bug.n
What it is
bug.n is a free tiling window manager add-on for the Microsoft Windows Explorer shell, written in AutoHotkey. It offers Tile, Monocle and Floating layouts, and users can adjust layouts for each virtual desktop view. Views can display selected windows, while windows may be assigned to one or more views. Its status bar can show the active window, layout, views, date and time, CPU and memory use, disk and network load, battery and volume. The project supports multiple monitors, and configuration settings and hotkeys can be changed in a Config.ini file. There is no installer: users unpack the ZIP and run the executable or, from source, the AutoHotkey script. Documentation lists Windows 2000 or later as a requirement and AutoHotkey 1.1.10 or later for source use. The project uses the GNU General Public License version 3. Its repository identifies v9 as the stable version and says it is no longer actively maintained. Release notes warn that a window list leak may slow the program after prolonged continuous use, with a restart suggested as a workaround.
For and against
For
- Includes Tile, Monocle and Floating layouts.
- Supports multiple monitors and virtual desktop views.
- Status bar can show system resource and device details.
- No installation process is required.
Against
- The project is no longer actively maintained.
- Long continuous use may slow the program.
- Antivirus tools may flag its executable.
The verdict
bug.n offers configurable tiling layouts and desktop views at no cost, but its maintenance has stopped. Users should also account for the reported slowdown during extended continuous use.
Who it suits
bug.n may suit Windows users who want customizable window layouts across virtual desktops and multiple monitors. It is for users comfortable unpacking a ZIP and configuring settings or hotkeys.
Plans and prices
bug.n
Windows window manager · GPL-3.0
Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Customization
- Users can customize configuration variables and hotkeys by editing a Config.ini file.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Installation
- There is no installation process; users unpack the ZIP and run the executable or the AutoHotkey script.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Layouts
- It includes Tile, Monocle, and Floating layouts, with customizable layouts for each virtual desktop view.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under GNU General Public License version 3.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Maintenance
- The repository says its current stable version is v9 and is no longer actively developed or maintained.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Multiple monitors
- bug.n supports multiple monitors.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The documentation lists Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher and AutoHotkey 1.1.10 or higher when running from source.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security note
- The documentation says antivirus tools may flag bugn.exe because it uses keyboard and shell hooks, and describes those hooks as intended behavior.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Status bar
- The status bar can show the active window title, layout, views, time and date, CPU and memory use, disk and network load, battery, and volume.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Unresolved issue
- The v9.0.2 release notes say a window list leak may slow bug.n after continuous long-term use and suggest restarting it as a workaround.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Virtual desktops
- Views let users show selected windows and tag windows to one or more views.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- What it does
- bug.n is a tiling window manager add-on for the Microsoft Windows Explorer shell, written in AutoHotkey.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
