Linux has proven amazingly flexible: after nearly 10 years of use, I'm still impressed by how the Linux operating system does exactly what I want on any type of hardware. Desktop customization is no exception; from the ultra-modern KDE and GNOME window managers to with the likes of Fluxbox and AfterStep, there's a Linux desktop to suit everyone.

A fundamental difference between KDE and GNOME and alternative WMs is that desktop environments such as KDE and GNOME are fully-integrated environments, which means that they include many applications that also depend upon a WM to draw windows for them. A WM, on the other hand, only draws windows and menus, and so on. A WM by itself is smaller, faster, and lighter, but less powerful in most cases.

Essentially, a WM is perfectly suited for less powerful machines or users that do not want the bloat of a full desktop environment (DE).

None of this is to say that a WM is less usable; in many instances, a WM is the simplest of all GUIs to use. Their simplicity makes them absolutely perfect for people who have trouble getting around the sometimes complex world of a full DE.

With that in mind, let's take a look at two very nice WMs.

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