Back to article  Window Managers Explained   September 16, 1999
Many users who are new to Linux are unfamiliar with the term
Window Manager. The concept of a window manager does not exist
in the Microsoft Windows world but plays an important role in
managing the look and feel of your Linux environment. This
article will explain the role of a window manager and briefly
talk about some popular window managers available.  What is a
Window Manager  A window manager is the piece of software
responsible for managing the different windows that appear on
your screen. The window manager controls the placement of
windows, draws the borders and scrollbars, and is responsible
for ensuring that your X-Windows programs get along. A window
manager is usually started after the X server finishes loading,
which is the application responsible for drawing everything onto
your screen. It is the window manager, however, that controls
much of the look and feel of your X-Windows desktop. Usually
window managers also allow you to l