awesome review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

For Linux users who want control over how windows are arranged and managed, awesome is a free, open-source window manager for X. It combines tiling and floating layouts with keyboard-driven operation, multiple-screen support, and per-screen tags. Named tags help organize windows, while application-based rules can define placement, sizing, fullscreen, and floating properties. Its intended audience is power users and developers comfortable shaping their graphical environment rather than relying on a fixed desktop workflow.

Lua is central to awesome’s configuration and extensibility, giving users a way to tailor layouts, rules, widgets, and status bars. The project also supports integrations and standards including XCB, D-Bus, and Freedesktop specifications. This makes it a fit for people who want window management to be adaptable and scriptable, while the same emphasis on configuration may be a drawback for anyone looking for a simple, mostly graphical setup. Packages are available through Linux and BSD distributions, and the project supports building from source.

The project describes awesome as a window manager for X, so buyers seeking a broader desktop environment or a solution beyond that platform should look elsewhere. According to the project’s site, version 4.3 is the latest stable release and is dated 28 January 2019; development versions are also provided. With no paid tier in its open-source model, awesome is best suited to Linux users willing to configure their environment in Lua and work with X. Those who prefer a turnkey window manager or do not want to maintain custom configuration are less likely to find it a fit.

awesome pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Offers both tiling and floating layouts, with per-screen tags.
  • Lua configuration supports application rules and fine-grained window control.
  • Includes custom widgets, status bars, and D-Bus support.
• Where it doesn't
  • Designed for X, rather than a general-purpose desktop environment.
  • Lua-based configuration may not suit users seeking a mostly graphical setup.
  • The latest stable release listed by the project is version 4.3, dated 28 January 2019.

awesome fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update