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70 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
70 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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layout: default
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title: Features
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---
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Features
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========
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We have already mentioned that Window Maker is a
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[window manager](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_manager)
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There are other window managers out there, such as the infamous FVWM,
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Enlightenment, AfterStep, and the list goes on. All window managers perform the
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same basic tasks, which are to create, place, keep track of, and draw borders
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around the windows on the screen. Beyond this, they can become quite different
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in their various abilities.
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Window Maker firmly adheres to the behavior and functionality of the
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NEXTSTEP™ user interface. The developers have put forth a great deal of
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effort in capturing the essense and beauty of the original design, and have
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incorporated some new ideas of their own. This has always followed the
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philosophy of keeping to those features which fit well into the overall design,
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while limiting the amount of "feature creep" that tends to bloat other window
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managers. A summary of the main Window Maker features are presented below.
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Core (usability)
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----------------
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* Almost complete [ICCM](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icccm) compliance
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* National language I18N support (over 11 locales)
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* Built-in icon dithering with support for 4bpp and 8bpp displays
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* Popup menus that support keyboard traversal, which can be "pinned" to the
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root window
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* Support for [GNUstep](http://gnustep.org), [GNOME](http://gnome.org), and
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[KDE](http://kde.org) window hints to better integrate with those desktop
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environments
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* Support for Motif™ and OPEN LOOK™ window hints to better
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interface with applications based on those toolkits
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* Built-in GUI configuration utility that eliminates the need to hand edit
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config files
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* Application [Dock](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dock_(computing)) (similar to
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NEXTSTEP/MacOS X Dock) that can be configured using drag and drop
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* Workspace Dock (aka Clip/Fiend) which is a workspace specific Dock extender
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* Support for rudimentary session management
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* Rudimentary support for the [X RandR](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RandR)
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extension
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* Support for [dockapps](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dockapps) (equivalent of
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applets or epplets)
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* Ability to change all preferences and menus on-the-fly without having to
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restart the window manager
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* Support for multiple workspaces (aka "virtual desktops")
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Extras (eye candy)
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------------------
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* Built-in themes support
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* Over 13 types of window decorations, including custom defined
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* Support for XPM, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF and PPM icons (no conversions with
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external programs) with an alpha-channel
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* Support for setting the root window background (via the wmsetbg utility)
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* Optional superfluous animations, such as window shading, customizeable icon
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miniturization effects, slide/scrolling menus, and much more
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Despite all of these features, Window Maker is not resource intensive and
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remains stable across many UNIX varients. It is extremely flexible, and many
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options can be included or excluded at compile time. This means that you can
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easily tailor Window Maker to meet your needs; whether you are a minimalist
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wanting to save resources, or an extremist that likes to theme everything in
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sight. A screenshot of a typical Window Maker workspace is
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[here](img/wmaker-screenshot.png).
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