topic title: Your favorite Window Manager and a quick why...
Posts: 1,139
masinick
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
#16
OU812 wrote:I have used kde, gnome, icewm, fluxbox, e, fvm-crystal, openbox, xfce, mezzo (from symphony) and lxde.

I really just alternate between fb and ice every few months. They're similar and each has its strengths.

john
I use KDE and XFCE most of all, then IceWM after that. I find IceWM and Fluxbox comparable in performance, but I find that IceWM has a more finger familiar feel. Though I most certainly have used window managers going WAY back in time that use MB2, MB3, right clicks, and stuff like that, Fluxbox, though light, feels to me more like a WM from the dawning of X, spruced up a bit to look pretty. IceWM, in all honesty, is much the same, but its default behavior is pretty similar to that desktop OS that many of us are chained to by day - XP. Actually, that is not all that bad. The finger feel and usability factors are pretty good with IceWM, and hey, if you can make it LOOK like XP, that is not all bad - as long as it behaves light and fast, which it does.

I use IceWM more on my older boxes. I never realized just how SLOW my Dell Dimension 4100 desktop really is these days until I come back to it after a time using something faster. I went right to IceWM when I realized how sluggish the box was getting in its old age.
Posts: 29
danish
Joined: 18 Nov 2008
#17
anticapitalista wrote:There is a deb for wbar.


========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://wbar.googlecode.com/files/wbar_1.3.3_i386.deb"
linktext was:"http://wbar.googlecode.com/files/wbar_1.3.3_i386.deb"
====================================
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

To install, as root

dpkg -i wbar_1.3.3_i386.deb
apt-get -f install (if any unmet dependencies are needed)
I decided to take the plunge, however I need to know if this is what to do. I have downloaded the deb-file to my user directory. Is that the right place to have it (that is where my Rox and Wallpaper directories are - Gcomprix for that matter)?

Is this what I should do:

1) open a terminal and go to the directory where the deb-file is?
2) write sux and login
3) write dpkg -i wbar_1.3.3_i386.deb

and then, everytime the installer complains that something is missing I write apt-get -f install

Hope to get some guidance, because there are a lot of unknown commands in there - and I don't have a clue, if I got it right or not?
anticapitalista
Posts: 5,956
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
#18
Yes that is it.

Just to add, make sure the name of the deb file matches what you type. To make it easier use the tab button on the keyboard to complete the name ie type wbar (tab)
Posts: 29
danish
Joined: 18 Nov 2008
#19
anticapitalista wrote:Yes that is it.

Just to add, make sure the name of the deb file matches what you type. To make it easier use the tab button on the keyboard to complete the name ie type wbar (tab)
OK - thanks. It seemed to install OK, but I had sort of expected a wbar configuration file to show up, in my home directory (where I made the install). A search with catfish didn't find any wbar og .wbar files. Has the install gone wrong? I didn't see any messages indicating anything wrong during the install.....

EDIT: I decided to run the install again, and got this:

Code: Select all

dpkg -i wbar_1.3.3_i386.deb
(Reading database ... 193268 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace wbar 1.3.3 (using wbar_1.3.3_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement wbar ...
Setting up wbar (1.3.3) ...
and nothing more

I'm intrepreting this as if the install went OK the first time, as well as the second time.... So how do I start the wbar, configure it, and so on?
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#20
Download and install wbarconf. It will allow you to easily set up and maintain it.


========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://www.ihku.biz/wbarconf/?C=N;O=D"
linktext was:"http://www.ihku.biz/wbarconf/?C=N;O=D"
====================================
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

get the 0.7.2-1 deb.
Posts: 29
danish
Joined: 18 Nov 2008
#21
eriefisher wrote:Download and install wbarconf. It will allow you to easily set up and maintain it.


========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://www.ihku.biz/wbarconf/?C=N;O=D"
linktext was:"http://www.ihku.biz/wbarconf/?C=N;O=D"
====================================
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

get the 0.7.2-1 deb.
Thanks! I'm playing with it now - it looks good. This dpkg thing - is dpkg an installer name? I'm guessing the - i means install whatever follows?

