Eww review
A flexible open-source widget system for Linux users who want to code their desktop.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Eww, short for ElKowar's Wacky Widgets, is an open-source desktop widget system for Linux. It lets users create widgets independently of their window manager, using the Yuck configuration language and CSS or SCSS for styling. The project suits Linux power users who want direct control over desktop layouts, controls, system information, and visual presentation rather than a fixed collection of prebuilt widgets.
Its main strength is breadth within a focused desktop-widget system. Eww includes layout, input, button, image, calendar, progress, graph, and other widget types, including combo boxes, expanders, revealers, overlays, tooltips, scroll areas, and circular progress displays. Built-in variables can expose CPU, RAM, disk, battery, temperature, and network data. Support for both X11 and Wayland builds also gives Linux users a choice of display environments, while daemon, open, reload, logs, state, and debug commands support an active configuration workflow.
Eww is a strong fit for users comfortable defining interfaces in Yuck and styling them with CSS or SCSS. Its standalone approach allows widgets to be created independently of the window manager, which is useful for custom layouts and system dashboards. The trade-off is focus: it supports Linux rather than multiple desktop platforms, and its configuration-led design is aimed at people willing to code their widgets. Choose Eww for free, open-source Linux customization with built-in system data and many widget primitives; choose an alternative if you need cross-platform support or a less code-oriented setup.
Eww pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Open-source and free to use
- Supports both X11 and Wayland builds
- Offers broad widget and system-monitoring primitives
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only platform support
- Requires Yuck plus CSS or SCSS configuration
- Developer-oriented workflow may not suit casual customization
Eww fact sheet, pricing and score →
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