---
name: "wmanager"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "wmanager"
version: "0.3.1-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wmanager"
---

# wmanager(1)

choose a window manager and launch it

## NAME

**wmanager** – choose a window manager and launch it

## SYNOPSIS

**wmanager** \[*OPTIONS* *...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **wmanager** program displays a choice of the window managers listed in the *~/.wmanagerrc* file. When one is picked, the related command is written to standard output, intended to be used by shell scripts. If the program is exited without choosing a window manager, “-1” is written to standard output.

- **-fg** *COLOR*

  Set the foreground color.

- **-bg** *COLOR*

  Set the background color.

- **-bg2** *COLOR*

  Set the widget background color

- **-di\[splay\]** *host:n.n*

  Set the X display.

- **-dn\[d\]**, **-nod\[nd\]**

  Enable/disable drag & drop, probably does nothing.

- **-g\[eometry\]** *WxH+X+Y*

  Set the window size and location.

- **-i\[conic\]**

  Start as iconified.

- **-k\[bd\]**, **-nok\[bd\]**

  Enable/disable keyboard support.

- **-na\[me\]** *CLASSNAME*

  Set the X window class.

- **-s\[cheme\]** *SCHEME*

  Unknown, probably does nothing useful.

- **-ti\[tle\]** *WINDOWTITLE*

  Set the window title.

- **-to\[oltips\]**, **-not\[ooltips\]**

  Enable/disable tooltips, probably does nothing.

## EXAMPLE

To start using **wmanager**, create a  *~/.wmanagerrc* file - generally with [wmanagerrc-update(1)](/wmanagerrc-update/1.md) - and add something like the following at the end of your *~/.xsession* file:

```
WM="$(wmanager -geometry +570+585)"
```

```
...
```

```
exec $WM
```

See also  [wmanager-loop(1)](/wmanager-loop/1.md) for a nicer way to start **wmanager**.

## SEE ALSO

[wmanager(1)](/wmanager/1.md), [wmanager-loop(1)](/wmanager-loop/1.md), [wmanagerrc-update(1)](/wmanagerrc-update/1.md), [X(7x)](/X/7x.md)

## HISTORY

The **wmanager** program was written by Meik Tessmer in 1999. This manual page was originally written in perldoc format by Tommi Virtanen in 2000, and converted to mdoc format by Peter Pentchev in 2008.

## AUTHORS

The **wmanager** program - Meik Tessmer ⟨fuller@daemogorgon.net⟩.

The manual page - Tommi Virtanen ⟨tv@debian.org⟩ and Peter Pentchev ⟨roam@ringlet.net⟩.