Ratpoison
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Lowercase {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other {{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox software with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| AsOf | author | background | bodystyle | caption | collapsetext | collapsible | developer | discontinued | engine | engines | genre | included with | language | language count | language footnote | latest preview date | latest preview version | latest release date | latest release version | latest_preview_date | latest_preview_version | latest_release_date | latest_release_version | licence | license | logo | logo alt | logo caption | logo class | logo size | logo title | logo upright | logo_alt | logo_caption | logo_class | logo_size | logo_title | logo_upright | middleware | module | name | operating system | operating_system | other_names | platform | programming language | programming_language | qid | released | replaced_by | replaces | repo | screenshot | screenshot alt | screenshot class | screenshot size | screenshot title | screenshot upright | screenshot_alt | screenshot_class | screenshot_size | screenshot_upright | service_name | size | standard | title | ver layout | website }}Template:Main other ratpoison is a tiling window manager for the X Window System primarily developed by Shawn Betts. The user interface and much of their functionality are inspired by the GNU Screen terminal multiplexer.<ref name="Covey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While ratpoison is written in C, Betts' StumpWM re-implements a similar window manager in Common Lisp.
Overview
The name "ratpoison" reflects its major design goal: to let the user manage application windows without using a mouse.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Unlike other tiling window managers like Ion, ratpoison completely ignores the mouse (or "rat"),<ref name="Seebach">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=pilgrim/> and avoids window decorations as much as possible.<ref name="Proffitt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The default keybindings are specifically designed to not conflict with Emacs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Usage
ratpoison relies on key chords similar to Emacs to control window management, with all window interactions being done through shortcuts.<ref name=":0" /> Each window occupies an entire frame and cannot overlap. Windows can be split either horizontally or vertically. Multiple workspaces and session management are supported.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> An application menu can be used for navigation to programs. Configuration is controlled via a config file.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Reception
Mark Pilgrim praised it for being "minimalist" and "configurable."<ref name="pilgrim">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jeff Covey, in 2002, found it was "lightning fast and perfectly stable."<ref name=Covey/> Peter Seebach remarked that "the convenience and performance are impressive; the learning curve, however, daunts many users."<ref name = Seebach /> Similarly, Brian Proffitt observes that "the key commands are well explained in this window manager's man pages, and whatever you do, read these first. The keyboard commands do make sense after some use but initially the learning curve is pretty steep."<ref name ="Proffitt"/> In the same vein, Bruce Byfield found it (and stumpwm) "virtually unusable until you read the documentation."<ref name="linux.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MakeTechEasier gave a positive review of ratpoison in 2013, although noting its steep learning curve.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bryan Lunduke of NetworkWorld gave a negative review, criticizing the key bindings and the difficulty of working with multi-window programs such as GIMP.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See also
References
External links
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project
- Ratpoison: Template:Official website and wiki Template:Webarchive
- StumpWM: Template:Official website and wiki
- Comparison of extensible window managers – Comparison of Sawfish, Awesome, Xmonad, StumpWM, Qtile and so on.
- The Internet Archive: The StumpWM Experience – A video demonstrating use of StumpWM