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I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 - Desktop X86-64 and would like to install a stand-alone virtual desktop manager for managing my workspaces. What I mean by stand-alone is that it's not integrated into the taskbar or dock like the default manager is. It would have it's own window like any other program does. I've googled around but can't find any.

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  • but ubuntu have it's own manager, like almost any other distro. maybe on your side is deactivated ?! maybe this is your solution !? http://askubuntu.com/questions/38789/how-do-i-add-and-remove-the-workspace-switcher-launcher-from-the-unity-launcher – Rodislav Moldovan Feb 20 '14 at 08:15
  • I know Ubuntu has a workspace manager, but it's pinned. I'm looking for a standalone. Thanks for the link though. – please delete me Feb 21 '14 at 05:45
  • I would like to help you, but I can't really understand your need, anyway, try to use compizconfig-settings-manager, he may help you tune workspaces, so this may be enough for your needs – Rodislav Moldovan Feb 21 '14 at 08:28
  • I appreciate the suggestion, but it's not a matter of configuring the existing manager. I'm looking for an alternative one that isn't part of the desktop environment. Something standalone. – please delete me Feb 23 '14 at 04:47

1 Answers1

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There do not yet seem to be any such applications made for the Linux world. However there are some dock/taskbar programs that have virtual desktop managers integrated into them.

lxpanel has a virtual desktop manager applet. If you remove the other applets it can be used for just virtual desktop management, and with an appearance similar to some Windows based virtual desktop managers like for AltDesk for example. Adjust the panel size to just enough pixels wide to fit the applet.

It doesn't work on Unity so I've hit a dead end, though perhaps a different panel/dock program can help me there, but if you install openbox and compiz you can use it though the menu for changing the applet's settings doesn't work. If you launch lxpanel from a terminal you won't be able to close that terminal, so it's better to make a desktop shortcut.

What I Used:

sudo apt-get install compiz

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

sudo apt-get install obconf

Then logged into OpenBox

Right clicked to get the OpenBox menu, and opened a terminal

lxpanel

Put in the settings I wanted

Result:

enter image description here

As you can you get a small floating panel displaying the available virtual desktops, that you can position in different areas of the screen, and open/close seperate from the desktop environment.

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