KWin

KWin is a window manager for the X Window System and also becoming a Wayland compositor.[3][4] It is released as a part of KDE Plasma 5, for which it is the default window manager. KWin can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments.

This article is about the window manager. For the radio station, see KWIN.

KWin
KWin 4.4 with Cube effect.
Developer(s)KDE (Martin Grässlin, et al.)
Stable release5.20.5 (5 January 2021 (2021-01-05)) [±][1]
Preview release5.21 Beta (21 January 2021 (2021-01-21)) [±][2]
Repository
Written inC++ (Qt)
Operating systemLinux, BSD, other Unix-like
Type
LicenseGNU General Public License
Websitehttps://userbase.kde.org/KWin
KDE mascot Konqi and window manager.

KWin can be configured by scripting using QML or QtScript, both of which are based on ECMAScript.[5]

History
NameVersionDetails
KWM1.0
KWin2.0Extended support for themes and window effects.
3.0Improved support for the extended ICCCM standards from freedesktop.org.
4.0Compositing support and Compiz-like effects.
4.4 (02/2010)Maximizing and tiling by snapping to the screen-edges, grouping and tabbing.[6]
4.5Tiling.[7] (removed in version 4.10)
4.9Incompatible API change.[8]
4.11Last release based on KDE Platform 4. Experimental Wayland support.[9]
5.0First release based on KDE Frameworks 5 and Qt 5.[10]
5.12Released February 2018, KWin/X11 got feature frozen, meaning no new X11 specific features will be added. Martin Flöser stated that new features are easy and straight forward with the Wayland back-end, but require considerably more development to add the same feature to the X11 back-end.[11]

Look and feel

There are many window decorations for KWin, including the current default Breeze (shown below), the previous default Oxygen, Microsoft Windows-like Redmond, and Keramik.

KWin with the Breeze window decoration.

Compositing

Currently available compositing backends include XRender, OpenGL 1.2, OpenGL 2.0, OpenGL 3.1[12] and OpenGL ES 2.0.[13]

Included effects
Screenshot showing the cover switch effect in KWin for KDE 4.1.

As of KDE 4.3 the following effects are built-in:

Accessibility
NameDescription
InvertInverts the color of the desktop and windows
Looking glassA screen magnifier that looks like a fish eye lens
MagnifierMagnify the section of the screen that is near the mouse cursor
SharpenMakes the entire desktop look sharper
Snap HelperHelps locate the centre of the screen when moving a window
Track mouseDisplay a mouse cursor locating effect when activated
ZoomMagnify the entire desktop

Appearance
NameDescription
ExplosionMake windows explode when they are closed
FadeMake windows smoothly fade in and out when they are shown or hidden
Fade DesktopFade between virtual desktops when switching between them
Fall apartClose windows fall into pieces
Highlight WindowsHighlight the appropriate window when hovering over taskbar entries
LoginSmoothly fade to the desktop when logging in
LogoutDesaturate the desktop when displaying the logout dialog
Magic LampSimulate a magic lamp when minimizing windows
Minimize animationAnimate the minimizing of windows
Mouse markAllows you to draw lines over your desktop
Scale InAnimate the appearance of windows
SheetMake modal dialogues smoothly fly in and out when shown or hidden
SlideSlide windows across the screen when switching virtual desktops
Sliding popupsSliding animation for Plasma Popups
Taskbar ThumbnailsDisplay window thumbnails when hovering over taskbar entries
Thumbnail asideDisplay window thumbnails on the edge of the screen
TranslucencyMake windows translucent under different conditions
Wobbly windowsDeform windows while they are moving

Candy
NameDescription
SnowSimulate snow falling on the desktop

Focus
NameDescription
Dialog parentDarkens the parent windows of the currently active dialogue
Dim InactiveDarken inactive windows
Dim screen for administrator modeDarkens the entire screen when requesting root privileges
Slide BackSlide back windows losing focus

Tools
NameDescription
Show FPSShow kwins performance in the corner of the screen
Show PaintHighlight areas of the desktop that have been recently updated

Window management
NameDescription
Box switchDisplay thumbnails of windows in the alt+tab window switcher
Cover switchApply a Cover Flow-like effect to the alt+tab window switcher
Desktop cubePresent each desktop as the facet of a cube
Desktop Cube AnimationAnimate desktop switching with a cube
Desktop gridZoom out so all desktops are displayed side-by-side in a grid
Flip switchFlip through windows that are in a stack for the alt+tab window switcher
Present windowsZoom out until open windows can be displayed side by side
Resize WindowEffect to outline geometry while resizing a window

See also

References
  1. "KDE Plasma 5.20.5, bugfix Release for January". KDE.org.
  2. "Plasma 5.21 Beta". KDE.
  3. "KDE Ships Plasma 5.5 Release". KDE. December 8, 2015.
  4. "KWin/Wayland - KDE Community Wiki". community.kde.org. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  5. "Development/Tutorials/KWin/Scripting". Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  6. "KDE SC 4.4.0 Caikaku Release Announcement". Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  7. "KDE Software Compilation 4.5 Beta2 Release Announcement". Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  8. "Scripting Update Notes". March 6, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  9. "Plasma Workspaces 4.11 Continues to Refine User Experience". August 14, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. "New Plasma brings a cleaner interface on top of a new graphics stack". July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  11. "KWin/X11 is feature frozen". January 16, 2018.
  12. Martin Gräßlin (June 18, 2013). "What we did in KWin 4.11".
  13. Martin Gräßlin (February 18, 2011). "KWin Embraces New Platforms with OpenGL ES 2.0 Support". KDE. KDE.NEWS. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
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