Sign in Submit site

herbstluftwm

herbstluftwm.org Desktop Customization Website

herbstluftwm arranges windows through a manual tiling window manager for the X window system.

Visit herbstluftwm 24 alternatives
herbstluftwm.org
herbstluftwm homepage screenshot

About herbstluftwm

herbstluftwm is a manual tiling window manager for the X window system. Its configuration is applied at runtime through the herbstclient tool, and the configuration file is a script run at startup. Options, window rules, virtual desktops, and keybindings can be changed live without restarting the window manager.

Each virtual desktop, called a tag, has a tiling layer and a floating layer. Tiled windows fill the screen space, and floating windows can be placed freely above them. The screen can be divided into virtual monitors, which do not have to match the physical monitor setup. All monitors share one pool of tags, so the contents of two monitors can be swapped with a single keystroke. The homepage describes the window manager for X only.

Key features

  • Tiling layout that splits frames into subframes, which can be split again or filled with windows
  • Floating layer on each virtual desktop for freely placed windows
  • Runtime configuration through herbstclient without restarting the window manager
  • Keyboard-only moving, resizing, and focusing of tiled and floating windows
  • Virtual monitors that can divide one physical display into several views
  • Shared pool of tags across monitors, with one keystroke to swap two monitors' contents
Best for: Users of the X window system who want keyboard-driven manual tiling and are willing to configure it through a startup script and the herbstclient tool.
Good for
  • Configuration changes can be applied live without restarting the window manager.
  • Windows can be moved, resized, and focused using the keyboard only.
  • Virtual monitors allow one physical display to show two or more virtual desktops at a time.
Watch out for
  • The homepage describes the window manager for the X window system only and does not describe other platforms.
  • Configuration is done through the herbstclient tool and a startup script.

herbstluftwm at a glance

Type
Website
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Platforms
Web, Windows
Open source
Not stated
Last checked
Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026
gitdesktop customization

herbstluftwm alternatives

Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.

All 24 alternatives

Popular in Desktop Customization

Well-known listings from the same topic.

All 172
dotfilesdotfiles.github.iobackieeapps.microsoft.com/store/detail/backiee-wallpa…Dynamic Themeapps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh1zbkwHydraPaperhydrapaper.gabmus.orgWallpaperCavewallpapercave.comWallpaper Abysswall.alphacoders.com
Related topicsLinux AppsSystem UtilitiesLinux & Mac AppsMedia Players & ServersBrowser ExtensionsFile UtilitiesText EditorsMac Apps

herbstluftwm FAQ

How can I get herbstluftwm?
It can be installed through a package manager, downloaded as tarballs, or obtained by cloning the git repository at github.com/herbstluftwm/herbstluftwm.
Where can I ask questions or get support?
The homepage lists the IRC channel #herbstluftwm on irc.libera.chat, the r/herbstluftwm subreddit, the GitHub issue tracker, and a mailing list at [email protected].
Is there a place for new users to start?
The homepage recommends the tutorial as the best place for new users to start, and manual pages for herbstluftwm and herbstclient are available in the doc/ directory.
Is something wrong or out of date?

Tell us and an editor will check it.

Own this website?

Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.

Claim this listing

Listing maintained by Chris McClure and the WebIndexly editors · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · How we rank