If you're familiar with the bouncy-icon dock that runs along the bottom of the Mac OS X's screen you'll have an idea what the Avant Window Manager (AWM) is all about. It's a bouncy-icon dock for Linux.

Instead of the conventional toolbar, icons are used to represent open windows, startable applications or information sources. Move your cursor over the them and they bounce expectantly to indicate selection.



Installation is a doddle. Ubuntu users simply need to select awn-manager from the repository or type

sudo apt-get install awn-manager

in the console.

Once installed, simply run it from the menu. AWM lies at the bottom of your screen so if you already have a toolbar there I suggest you move it first. (A right-click on the toolbar should lead to the appropriate options.) I suggest moving rather than deleting it because that provides the easiest way to restore the status quo if you find out AWM doesn't appeal.

You'll find a ton of options in the AWM Manager and there's a lot of useful info in the project's wiki, including details of available plugins and extras and a preview of the effects of different themes.

While AWN is a standalone application, it's not surprising it's also become a cornerstone of Mac4Lin, a project aimed at putting the Mac OS X interface on to operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD. Ubuntu users will even find full step-by-step guides here (for Hardy) and here (for Intrepid).


OS X? Actually it's Linux!


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