Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Olwm

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Developer(s)
  
Sun Microsystems

Operating system
  
Solaris / SunOS

Development status
  
Discontinued

License
  
custom free software

Olwm

Platform
  
IA-32, PowerPC, SPARC, x86, x86-64

Type
  
Stacking window manager

olwm (OPEN LOOK Window Manager) was the default stacking window manager for OpenWindows, the original X11 desktop environment included with SunOS and Solaris. Its unique characteristic is its implementation of the OPEN LOOK look and feel.

Scott Oaks developed a variant of olwm, called olvwm (OPEN LOOK Virtual Window Manager), which implements a virtual root window with dimensions greater than those of the video display.

Key features

  • Virtual Desktop Manager (olvwm only): allows windows to be dragged and dropped to any Workspace. The number of Workspaces is configurable; there are three rows of four Workspaces in the VDM in the lower illustration.
  • Workspace Menu: allows the user to start programs
  • Windows can be automatically started and positioned when the window manager starts (and can be started in a specific Workspace in olvwm), using the config file
  • olvwm includes its own config file, which allows the user to resize and reposition a window using a shortcut key
  • "Focus follows mouse" capability
  • Ability to switch and click-into a workspace (using the olvwm VDM).
  • Customizable colors
  • Specify no, or minimal, window borders (olvwm only)
  • Sticky windows (olvwm only)

    • References

    Olwm Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA