My non-unix-using friends ask this question often enough that it warrants a written response.

All modern graphical environments are based upon the same paradigm: WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer). An application has one or more windows and a window manager is the software component that allows one to work with and organize windows.

Common window manager operations include:

• moving windows
• resizing windows
• destroying windows
• organizing windows in other ways
• decorating windows with titlebars and other widgets which make the above operations easier

A systems's window manager determines a large part of the user experience and runs almost all of the time when a user is using the system. Thus, the window manager must be a stable, polished piece of software.

Under Apple MacOS and Microsoft Windows, you cannot easily replace the window manager; under Unix/X11, every user chooses his own window manager. There are many Unix/X11 window managers paralleling the different ways Unix users work. Unix/X11 window managers are also generally much more sophisticated than their MacOS/Microsoft Windows counterparts. AHWM was written to allow me to do my work more easily and efficiently.

If you are using MacOS or Microsoft Windows, this software is of no use to you.