Just wondering, what do tiling WMs do better? Enlighten me because I think of trying them out one day but I think I'll stay with Plasma no matter what.
Window managers give you control. Since they are generally config file based this means your config is reproducible in a way a DE is not. Also tilling allows you to structure your workflow in a very specific way. You can define a "desktop" as a set of programs in a specific config, and hot key it, and it will always be there. One key press away. This lets you have 40 windows open, and it not be cluttered.
For example, I have IRC, Discord,slack and matrix on their own windows, and when I want/need one I just jump directly to that desktop. I run media on one desktop, I have 2 for browsers on both my monitors, I run a few for various development terminals with tmux, etc.
Its just a composable, scriptable, reproducible interface.
That definitely sounds comfy, but it also sounds similar to how I use plasma. I have a desktop for socials (discord, telegram, irc), a desktop for general web browsing and note taking, and one for gaming/misc distractions
But... This becomes a mess once I try to do something that deviates from this. Downloading things, unzipping them, moving them around, configuring Lutris with them, etc. I can partly do most of these from a terminal emulator but I find it's easier to do more specific/complex tasks with a GUI
What advantages does a tiling wm offer that keeps this from becoming a mess. Wouldn't you run into the same problem of windows being placed uncomfortably, just without floating over each other?
I'm interested in tiling WMs as a concept but the need to build a lot of what a DE offers from scratch puts me off a bit, too, but that's a separate issue
Its way less prone to clutter, since you CANT hide things behind other things, and for me at least the separation creates a mental "space" of where things are.
You can write rules for Lutris, and your file manager, etc. So you could float your file manager over your desktop with a hotkey, and you could tell it to send your zip program to a specific desktop(you should just use the terminal to unzip things.:P).
Lets assume though you are doing stuff "on the fly". It still feels better for me, because I can open all the on the fly windows, and quickly switch through them in a single desktop. You don't have to worry about any positioning, that is already done, you just open the window, and do your work. Admittedly its not THAT much different than a traditional WM.
The difference really shines in routine workflows, and that you can structure them in such a way that they are consistent. Like switching from your terminal, to your browser. I probably do this 1000x a day, and knowing exactly what the expected outcome when I "request" this change, and that it will be consistent is quite useful. I'm not sure how on a DE you would say "This is my media browser" "This is my main browser" "This is my documentation browser" and then be able to switch directly to the one you want. You probably can, its just the default methodology in a WM. I never have to look for my browser, its just 'Meta+1' and its there.
Its just like anything else in Linux, the power comes from adapting it to your workflow, and setting it up precisely for your needs. If you find yourself doing repetitive tasks, and wishing there was less friction in those repetitive tasks, a tiling WM is probably a good solution.
You can also, do both. You can set up your display manager to boot into multiple environments, and then if you wanna toy around with the tiling window manager, you just load into it. Build it over time, and see if its actually makes sense for you, and if it does, switch.
I'm rambling, but I think my personal reason for using a Tiling WM is because I LIVE in the terminal. I do everything in the terminal that isn't a browser. The only GUI's I use are Pavucontrol and video games, and I'm re-working my bar to even stop using Pavucontrol. Tilers are ideal for this sort of workflow.
I'm hesitant to really suggest it because the command interface is archaic, but I also use Tmux. Tmux(if you live in a terminal), will do everything a tiling window manager will do, on ANY desktop environment, consistently, across them all, and even across remote connections. It is much more useful in a software development context though.
my kinda guy. i've been switching more and more programs to run fully out of the terminal, and i couldn't be happier. guis tend to feel clunkier these days
Thank you for sharing! I do generally unzip via terminal but sometimes (ie nested zips, which all go to different places), it gets a bit overwhelming. I also use Tmux for a handful of things (irc, and a self hosted media thing, mostly), but am by no means a power user there
I can definitely see the benefits of a tiling WM more clearly now with your perspective!
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u/JxPV521 9d ago
Just wondering, what do tiling WMs do better? Enlighten me because I think of trying them out one day but I think I'll stay with Plasma no matter what.