The best old-school Linux window managers that still hold up

I’ve used just about every desktop available for the Linux operating system. In the early days, I’d switch from one to another to find desktop nirvana. Every so often I’d land on a desktop that I enjoyed and would stick with it, only to find myself itching for a change in a few weeks.

Those days are gone and I’ve stuck with the same desktop for a long time (which will soon change, once System76 releases the full version of COSMIC Desktop).

Also: System76’s new COSMIC Linux desktop is out of this world

That doesn’t mean old-school desktops aren’t still viable. Although they may not be as integrated and full-featured as the systems you’re used to, these nods to early Linux can be a lot of fun and some of them are still just as effective now as they were in the past.

Let’s take a look at five such desktops.

Fvwm

Although CDE was the first desktop environment I used with Linux, Fvwm was the first I used long-term. What immediately struck me with Fvwm was how efficient it was. The Fvwm you can install today is somewhat different than what I remember using. However, the system still includes the old desktop menu (click anywhere on the desktop to reveal the menu) and is incredibly fast (especially on modern hardware). 

Today’s Fvwm has a sidebar with the Linux pager, a window list (that allows you to switch between open applications), and a clock app. Beyond the sidebar, you get the desktop menus and that’s it. Yes, I said “menus” because you get both a left-click and a right-click menu. The left-click menu is the actual Fvwm menu, where you can launch applications, change wallpaper, read man pages, and access the restart/quit options. 

The right-click menu is where you control windows. For instance, you can shade a window, which means it rolls up into the title bar. I always loved this feature because it takes multi-tasking to another level. I wish every Linux desktop offered window shading, as it makes using the desktop far more efficient. 

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Fvwm is bare bones and configured via a flat text file, so you’ll need to do some research to understand how to configure the desktop to meet your needs.

Window Maker

Window Maker is another minimal desktop that is slightly reminiscent of my all-time favorite old-school window manager, AfterStep (which was based on GNUStep). Window Maker includes a dock that isn’t quite what you’ve come to expect. Instead of a default dock that includes your favorite applications, you build the dock by adding launchers and drawers. Drawers can hold multiple launchers and even the launchers have to be manually configured after you’ve added them. 

Also: 5 reasons why Pop!_OS is my favorite Linux distro

Window Maker also includes the desktop menu (a right-click affair). One cool feature of the desktop menu is that you open it with a right mouse click and it remains open (even after launching an application), until you dismiss it by clicking the X in the upper-right corner. Like Fvwm, Window Maker has a decidedly old-school look and feel, but what do you expect from a window manager that has been around since 1997?

Fluxbox

Fluxbox is about as minimal as desktops get, with a simple panel at the bottom and a right-click desktop menu (sensing a theme here?). Unlike other old-school window managers, Flux does help you out with the configuration from within the menu, where you’ll find the Configuration entry that contains options for focus model, maximize, tab options, transparency, opaque window moving, workspace warping, slit, and toolbar. 

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You can also select from several styles to configure the menu, windows, and the panel. There are several styles to choose from. Fluxbox can be a bit frustrating at times. For example, each style comes with its own wallpaper and other changes to the desktop. However, you don’t see the full change until after you’ve selected the style and then clicked Restart from the main desktop window. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see the full effect of the style. 

Those quirks make Fluxbox both curious and charming. One thing about Fluxbox is that it is one of the fastest desktops on the market. So, if you’re using an old computer or you just have a need for speed, Fluxbox will not let you down.

AfterStep

AfterStep holds a place in my heart because it was the first Linux window manager that made me realize just how amazing the desktop can be. I remember spending hours tweaking the desktop until I had full transparency and an incredible collection of themes from which to choose. 

AfterStep seemed like the desktop from the future, but it was rooted firmly in the past. The desktop can be pretty intimidating at first because it’s completely different from any desktop you’ve tried. And believe me, it takes some time to get used to. That’s not to say it’s difficult — it’s just different. 

Also: How to install and configure AfterStep window manager on Ubuntu

Once you get the hang of navigating the desktop menu, you’ll be fine. Yes, there are other features (such as the pager, drawers, and launchers) that you’ll need to figure out. However, you’ll work with the menu most of the time. And every time I install AfterStep, I’m immediately taken back to those early days and filled with nostalgia.

Enlightenment

The next window manager to take my attention was Enlightenment. Other than GNOME (in all its incarnations), Enlightenment is the window manager I’ve used for the longest period. This particular desktop always felt like a bridge between the past and the future, with a dock, desktop launchers, and my always-favorite desktop menu. 

The difference between Enlightenment and the other desktops is that it will feel somewhat familiar to you in its layout. That’s not to say it shrugs off the old-school feel because it certainly looks and feels straight out of the early 2000s. 

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To get the best experience, your best bet is to use a distribution dedicated to this window manager, such as Elive or Bodhi (which uses the Moksha desktop based on Enlightenment).

Each of these desktops can be easily installed on Ubuntu-based distributions. In fact, to grab my screenshots, I installed all of them on Ubuntu 24.04 and each desktop ran very well. If you ask me which to try first, I’d say go with AfterStep because it’s the most rewarding of the group.

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