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Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3

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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

#1010 — Memory comparison of Linux light desktops, pt 3

From the "swapity-swapity-swap" department:
Title: A Memory Comparison of Light Linux Desktops  - Part 3
Author: Administrator
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:20:43 -0500
Link: http://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/763888-a-memory-comparison-of-light-linux-desktops-part-3/

Linux kernel manages all RAM memory in your computer. Unused memory goes into
a special buffering pool, where the kernel caches all recently used data. If
a process attempts to read a file and the kernel already has the file cached,
reading it is as fast as reading RAM.

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#1396

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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#1826

On 03/09/2014 12:34 PM, RS Wood wrote:
> 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
>

Mwm, the window manager that comes with the OpenMotif libraries, is very 
light on memory (I've only looked at the memory usage occasionally with 
top).  The display is crystal clear and rock-steady, and very easy to 
look at.  It's very basic, but easy to add things like desk accessories 
and outboard compositing managers to.

The olwm - olvwm window managers are similar.  There was yet another WM 
version that was the default with new user accounts on Solaris, IIRC.

Out of the box, it doesn't have most of the features of the 
post-UNIX-Linux WMs, like, there's no embedded language, so you need to 
re-learn xrdb if you want any desktop accessories.  Also no workspaces 
or virtual root, and uses standard size icons.

OpenMotif isn't GPL'd so it's not normally available as a Linux package, 
but you can download the source at http://www.openmotif.org/.


-- 
Ctalk - An Object Oriented Language for C Programmers
Download:  http://sourceforge.net/projects/ctalk/files
Wiki:      http://sourceforge.net/projects/ctalk/Wiki/home

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#1828

On Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:11:57 -0700, unixb4coffee wrote:

> OpenMotif isn't GPL'd so it's not normally available as a Linux package,
> but you can download the source at http://www.openmotif.org/.

OpenMotif is now licensed under the LGPL. I was not able to get to the 
openmotif.org site, but the following appears to work: http://
motif.ics.com/ .





-- 
Aaron W. Hsu | arcfide@sacrideo.us | http://www.sacrideo.us
Please support my work: https://www.gittip.com/arcfide/

לֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה׃

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#1830

On Thursday 20 March 2014 20:08, Aaron W. Hsu conveyed the following to 
comp.misc...

> On Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:11:57 -0700, unixb4coffee wrote:
> 
>> OpenMotif isn't GPL'd so it's not normally available as a Linux
>> package, but you can download the source at
>> http://www.openmotif.org/.
> 
> OpenMotif is now licensed under the LGPL. I was not able to get to the
> openmotif.org site, but the following appears to work: http://
> motif.ics.com/ .

And there is - or at least was, as I'm not up to date on its development 
status - also GNU lesstif.

-- 
= Aragorn =

         http://www.linuxcounter.net - registrant #223157

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#1899

On 03/20/2014 12:25 PM, Aragorn wrote:
> On Thursday 20 March 2014 20:08, Aaron W. Hsu conveyed the following to
> comp.misc...
>
>> On Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:11:57 -0700, unixb4coffee wrote:
>>
>>> OpenMotif isn't GPL'd so it's not normally available as a Linux
>>> package, but you can download the source at
>>> http://www.openmotif.org/.
>>
>> OpenMotif is now licensed under the LGPL. I was not able to get to the
>> openmotif.org site, but the following appears to work: http://
>> motif.ics.com/ .

Yipes, my bad.  It was good to see OpenMotif being upgraded again.

> And there is - or at least was, as I'm not up to date on its development
> status - also GNU lesstif.

I haven't looked at lesstif in a while.  There were some good tutorials 
about how to use the Motif X resources.  There was one I liked that was 
called, "MoTeeth." (seriously.)  Any idea where these references went?
That's in addition, I guess, to trying to find the original Motif 
library references, which back then were huge and quite expensive, if I 
remember correctly.


-- 
Ctalk - An Object Oriented Language for C Programmers
Download:  http://sourceforge.net/projects/ctalk/files
Wiki:      http://sourceforge.net/projects/ctalk/Wiki/home

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news@netfront.net ---

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#1901

On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 10:54:03 -0700, unixb4coffee wrote:

> That's in addition, I guess, to trying to find the original Motif
> library references, which back then were huge and quite expensive, if I
> remember correctly.

I believe that ICS or the OpenCDE project has made access to some of the 
original manuals and references available online. I think IST also 
provides some of them. 

-- 
Aaron W. Hsu | arcfide@sacrideo.us | http://www.sacrideo.us
Please support my work: https://www.gittip.com/arcfide/

לֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה׃

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#3844

Aaron W. Hsu <arcfide@sacrideo.us> wrote:

> OpenMotif is now licensed under the LGPL.

Motif too (installed it on Slackware via pkgsrc). Not sure what the
difference is between OpenMotif and Motif, at this point.

Mwm is my all-time favourite, that's the WM I always end up going back
to.

-- 
> cat /etc/slackware-version && uname -mprs
Slackware 14.0
Linux 3.12.0-dn i686 AMD Turion(tm) 64 Mobile Technology MK-36

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#3848

* Dario Niedermann <dnied@tiscali.it>:


> Mwm is my all-time favourite, that's the WM I always end up going back
> to.

I've been using X11 for more than 25 years now and this is the first
time I heard someone say he liked mwm.

 - Andi

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#3864

In article <slrnlqlbf8.l14.ak-4a@chimborazo.ee.ethz.ch>,
Andreas Karrer  <ak-4a@gmx.ch> wrote:
>* Dario Niedermann <dnied@tiscali.it>:
>
>> Mwm is my all-time favourite, that's the WM I always end up going back
>> to.
>
>I've been using X11 for more than 25 years now and this is the first
>time I heard someone say he liked mwm.
>
> - Andi

It was an improvement over twm. :-)
-- 
Aharon (Arnold) Robbins 			arnold AT skeeve DOT com
P.O. Box 354		Home Phone: +972 8 979-0381
Nof Ayalon
D.N. Shimshon 9978500	ISRAEL

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#3866

arnold@skeeve.com (Aharon Robbins) writes:

> In article <slrnlqlbf8.l14.ak-4a@chimborazo.ee.ethz.ch>,
> Andreas Karrer  <ak-4a@gmx.ch> wrote:
>>* Dario Niedermann <dnied@tiscali.it>:
>>
>>> Mwm is my all-time favourite, that's the WM I always end up going back
>>> to.
>>
>>I've been using X11 for more than 25 years now and this is the first
>>time I heard someone say he liked mwm.
>>
>> - Andi
>
> It was an improvement over twm. :-)

Disagree.

I think a lot of users like Motif because of the 3d appearance.
Fvwm has a "look and act like Motif" option.
Most users submitting bug reports and enhancement requests
wanted Fvwm to emulate Motif down to the pixel.

Motif always felt clunky and slow.
The opposite of twm.

-- 
Dan Espen

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