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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What is the appeal of a binary-tree only in a tiling window manager (bspwm) vs. nested splits (i3 and sway)? (lemy.lol)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Bspwm has many appeals, and I do not want to focus on those. I want to focus on binary-tree separation of windows and its benefits vs alternatives. What's the appeal?

For comparison, Sway and i3 allow for the v-split and h-split layout, so you can have 2 or more windows split side by side. You can nest them, so it is sort of an n-ary tree. It feels a lot more powerful.

So why the binary tree? The others seem richer and more capable. Bspwm is marketed as more powerful than i3 but it seems the other way around?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

Well I guess they just don't think it is necessary to have a n-ary tree. I use i3 but I rarely have more than 2 windows open per monitor (apart from my floating scratchpad terminal). Usually I have just two windows side by side per workspace. So if I would switch to bspwm I wouldn't really be limited by it. That is also my reason for not switching to a dynamic tiler: I never split my windows enough to where it matters.

[–] KindaABigDyl 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

You're spot on. Bspwm is just worse.

Dynamic tilers are always worse off in the actual window management department than manual tilers.

It's why it's best to use i3-likes and then add a script for autotiling, so you can always break it when you need (or make n-ary trees as you put it).

A window manager should be useful; dynamic tilers are not