Enlightenment (window manager)

Enlightenment
	Enlightenment DR17
Developer(s)	Carsten Haitzler and his team[1]
Stable release	0.16.8.10 / October 6, 2007
Repository	git.enlightenment.org ;
Operating system	GNU/Linux and Unix
Type	Window manager
License	BSD License
Website	enlightenment.org

Enlightenment, also known simply as E, is a free software/open source window manager for the X Window System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE. It has a rich feature set, including extensive support for themes and advanced graphics without sacrificing good performance. As such, Enlightenment is sometimes deployed as a substitute for a full desktop environment. In November 2007, global retailer Wal-Mart started selling US$200 computers based on a Linux Operating System using Enlightenment as the default window manager.

History

The first version of Enlightenment was released by Raster (Carsten Haitzler) on October 30, 1996 [2].

Although under development for over 10 years, Enlightenment still comes always with a disclaimer warning that it's in permanent "heavy development" and remains "not stable".

The latest stable release is version 0.16.8.10.

Version 0.17, also called DR17, is currently in development and is designed to be a full-fledged desktop shell based on the new Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL). DR17 is a complete rewrite from DR16, targeted toward a range of platforms from embedded systems to workstations.

Features of version 0.16

Some of its distinguishing features include:

Its virtual desktop concept - Enlightenment allows you to have a grid of workspaces called virtual desktops. Switching between them is achieved by hurling the mouse cursor to the edge of the screen, at which the desktop appears to slide across to reveal the next. The maximum grid size is currently 8 by 8 desktops, and you can have 32 grids (each with a different background), making 2048 total possible desktop spaces. (Users can enable a map of the desktops, in case they get lost, which is called the pager.)
The desktop dragbar - this allows a desktop to be 'slid back' to reveal the desktop 'underneath'. The E team use the analogy of sheets of paper, stacked on top of each other, where you can slide off a piece partially to reveal what's beneath.
Window grouping - the ability to put windows into groups so that they can all be moved, resized, closed, etc. together.
Iconification - reducing windows to an icon, stored in 'iconboxes' that can be placed about the screen.
Ability to change window borders (or remove borders and title bars completely).
Users can create keybindings for actions such as maximizing windows, launching programs, moving between desktops and moving the mouse cursor - hence making it possible to use Enlightenment solely with a keyboard. e16keyedit is a graphical program for simplifying keybinding creation.

One of the aims of the window manager is to be as configurable as possible, and to this end, it includes easy-to-use customization dialogs for focus settings, window movement, resizing, grouping and placement settings, audio, multiple desktop, desktop background, pager, tooltip and autoraise settings. It also includes a special effects dialog, including a desktop 'ripple' effect.

Features of version 0.17

DR17 is in active development right now, but certain core features are in place:

Fully themeable, with both a menu-based and command line theme-changing interface.
A built-in file manager.
Icons on the Desktop.
Virtual desktop grid feature.
Modular design - can dynamically load external modules. Current available modules include:
- Pager - Switching between different virtual desktops;
- iBar - Launching applications;
- iBox - Holding minimized applications;
- Dropshadow - Provides a drop-shadow for every window;
- Clock - Analog clock;
- Battery - Monitoring your laptop battery;
- CPUFreq - Monitoring your laptop CPU;
- Temperature - Monitoring your laptop temperature;

Note that these are the official modules that are coming with Enlightenment itself. Other "unofficial" modules are also available in the project's CVS repository.

One or more shelves to manage the gadget placement and appearance on the screen.
Animated, interactive desktop backgrounds, menu items, iBar items and desktop widgets are all possible.
Window shading, iconification, maximising and sticky settings.
Customizable key bindings.
Support for internationalization.
Standardized - supports all needed standards (NetWM, ICCCM, XDG and so on)

Developers

Principal

Carsten "Rasterman" Haitzler - lead developer
Kim "kwo" Woelders - E16 maintainer
Hisham "CodeWarrior" Mardam Bey [3]
Christopher "devilhorns" Michael

Major retired

Geoff "Mandrake" Harrison [4]

External links