[Osiris]

Source: Get to know Linux: IceWM

So far, in this series, we have taken a look at FluxBox, Window Maker, and Xfce 4. We’ve even examined adding a little eye candy to these old school window managers with xcompmgr and transset. This time around we are going to take a look at what most would consider a more standard metaphor window manager for the Linux operating system. I say “standard” because, even though it is old school (and has an old-school look and feel), it contains some of the standard features of the modern desktop. In a sense IceWM is a combination of old school UNIX and Windows 95. And just why would anyone want to use such a desktop? Outside of needing a very light weight desktop (one that is used as the default desktop of the Eee PC in the Easy mode), nostalgia comes to mind. But even though IceWM is old school, it is still in development today.
IceWM is a very clean desktop and, even though it is not highly configurable, it is a fairly serviceable desktop. With that in mind let’s take a look at what most will consider a blast from the past.