Gala Alternatives
Gala is described as 'window manager / compositing manager and an integral part of Pantheon, the desktop environment of elementary OS' and is a Window Manager in the OS & Utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Gala for Windows, Linux, BSD, FreeBSD and Mac. The best alternative is Compiz, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Gala are Wayfire (Free, Open Source), picom (Free, Open Source), KWin (Free, Open Source) and Nimi Visuals (Free).
- Compiz is a compositing manager adding fancy effects to your windows, from drop shadows to awesome desktop effects like the Desktop Cube or the Expo view.
- Wayfire is a 3D Wayland compositor, inspired by Compiz and based on wlroots. It aims to create a customizable, extendable and lightweight environment without sacrificing its appearance.
- Picom is a standalone compositor for Xorg, suitable for use with window managers that do not provide compositing. Picom is a fork of compton, which is a fork of xcompmgr-dana, which in turn is a fork of xcompmgr.No screenshots yet
- KWin is a window manager for the X Window System, and is in the process of becoming a Wayland compositor. It is an integral part, and the default window manager of the Plasma Workspaces, but it can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments.
- Adds eye-candy effects to windows (and start menu) like deformations (e.g: jelly windows - that makes moved window wiggle like being made from jelly; or fold - which hides windows by folding up horizontally, and unfolds when showing), physics (e.g.
Discontinued
It says that it has automatically stopped production.
- Experience Raskin's unique bird's eye view to browse and manage your pictures, presentations, PDFs…
- 360desktop is free software that extends Windows as a 360 degree workspace, plus an online environment for creating interative 360 degree wallpaper, with a gallery and a widget platform, for sharing your favorite 360's with everybody.
Discontinued
- WinFlip emulates Windows Vistas "Flip 3D" effect for Windows XP. Using the hotkey of your choice, you can find the window youre looking for in a fast, clean 3D interface.
- CubeDesktop NXT provides you up to 16 workspaces, each with its own wallpaper and set of icons, allowing you to quickly and easily switch between them using a live and interactive 3D environment.
- A light-weight, Exposé-like window switcher for X (feat. OpenGL).