Protocol overview
All EWMH protocol identifiers start with the five letter prefix_NET_.
Root window properties
The WM must update a set of properties on the root window: ; _NET_SUPPORTED : lists all the EWMH protocols supported by this WM. ; _NET_CLIENT_LIST : lists all application windows managed by this WM. ; _NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS : indicates the number of virtual desktops. ; _NET_DESKTOP_GEOMETRY : defines the common size of all desktops. ; _NET_DESKTOP_VIEWPORT : defines the top left corner of each desktop. ; _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP : gives the index of the current desktop. ; _NET_DESKTOP_NAMES : lists the names of all virtual desktops. ; _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW : gives the currently active window. ; _NET_WORKAREA : contains a geometry for each desktop. ; _NET_SUPPORTING_WM_CHECK : gives the window of the active WM. ; _NET_VIRTUAL_ROOTS : if the WM supports virtual root windows. ; _NET_DESKTOP_LAYOUT : shows the layout of the active pager. ; _NET_SHOWING_DESKTOP : is 1 for "showing the desktop" mode.Client messages
An application may send client messages to a window manager: ; _NET_WM_STATE : to change the state of an application window. ; _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW : to activate an application window. ; _NET_SHOWING_DESKTOP : toggles display of application windows. ; _NET_CLOSE_WINDOW : to close an application window. ; _NET_WM_MOVERESIZE : to interactively resize an application window. ; _NET_MOVERESIZE_WINDOW : to immediately resize an application window. ; _NET_REQUEST_FRAME_EXTENTS : consults frame border dimensions. ; _NET_WM_FULLSCREEN_MONITORS : defines the monitors for a fullscreen window. If the WM supports window stacking: ; _NET_RESTACK_WINDOW : asks to change the stacking order for a window. If the WM supports virtual desktops: ; _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP : changes the current desktop. ; _NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS : changes the number of desktops. A WM may choose to ignore these messages: ; _NET_DESKTOP_GEOMETRY : changes the dimension of all desktops. ; _NET_DESKTOP_VIEWPORT : changes the viewport for the current desktop.Window properties
The EWMH defines these application window properties: ; _NET_WM_NAME : the title of the window. ; _NET_WM_VISIBLE_NAME : the window title as shown by the WM. ; _NET_WM_ICON_NAME : the title of the icon. ; _NET_WM_VISIBLE_ICON_NAME : the icon title as shown by the WM. ; _NET_WM_DESKTOP : the desktop the window is in. ; _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE : the functional type of the window. ; _NET_WM_STATE : the current window state. ; _NET_WM_ALLOWED_ACTIONS : a list of supported user operations. ; _NET_WM_STRUT : if the window wishes to reserve space at the edge. ; _NET_WM_STRUT_PARTIAL : reserved space details at the screen edge. ; _NET_WM_ICON_GEOMETRY : the geometry of a possible icon. ; _NET_WM_ICON : an array of possible icons for the client. ; _NET_WM_PID : the process ID of the client owning this window. ; _NET_WM_HANDLED_ICONS : whether a pager provides icons. ; _NET_WM_USER_TIME : time of last user activity in this window. ; _NET_WM_USER_TIME_WINDOW : the window which shows user activity. ; _NET_FRAME_EXTENTS : the left, right, top and bottom frame sizes. ; _NET_WM_OPAQUE_REGION : which window regions are fully opaque. ; _NET_WM_BYPASS_COMPOSITOR : requests that the window is uncomposited.Window states
The ICCCM defines only three distinct states a window can be in: # Withdrawn, # Normal, # Iconic. In addition it supports anUrgent flag
to request user attention.
The EWMH defines thirteen window state flags:
* Above: show the window above others,
* Below: show the window below others,
* DemandsAttention: same as the urgent flag,
* Focused: the window has input focus,
* Fullscreen: show the window fullscreen,
* Hidden: the window is unmapped,
* MaximizedHorizontal: the window is stretched horizontally,
* MaximizedVertical: the window is stretched vertically,
* Modal: the window is a modal popup,
* Shaded: the window is rolled up,
* SkipPager: the window should not be shown on a pager,
* SkipTaskbar: the window should be ignored by a taskbar,
* Sticky: the window should be shown on all virtual desktops.
Additional protocols
; _NET_WM_PING : a WM can use this to test if a client is alive. ; _NET_WM_SYNC_REQUEST : for synchronizing repaints when resizing. ; _NET_WM_FULL_PLACEMENT : the WM will handle any window placement.List of window managers that support Extended Window Manager Hints
Tiling and dynamic window managers
* aewm * awesome * bspwm * echinus * goomwwm * herbstluftwm * i3 * LeftWM * ''Notion'' * Qtile * spectrwm * subtle * Wingo * wmii * xmonad (needs to be turned on in the config)Stacking window managers
* Blackbox *Other window managers
*Notes and references
External links
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