Our verdict: komorebi is a powerful, very configurable tiling window manager with its own status bar. It expects you to wire up hotkeys with whkd or AutoHotkey and to edit JSON config, so it is aimed at tinkerers. Personal use is free, but using it at work requires a paid license.
About komorebi
komorebi is a tiling window manager that works as an extension to Windows' Desktop Window Manager. It consists of komorebi.exe, the window manager, and komorebic.exe, the command-line tool that sends it commands. It does not handle keyboard shortcuts itself: the docs suggest the developer's whkd hotkey daemon or AutoHotkey for that. A status bar, komorebi-bar, is included.
The source code is public, but it is not open source in the OSI sense. The Komorebi License 2.0.0 allows any personal use but no commercial use, redistribution or hard forks. Using komorebi at work needs an Individual Commercial Use License, sold as a subscription on the developer's site. On devices enrolled in corporate device management (MDM), komorebi shows a splash screen pointing to that license.
What it does well
- Tiling layouts. Arranges windows in BSP, columns, rows, grid and other layouts per workspace.
- CLI control. Every action is a komorebic command, so you can bind it to any hotkey tool or script.
- Workspaces per monitor. Each display has its own set of workspaces with their own layouts.
- komorebi-bar. A built-in status bar with workspace, media, system and clock widgets and themes.
- Window rules. Float, ignore or assign apps to workspaces using rules in the JSON config.
Who it is for
Good fit
Tinkerers and developers who want a highly scriptable tiling setup for personal use.
Look elsewhere
Use on a work PC without buying a license, and people who want a point-and-click setup.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very flexible layouts and rules
- Built-in status bar
- Everything scriptable from the command line
- Active development and documentation
Cons
- Not free for work use; commercial use needs a paid subscription
- Hotkeys need a separate tool such as whkd or AutoHotkey
- Configuration is JSON and command-line based
How to install komorebi
The button downloads the x64 MSI from GitHub; the docs also cover winget and Scoop. Install whkd as well (or use AutoHotkey) to get keyboard shortcuts. The developer recommends enabling long path support and turning off unnecessary animations in Windows before starting. Run komorebic quickstart to fetch example configs.
Questions about komorebi
Is komorebi free?
For personal use, yes. The Komorebi License 2.0.0 does not permit commercial use, so using it at work requires a paid Individual Commercial Use License from the developer.
Is komorebi open source?
Its source code is public, but the license restricts commercial use and redistribution, so it is source-available rather than open source.
Does komorebi have keyboard shortcuts?
Not by itself. You bind komorebic commands to keys with whkd, which the docs recommend, or with AutoHotkey.
