Window managers and tiling window managers

In short: A window manager controls how windows look, sit and move. A desktop environment includes one, but it also exists on its own. Tiling window managers arrange windows automatically without overlap.

In more detail: For minimalists a window manager without a desktop is a lean alternative: you assemble panels, launchers and shortcuts yourself.

In detail

• Stacking (classic): windows overlap like paper on a desk (Openbox, Fluxbox, KWin, Mutter).
• Tiling: windows fill the screen in tiles (i3, Sway, bspwm, dwm, awesome, Hyprland).
• Dynamic: switch between both modes (awesome, Hyprland).
• Control: almost everything by keyboard, configuration in text files.
• Sway: Wayland version of i3, compatible in configuration.
• Hyprland: Wayland compositor with animations and effects.
• Extras: bar (Waybar, Polybar), launcher (rofi, wofi), wallpaper, notifications.
• Getting started: laborious for newcomers but gives maximum control and low resource use.

See also: X11 and Wayland, Linux desktop environments at a glance