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Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

Followups directed to: comp.windows.x

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On 2014-02-26, RS Wood <rswood@therandymon.com> wrote:
> From the "swapity-swapity-swap" department:
> Title: A Memory Comparison of Light Linux Desktops  - Part 3

I had a look at this article and it was better than I'd expected.  I was
expecting a KDE vs Gnome vs XFCE vs LXDE article, but these guys went
way lower than that, which was interesting.  Here is some cut-n-paste.
I also liked the list of links at the bottom - a reminder of how much
diversity there is in WMs on *nix systems.

   TinyWM

   If you are into "less memory is better", you definitely need to check
out TinyWM. Written by Nick Welch in about 50 lines of C code, TinyWM is
a "ridiculously tiny window manager", used to serve as a basic WM
programming example. You might also want to check on developer's webpage
the Python version, Lisp version, and Ada version.  TinyWM will move,
resize, focus, and raise your windows. There are no window decorations,
it looks just like regular X. On Debian/Ubuntu install TinyWM as apt-get
install tinywm. Start it as tinywm. It runs in less than 0.2MB of
memory.

   miwm

   From tiny we move to microscopic. miwm (Microscopic Window Manager)
implements a small, versatile set of core window management functions,
with the goal of keeping the window manager as clean as possible. You
would need to supply your own launcher, taskbar and menus using external
programs.  On Debian/Ubuntu install miwm as apt-get install miwm. Start
it as miwm. It runs in 0.5MB of memory.

   olvwm

   Around 1.2 MB things get shiny. OPEN LOOK Window Manager was the
default window manager in SunOS and Solaris. The open-source version is
olvwm (OPEN LOOK Virtual Window Manager), developed by Scott Oaks. It
implements a root window with dimensions greater than those of the video
display, and it works on any X11R5 or X11R6 systems.  Install olvwm in
Debian/Ubuntu as apt-get install olvwm. Start it as olvwm. It runs in
1.2MB memory.

   Sawfish

   As more and more features are added, the memory increases. This time
we look at Sawfish, a themable window manager using a Lisp-based
scripting language. Providing only window manager capabilities and
nothing else, Sawfish is usually combined with other programs such as
wbar or LXPanel.  On Debian/Ubuntu install sawfish as apt-get install
sawfish (yum install sawfish on Fedora). Start it as sawfish. It runs in
3.1MB of memory.

   IceWM

   4.5MB of memory later we have a window manager with taskbar, menus,
network and CPU meters, mail check and clock. This is IceWM, a fast and
simple window manager. It comes with a number of themes that allows it
to imitate Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows 7, OS/2, and Motif.  On
Debian/Ubuntu install IceWM as apt-get install icewm (yum install icewm
on Fedora). Start it as icewm. It runs in 4.5MB of memory.


   PekWM

   PekWM (The Pek Window Manager) is a window manager based on aewm++.
It supports window grouping, auto properties, xinerama, keygrabber,
keychains, and much more.  On Debian/Ubuntu install PekWM as apt-get
install pekwm (yum install pekwm on Fedora). Start it as pekwm. It runs
in 5.3MB of memory.


   Mutter

   Mutter (Metacity Clutter) is the current Gnome 3 window manager.
Based on Clutter library, Mutter supports OpenGL and a large number of
visual effects. Today, Mutter is in the process of becoming a Wayland
compositor.  Mutter is an excellent choice for building Gnome-like
desktops. Give it a try if you are into Gnome 3 look and feel, but you
don't like the functionality Gnome Shell has to offer.  On Debian/Ubuntu
install Mutter as apt-get install mutter (yum install mutter on Fedora).
This will bringing in over 50MB of various Gnome-specific packages on
your hard disk. Start it as dbus-launch -exit-with-session mutter. It
runs in 18.6MB - I've tested it on a Nvidia card running Nouveau driver.

   Conclusion

     * In 2MB of memory you get tiling window managers suitable for
       power users and vi experts.
     * Around 10MB you have a bunch of themable window managers with
       taskbars and menus. For many users this is enough,
       although we are still in power user territory.
     * OpenGL-enabled window managers start around 20MB and bring in
       shadows, transparency and lots of cool visual effects.  From 40MB
       up we have the classic lightweight desktop environments. These
       DEs are becoming more and more popular as
       computer hardware update cycles lengthen.
     * The latest and greatest cutting-edge desktop features can be
       found starting from 150MB.

   Links:

   TinyWM, 9wm, miwm, wm2, dwm, Ratpoison, TWM, xmonad, JWM, i3,
Blackbox, Sawfish, IceWM, PekWM, Openbox, Window Maker, awesome, FVWM,
Fluxbox, Mutter, E17, LXDE, KWin, MATE, Trinity, XFCE, Cinnamon,
Razor-qt, Gnome 3, Unity, KDE

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Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 RS Wood  <rswood@therandymon.com> - 2014-02-26 20:57 +0000
  Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-03-09 19:34 +0000
    Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 unixb4coffee <unixb4coffee@gmail.com> - 2014-03-20 11:11 -0700
      Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 "Aaron W. Hsu" <arcfide@sacrideo.us> - 2014-03-20 14:08 -0500
        Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 Aragorn <thorongil@telenet.be.invalid> - 2014-03-20 20:25 +0100
          Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 unixb4coffee <unixb4coffee@gmail.com> - 2014-03-22 10:54 -0700
            Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 "Aaron W. Hsu" <arcfide@sacrideo.us> - 2014-03-22 14:13 -0500
        Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 Dario Niedermann <dnied@tiscali.it> - 2014-06-25 10:26 +0200
          Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 Andreas Karrer <ak-4a@gmx.ch> - 2014-06-25 11:09 +0000
            Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 arnold@skeeve.com (Aharon Robbins) - 2014-06-25 15:54 +0000
              Re: Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3 despen@verizon.net (Dan.Espen) - 2014-06-25 12:33 -0400

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