NAME

       9wm - 8-1/2-like Window Manager for X

SYNOPSIS

       9wm [ -grey ] [ -version ] [ -font fname ] [ -term termprog ] [ exit|restart ]

DESCRIPTION

       9wm  is a window manager for X which attempts to emulate the window management policies of
       Plan 9's 8-1/2 window manager.

       The -grey option makes the background light grey, as does  8-1/2.   Use  this  option  for
       maximum  authenticity.   -font  fname sets the font in 9wm's menu to fname, overriding the
       default.  -term termprog specifies an alternative program to run when the New menu item is
       selected.  -version prints the current version on standard error, then exits.

       To make 9wm exit, you have to run 9wm exit on the command line.  There is no ``exit'' menu
       item.

       9wm is click-to-type: it has a notion of the current window, which is usually on top,  and
       always  has  its  border  darkened.   Characters  typed  at the keyboard go to the current
       window, and mouse clicks outside the current window are swallowed  up  by  9wm.   To  make
       another  window  the  current  one,  click  on  it  with  button 1.  Unlike other X window
       managers, 9wm implements `mouse focus': mouse events are sent only to the current window.

       A menu of window operations is available by pressing button 3 outside the current  window.
       The  first  of  these,  New,  attempts  to spawn a 9term process (or xterm if 9term is not
       available).  The new 9term will request that its outline be swept using button  3  of  the
       mouse,  by  changing  the  cursor.   (xterm defaults to a fixed size, and thus wants to be
       dragged; pressing button 3 places it.)

       The next four menu items are Reshape, Move, Delete,  and  Hide.   All  of  the  operations
       change  the  cursor  into  a  target,  prompting  the user to click button 3 on one of the
       windows to select it for the operation.  At this stage, clicking button 1 or 2 will  abort
       the  operation.  Otherwise, if the operation was Resize, the user is prompted to sweep out
       the new outline with button 3.  If it was Move, the user should keep the button held  down
       after  the  initial click that selected the window, and drag the window to the right place
       before releasing.  In either case, button 1 or 2 will abort the operation.

       If the Delete operation is selected, the  window  will  be  deleted  when  the  button  is
       released.   This typically kills the client that owns the window.  The Hide operation just
       makes the window invisible.  While hidden, the window's name appears on the bottom of  the
       button  3  menu.  Selecting that item brings the window back (unhides it).  This operation
       replaces the iconification feature provided by other window managers.

BUGS

       Is not completely compatible with 8-1/2.

       There is a currently a compiled-in limit of 32 hidden windows.

SEE ALSO

       9term(1), xterm(1).

                                                                                           9wm(1)