Stumpwm

Infobox_Software
name = StumpWM


caption = StumpWM showing a group with 6 frames
developer = Shawn Betts
latest_release_version = 0.9.4.1
latest_release_date = 18 July 2008
operating_system = Unix-like
genre = Window Manager
license = GPL
website = [http://www.nongnu.org/stumpwm/ http://www.nongnu.org/stumpwm/]

StumpWM is a window manager for POSIX-compliant Unix-like operating systems running the X Window System, and is a successor to ratpoison. [ [http://www.linux.com/articles/62218 Linux.com review of tiling window managers] ]

Stumpwm is written in the Lisp dialect Common Lisp. This allows complete reprogramming and customization instantly, without reboots, by running StumpWM in an interactive Common Lisp system like SBCL or CLISP or CMUCL. StumpWM is essentially a series of functions layered on top of the CLX interface to X.org that is analogous to Xlib for other languages [http://www.cliki.net/CLX] ; it eventually provides a higher-level interface for writing a tiling window manager with the same basic paradigm as ratpoison (written in C), but far more malleable and rewritable::"Stumpwm attempts to be customizable yet visually minimal. There are no window decorations, no icons, and no buttons. It does have various hooks to attach your personal customizations, and variables to tweak." [ [http://www.nongnu.org/stumpwm/ Stumpwm homepage] -(accessed 6 October 2006)]

StumpWM and Ratpoison emulate Screen & Emacs in many respects. They allow rebinding of keys to other commands, writing of commands, access to the Unix shell for scripting, and virtual desktops. But unlike Ratpoison, StumpWM includes a mode-line much like GNU Screen and GNU Emacs have.

As the Debian page describes StumpWM::"It attempts to be highly customizable while relying entirely on the keyboard for input. You will not find buttons, icons, title bars, tool bars, or any of the other conventional GUI widgets." [ [http://packages.debian.org/testing/devel/stumpwm "Package: stumpwm"] -(accessed 6 October 2006)]

It is intended to replace ratpoison, ["StumpWM grew out of the authors' frustration with writing ratpoison in C. Very quickly we realized we were building into ratpoison lispy-emacs style paradigms. We had a REPL hanging off 'C-t :', hooks, and a growing subset of Common Lisp in the implementation ... It was clear what we "really" wanted was a window manager written in Lisp from the ground up with lots of room for customizing and real-time hacking." [http://stumpwm.elektrubadur.se/cgi-bin/wiki/Background "Background"] from the StumpWM wiki] but is generally regarded as not yet as mature and suitable for end-users. [ [http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=356948 Bug#356948] from the Debian bug tracking system] This is partly because not all of Ratpoison's features have been added, but there are exceptions like the previously mentioned mode-line.

References

ee also

* Sawfish
* Ion
* larswm
* Xmonad
* wmii
* dwm

External links

* [http://www.nongnu.org/stumpwm/ Stumpwm homepage]
** [http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/stumpwm Savannah page] .
** [http://stumpwm.antidesktop.net/wiki Stumpwm wiki]
* [http://www.cliki.net/Stumpwm CLiki entry for Stumpwm]
* [http://freshmeat.net/projects/stumpwm/ Freshmeat: Stumpwm]
* [http://packages.debian.org/unstable/devel/stumpwm Debian package page]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/TheStumpWMExperience A video demonstrating the Stumpwm experience]