Ion (window manager)

Ion is a tiling and tabbing window manager for the X Window System. It is characterized by its keyboard-centric interface, Lua scripting for configuration and extensibility, and a focus on efficient window management. Ion is primarily intended for users who spend a significant amount of time working in a command-line environment or with multiple applications running simultaneously.

One of Ion's defining features is its use of non-overlapping frames, which divide the screen into distinct regions where windows are placed. These frames can be arranged in various layouts, allowing for different organizational schemes depending on the user's workflow. Users navigate and manipulate these frames and the windows within them primarily via keyboard shortcuts, promoting a hands-on-keyboard style of interaction.

Ion's configuration is handled through Lua scripts, providing a high degree of customizability. Users can define their own keybindings, modify the layout of frames, and even add entirely new functionalities to the window manager. This Lua-based configuration system allows for a flexible and powerful environment tailored to individual preferences.

Development of Ion has been somewhat sporadic over the years, with periods of active development followed by extended periods of inactivity. While it remains a functional and actively used window manager by a subset of users, its user base is smaller compared to some of the more popular tiling window managers. Alternative tiling window managers with similar features and more active development communities include i3, dwm, and Xmonad. Despite the varying levels of development activity, Ion has influenced the design of other window managers and continues to be a notable example of the tiling window manager paradigm.