems
Who it suits
It suits power users and developers who want to configure their Linux graphical environment closely. Its framework approach and Lua extensions suit people comfortable shaping their own window-management setup.
Verdict
awesome offers extensive keyboard-driven and Lua-based control for Linux users who want a window manager they can tailor. Readers seeking a complete desktop environment should note that it does not provide one.
Where Specifiction places it
- Window Management Software#15 of 658.0
