dwm

Free plan Linux

What dwm is

dwm is a free dynamic window manager for X on Linux. It can arrange windows in tiled, monocle, or floating layouts, and users can switch layouts dynamically. Windows may have one or more tags; selecting tags controls which windows appear. The status bar shows tags, the active layout, the visible-window count, the focused window title, and text taken from the root window name property.

Customization involves editing config.h, a C header, and config.mk, a Make include file. Settings can cover application placement, tags, and colours. dwm creates a view for each Xinerama screen and is described by its project as a single binary; some distributions offer binary packages. The project says it processes no input data beyond what is known at compile time, except window titles and status text read from the root window name. dmenu is an optional companion for adding a wmii-like menu. The download listing identifies version 6.8 as 26kb, dated 2026-01-30. dwm is linked to the MIT/X Consortium license, and help is available through the FAQ, source code and config.h, IRC channel, and mailing list.

Who it suits

dwm suits Linux users of X who want to manage windows through selectable layouts and tags. It is especially relevant to users comfortable editing configuration files.

What it does well

Tiled, monocle, and floating layouts can be switched dynamically.
Tags control which windows are displayed.
Configuration covers application placement, tags, and colours.
Creates a view for each Xinerama screen.

What to know first

Customization requires editing config.h and config.mk.
No Lua integration, 9P support, shell configuration, or remote control.
The project describes it as a window manager for X.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
dwm	Window manager for X · MIT/X Consortium license	Free

As dwm.suckless.org lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the dwm website.
Use a binary package if your Linux distribution provides one, or get the project’s single binary.
Configure application placement, tags, colours, and other features by editing config.h and config.mk.
Consult the FAQ, source code and config.h, #suckless IRC channel, or mailing list for help.
Optionally add dmenu for a wmii-like menu.

Verdict

dwm offers dynamic layouts and tag-based window selection, with configuration handled through edited files. It is free under the MIT/X Consortium license.

Questions

Is dwm free?

Yes. The listed dwm plan costs nothing.

Which platform does dwm support?

dwm is a window manager for X on Linux.

How does dwm arrange windows?

It supports tiled, monocle, and floating layouts, which can be applied dynamically.

How do users customize dwm?

Users edit config.h, a C header file, and config.mk, a Make include file. The configuration includes application placement, tags, and colours.

What license does dwm use?

The project links dwm to the MIT/X Consortium license.

Does dwm support remote control or Lua integration?

The project says dwm has no remote control or Lua integration. It also says it has no 9P support or shell-based configuration.

Facts from dwm's own pages

Configuration scope: config.h configures features including application placement, tags, and colours. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Customization: Users customize dwm by editing config.h, a C header file, and config.mk, a Make include file. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Distribution: The site describes dwm as a single binary and says some distributions provide binary packages. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Download: The download listing identifies dwm 6.8 as 26kb and dates it 2026-01-30. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Founded: 2006 · dwm.suckless.org, 28 Sept 2026
Integrations: The project says dwm has no Lua integration, 9P support, shell-based configuration, or remote control. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Layouts: It manages windows in tiled, monocle, and floating layouts, which can be applied dynamically. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
License: The site links dwm to the MIT/X Consortium license. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Multi-monitor: The site says dwm creates a view for each Xinerama screen. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Optional companion: The site says dmenu can optionally extend dwm with a wmii-like menu. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Purpose: dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Security design: The project says dwm does not process input data that is not known at compile time, except window titles and status text read from the root window name. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Status bar: Its status bar displays tags, layout, visible-window count, focused-window title, and text read from the root window name property. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Support: The project directs users to its FAQ, source code and config.h, the #suckless IRC channel, and the mailing list for help. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026
Window grouping: Windows can be assigned one or more tags, and selecting tags displays windows with those tags. · dwm.suckless.org, 5 Oct 2026

Where dwm stands on Freedom251

Window Management Software#18 of 65