twm

Connect to the default X server

$ twm

$ twm [[-d|-display]] [display]

$ twm [[-s|-single]]

$ twm [[-f|-file]] [path/to/file]

$ twm [[-v|-verbose]]

twm [-f initfile] [-s] [-d displayname] [-v] [-q]

-f initfile
    Specifies an alternative configuration file to load instead of the default ~/.twmrc.

-s
    Shows a short startup message on the console when twm starts.

-d displayname
    Connects to the specified X display. This overrides the DISPLAY environment variable.

-v
    Prints the version number of twm and then exits.

-q
    Suppresses the display of the startup message on the console.

twm, the Tab Window Manager, is a basic and lightweight window manager for the X Window System. It was one of the earliest window managers developed for X11, providing fundamental features like titlebars for windows, resize and minimize/maximize buttons, and an icon manager. Users interact with twm primarily through mouse clicks on the root window or window borders, often bringing up configurable menus.

Known for its minimalist design and low resource consumption, twm is highly configurable through a plain-text configuration file, typically ~/.twmrc. This file allows users to define key bindings, mouse bindings, colors, fonts, and window placement rules. While lacking the modern visual aesthetics and advanced features of contemporary desktop environments, twm remains functional and is often used in environments where resources are extremely limited, for troubleshooting X setups, or by users preferring a very spartan and keyboard/mouse-driven interface.

twm is an old window manager with a very simple aesthetic, lacking modern desktop features such as compositing, taskbars, or sophisticated desktop environments.

Its configuration is entirely text-file based (.twmrc) and can be complex for new users, requiring manual editing and understanding of its specific syntax. It's not suitable for users expecting a rich, graphical, or user-friendly out-of-the-box experience found in modern desktop environments.

The primary way to customize twm is through its configuration file, typically named .twmrc, located in the user's home directory. This file is a plain text file that uses a specific syntax to define menus, key bindings, mouse bindings, colors, fonts, and window-specific behaviors. Understanding and editing this file is essential for anyone wishing to adapt twm to their preferences.

twm was originally written by Tom LaStrange for the X Window System in 1987. It was included as part of X11R1 (X Version 11 Release 1) and quickly became the standard window manager for X. Its inclusion helped popularize the X Window System by providing a basic, functional graphical interface. Despite its age, it remains part of the X.Org distribution, serving as a fallback or a choice for minimalist setups.

xinit(1), startx(1), xorg(7), fvwm(1), olwm(1), xdm(1)