---
name: "aewm"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "aewm"
version: "1.3.12-3"
release: "Debian 10 (Buster)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/aewm"
---

# aewm(1x)

An Exiguous Window Manager

## NAME

aewm - An Exiguous Window Manager

## SYNOPSIS

**aewm** *\[options...\]*

## DESCRIPTION

**aewm** is an X11 window manager with very few features. It draws a small titlebar above top-level windows, allows you to manipulate them with the mouse, and starts other programs when the root window is clicked. That's also about all it does, so don't expect anything nifty.

The titlebar contains a small box in the upper right corner. Clicking the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd buttons on the main area of the titlebar will raise, move, or lower the window, respectively. Clicking on the box will respectively hide, resize, or close the window.

By default, clicking on the root window with button 1 will run [**aemenu**(1x)](/aemenu/1x.md), and button 3 will start a new [**xterm**(1x)](/xterm/1x.md), and and button 2 will run **aemenu --switch**. **aemenu** (or another equivalent program) is required to unhide hidden windows; **aewm** does not do this itself.

## OPTIONS

- **--config** *file,* **-rc** *file*

  Read configuration options from *file*. This overrides options which precede it in the command line.

- **--font** *xfld,* **-fn** *xfld*

  Draw window titles using the font defined by *xfld*.

- **--bgcolor** *color,* **-bg** *color*

  Set the background color of window frames.

- **--fgcolor** *color,* **-fg** *color*

  Set the foreground color of window frames.

- **--bdcolor** *color,* **-bd** *color*

  Set the color of window borders.

- **--bdwidth** *width,* **-bw** *width*

  Draw window borders *width* pixels wide.

- **--padding** *width,* **-p** *width*

  Draw *width* pixels of space between window borders and window titles.

- **--new1** *command,* **-1** *cmd*

  Run *command* when button 1 is clicked on the root window.

- **--new2** *command,* **-2** *cmd*

  Run *command* when button 2 is clicked on the root window.

- **--new3** *command,* **-3** *cmd*

  Run *command* when button 3 is clicked on the root window.

- **--help, -h**

  Print a short help message to stdout and exit.

- **--version, -v**

  Print version information to stdout and exit.

## ENVIRONMENT

**DISPLAY** Sets which X display will be managed by **aewm**.

## SEE ALSO

[**aeclients**(1x)](/aeclients/1x.md), [**X**(7)](/X/7.md), *The Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual* (from the X11R6 documentation).

## AUTHOR

Decklin Foster \<decklin@red-bean.com\>