niri

Niri is a relatively new display server and window manager that runs on top of Wayland, the modern replacement for the X11 protocol. Unlike traditional tiling window managers that arrange windows in fixed grids, niri allows windows to scroll fluidly within workspaces, offering a unique middle ground between tiling and floating window management.

As a Wayland compositor, niri handles rendering windows, managing input devices, and compositing the final image to your screen. It emphasizes smooth animations, responsive performance, and a clean user experience while still providing the workspace organization benefits of tiling layouts.

Example: In niri, you might open multiple windows that automatically arrange themselves in a tiled layout, but rather than having fixed positions, you can scroll through them smoothly in a workspace, similar to panning a mobile phone interface. Configuration is done through a text-based config file.