herbstluftwm review
A scriptable, keyboard-oriented window manager built around manually arranged frames.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
herbstluftwm is an open-source manual tiling window manager for the X window system, aimed at Unix-like desktop users who want keyboard-oriented, scriptable control. Its core model is a set of persistent frames that users split recursively to arrange tiled windows. Separate floating windows remain available alongside tiled ones, and virtual desktops—called tags—can each keep an independent layout. The product is listed for Linux and macOS, with its documentation describing X/X11. It is a fit for people who want to shape window placement directly, rather than delegate layout decisions to an automatic tiler.
The standout feature is the combination of frame-based layouts and runtime control. Keyboard commands move, resize, and focus windows, while herbstclient allows settings, rules, keybindings, and virtual desktops to be changed without restarting. Application and window-property rules can direct placement or behavior, and layouts can be saved and loaded for reuse. Multi-monitor management is supported, with shared tags across monitors. Together, these capabilities offer a configurable workflow for users comfortable with keyboard operations and a scriptable window manager; they are less suited to someone looking for a primarily graphical, point-and-click approach.
The main trade-off is the manual, X-focused approach. Users arrange frames themselves, so those seeking automatic tiling or a Wayland-documented setup should consider another window manager. Floating windows provide a separate option when a window should not join the tiled layout, but the overall organization still centers on user-directed frames, tags, and rules. Choose herbstluftwm if that control and its reusable layouts match your desktop habits; look elsewhere if you want automatic placement or a documented Wayland workflow.
herbstluftwm pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Recursively split frames support flexible manual tiling layouts.
- Tags keep independent layouts across virtual desktops.
- Rules, runtime configuration, and saved layouts support tailored workflows.
- Where it doesn't
- Manual tiling requires arranging windows rather than relying on automatic placement.
- Documented for X/X11, not Wayland.
- Keyboard-driven controls and herbstclient may not suit users seeking a graphical setup.
herbstluftwm fact sheet, pricing and score →
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