---
name: "lwm"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "lwm"
version: "1.2.4-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/lwm"
---

# lwm(1)

Lightweight Window Manager for the X Window System

## NAME

lwm - Lightweight Window Manager for the X Window System

## SYNTAX

**lwm** \[ **-s** *session-id* \]

## DESCRIPTION

*Lwm* is a window manager for the X Window System. It provides enough features to allow the user to manage their windows, and no more.

Windows are surrounded by a frame with a  titlebar at the top next to a small box. The frame is a grey colour for all windows except that which has the input focus, where it is black.

In the default configuration, *lwm* uses the enter-to-focus scheme, where moving the pointer into a window gives that window the input focus. *Lwm* may also be configured to use the click-to-focus scheme, where a window must be clicked on (with any button) to receive the input focus. Clicking on a window in this mode causes the window to be raised. Note that a click used to focus a window is always swallowed by *lwm*, so clicking a button in a new window requires two clicks.

A button 1 click on a window frame brings that window to the top. Dragging button 1 on the frame of a resizable window repositions that edge of the window. If a corner rather than an edge is dragged, then both edges forming the corner are repositioned. While you're reshaping a window, a little window pops up to show you the window's current size.

In the default configuration, button 1 on the root window does nothing.

Button 2 is used to drag a window by its frame, repositioning the window but maintaining its position in the window stack.

In the default configuration, button 2 on the root window brings up a new shell.

A button 3 click on a window frame hides that window.  Pressing button 3 on the root window brings up a menu of all the hidden windows. Releasing the button while over an item will unhide the named window.

A button 3 click in the frame while Shift is held down pushes the window to the back, under any other windows. (Users with 4-button mice are encouraged to use their fourth button for this function.)

A click with any button inside the little white box in a window's frame can be used to close the window.

## OPTIONS

*Lwm* accepts the following command line options:

- **-s**

  specifies a client ID for the X Session Management system, and is used exclusively by session managers.

## RESOURCES

*Lwm* understands the following X resources:

- **titleFont**

  font used in window titles

- **popupFont**

  font used in popup window (menu/size indicator)

- **border**

  width in pixels of window borders

- **button1**

  program spawned when button 1 is clicked on the root window

- **button2**

  program spawned when button 2 is clicked on the root window

- **focus**

  focus mode, one of "enter" for enter-to-focus (or sloppy focus), or "click" for click-to-focus

## SEE ALSO

[X(7)](/X/7.md)

## AUTHORS

Elliott Hughes \<ehughes@bluearc.com\>, James Carter \<james@jfc.org.uk\>