My own compilation for Window Managers/Desktop
Window Managers
The window manager controls the way your desktop works: how the windows look and act. The window manager decides what kind of decorations to put around the windows. It's the window manager's job to provide ways of controlling the windows, like moving, hiding, resizing, iconifying, or closing them. The window manager decides what window at the moment accepts input from you and what window is on the top. The window manager also controls the ways you do these tasks: what mouse buttons you click or what keys you press in order to accomplish these window management tasks.
Standalone Window Managers
-Kwin:The KWin window manager is the default window manager for KDE. It is an efficient window manager which supports custom themes.
-Metacity: The Metacity window manager is the default window manager for GNOME. It is a simple and efficient window manager which supports custom themes.
-DWM: The Dynamic window manager
-MWM: The Motif window manager is a basic, standalone window manager. Since it is designed to be a standalone window manager, it should not be used in conjunction with GNOME or KDE
-TWB: The minimalist Tab Window Manager, which provides the most basic tool set of any of the window managers and can be used either as a standalone or with a desktop environment. It is installed as part of the X11R6.8 release
-OpenBox
These window managers can be run without desktop environments to gain a better sense of their differences. To do this, type the xinit -e <path-to-window-manager> command, where <path-to-window-manager> is the location of the window manager binary file. The binary file can be found by typing which <window-manager-name>, where <window-manager-name> is the name of the window manager you are querying.
Ever since the inception of GNOME and KDE there has been confusion among new Linux users which is which and which is best to use. The former question is fairly simple to answer. The latter question, however, is a bit more complex due to user-specific needs/wants.
With that in mind let us begin by illustrating the differences between a desktop environment and a window manager. We’ll begin by showing how the Linux graphical desktop is layered.
As you can see, in the image below, there are basically three layers that can be included in the Linux desktop:
X Windows – This is the foundation that allows for graphic elements to be drawn on the display. X Windows builds the primitive framework that allows moving of windows, interactions with keyboard and mouse, and draws windows. This is required for any graphical desktop.
Window Manager: The Window Manager is the piece of the puzzle that controls the placement and appearance of windows. Window Managers include: Enlightenment, Afterstep, FVWM, Fluxbox, IceWM, etc. Requires X Windows but not a desktop environment.
Desktop Environment: This is where it begins to get a little fuzzy for some. A Desktop Environment includes a Window Manager but builds upon it. The Desktop Environment typically is a far more fully integrated system than a Window Manager. Requires both X Windows and a Window Manager.
A Desktop Environment generally includes a suite of applications that are tightly integrated so that all applications are aware of one another. A Desktop Manager will also include some form of panel that includes a system tray where small widgets can be placed for quick action or information.
Linux Desktop Layering
Much of the confusion starts to peek out when you examine such Window Managers as E17 (Enlightenment 17).
The most recent iteratio of Enlightenment includes many of the elements usually found only Desktop Environments even though Enlightenment is still considered a Window Manager. To this point I generally refer to such desktops as Desktop Managers.
There are two main Desktop Environments: GNOME and KDE. If you are curious as to which is right for you, here is some advice. The latest default GNOME will make users of OS X feel right at home, KDE 3.x will make Windows XP users feel at home, and KDE 4.x will make Windows Vista users feel at home.
As to which Window Manager is best suited for which user? Since there are so many Window Managers I will highlight my favorites.
Enlightenment: You want plenty of eye candy but not something as resource-intensive as KDE or GNOME.
Fluxbox: You want minimal and fast.
Afterstep: You want something old-school to give you hours of tinkering fun.
Xfce: You want a Windows-like interface without the bloatware of GNOME or KDE.
Compiz-Fusion: This is a full-blown 3 dimensional window manager rife with plugs that do just about everything. If you want something to seriously impress your friends, this is where you want to look.
"Mainstream" definition
