I’m currently writing this on the MATE desktop. I started with linux on the gnome 2 desktop, so it only makes sense. A long time ago I used Xmonad (a tiling window manager) but tiling has less appeal for me now. If I need/want a lightweight solution, I use CWM (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cwm_(window_manager), which was originally developed on OpenBSD, but is usually available across different Linux distros and BSD’s.
I’ve tried pretty much every DE/WM under the sun at this point, and would be interested to know what you use and why
I used to think tiling was essential to me to, but as I started using laptops exclusively smaller monitors meant I stopped seeing the point of it.
I also only use laptops (mostly for low power consumption) and I still consider it important (so that I don’t have to use the trackpad). Do you use a floating window manager, then, or is there some other type (aside from a combination of the two)?
I use either MATE or XFCE. If I want something minimal I use CWM (which started on OpenBSD, but is everywhere now). CWM is really bare bones and configurable. It’s worth checking out. I usually use thinkpads, so the trackpoint in the center of the keyboard means I don’t need to move my hands away from the keyboard to use the mouse.
The reason I don’t use tiling anymore is because at a certain point I just didn’t find it helpful. I used to use xmonad exclusively, and I did like it. But with a smallish screen, tiling just didn’t seem helpful. The workflow with my keybindings was nice, but I can recreate that across different WM’s.
Another reason is lack of time. I used to spend a decent amount of time configuring things to be just so. I don’t have that free time anymore, so when I get a new (used) laptop or do a reinstall, I start with something like MATE or XFCE, so I can just start working. Tiling is great, but each WM has it’s paradigm and way of doing things. Traditional desktop environments are based around a concept I grew up with am accustomed to.
Makes sense to stick to what you’re used to – I haven’t tried any other WM since I became a Working Adult™. Tiling just seems to be the easiest option for moving and resizing windows without a mouse, but I’m sure it’s possible to do it with a floating WM with the right keybindings
Yeah I’ve been using linux since about 2007(?) and what I noticed in all the online discussions about gnome v kde or whatever, is that everything comes down to personal preference.
FWIW, with CWM there are default key bindings that maximize horizontally and vertically, which can create a tiling effect. You can resize/move programs just with keys. It also has the concept of groups (instead of virtual desktops). So you enter a key combination, and whatever you added to that group is minimized/raised.