KWin


KWin is a Wayland compositor and a window manager for the X Window System. It is released as a part of KDE Plasma, for which it is the default window manager. KWin can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments.
KWin can be configured by scripting using QML or QtScript, both of which are based on ECMAScript.

History

NameVersionDetails
KWM1.0
KWin2.0Extended support for themes and window effects.
KWin3.0Improved support for the extended ICCCM standards from freedesktop.org.
KWin4.0Compositing support and Compiz-like effects.
KWin4.4 Maximizing and tiling by snapping to the screen-edges, grouping and tabbing.
KWin4.5Tiling.
KWin4.9Incompatible API change.
KWin4.11Last release based on KDE Platform 4, added experimental Wayland support.
KWin5.0First release based on KDE Frameworks 5 and Qt 5.
KWin5.12Released 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.

Look and feel

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

Compositing

Currently available compositing backends include OpenGL 1.2, OpenGL 2.0, OpenGL 3.1 and OpenGL ES 2.0.

Included effects

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

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