Also - if I want wbar to start when iceVM is started, should I ad something like:

wbar > /dev/null & # start wbar

to the icevm startup file? And is it safe to play with that file, or do I risk that it won't boot properly, if I write something wrong in it?
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#22
To start wbar at boot put this in the startup file:

Code: Select all

(sleep 5 && wbar --above-desk) &
If you have trouble increase 5 to 10. All it does is delay starting it because the window manager has to be running before wbar starts.
Posts: 29
danish
Joined: 18 Nov 2008
#23
eriefisher wrote:To start wbar at boot put this in the startup file:

Code: Select all

(sleep 5 && wbar --above-desk) &
If you have trouble increase 5 to 10. All it does is delay starting it because the window manager has to be running before wbar starts.
Works perfect, thanks. Is there a way to ensure that the wbar stays on top (so that ie. iceweasel doesn't hide it)?
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#24
You would have to resize the window. Iceweasel will remember the size for next time.
Posts: 1,139
masinick
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
#25
brjoon1021 wrote:Thanks guys.

I am the original poster. There is something that I have been wondering about the Window managers. Only ICeWM has a toolbar that you can put icons on, right? As far as I am concerned trying to navigate through a menu to find something I use a lot is WORTHLESS! That is what I have not liked about Fluxbox and a few of the other window managers.

Is there a way to put icons for Firefox, email, terminal, word processer etc... on an iconized toolbar in any or all of the other WMs ?
You have a good point on that! Come to think of it, one reason I use XFCE is that it is easy to add"actions" associated with icons that call up any script, program, or administrative tool you want. It is just as easy to do with IceWM, and besides the fact that you can really alter the appearance of IceWM so nicely, it is also easier to alter the toolbar.

Score +1 for IceWM on this point. It also happens to be my favorite lightweight window manager.
Posts: 852
Sakasa
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
#26
In reality I like KDE. I think KDE is a good change from Windows user to Linux is more appropiate in the way is setup for people that are trying anothe OS. This is my own experience. Gnome will be the second for me looks and acts more like KDE. The rest are not my style. I guess I got use to the Windows environment from my past.

Best Regards,
Posts: 1,139
masinick
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
#27
Sakasa wrote:In reality I like KDE. I think KDE is a good change from Windows user to Linux is more appropriate in the way is setup for people that are trying anothe OS. This is my own experience. Gnome will be the second for me looks and acts more like KDE. The rest are not my style. I guess I got use to the Windows environment from my past.

Best Regards,
Then you are definitely more into desktop managers rather than window managers. I use KDE a lot, but when I am using antiX, it is almost always IceWM instead.
Posts: 852
Sakasa
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
#28
masinick wrote:
Sakasa wrote:In reality I like KDE. I think KDE is a good change from Windows user to Linux is more appropriate in the way is setup for people that are trying anothe OS. This is my own experience. Gnome will be the second for me looks and acts more like KDE. The rest are not my style. I guess I got use to the Windows environment from my past.

Best Regards,
Then you are definitely more into desktop managers rather than window managers. I use KDE a lot, but when I am using antiX, it is almost always IceWM instead.
Masinick sure I will add it up. Thanks for the intro about desktop manger and windows manager. Your explanantion on your site is smooth, simple and understandable by anyone. I can smell the light there.

Best Regards my firend.
Posts: 852
Sakasa
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
#29
Sakasa wrote:
masinick wrote:
Sakasa wrote:In reality I like KDE. I think KDE is a good change from Windows user to Linux is more appropriate in the way is setup for people that are trying anothe OS. This is my own experience. Gnome will be the second for me looks and acts more like KDE. The rest are not my style. I guess I got use to the Windows environment from my past.

Best Regards,
Then you are definitely more into desktop managers rather than window managers. I use KDE a lot, but when I am using antiX, it is almost always IceWM instead.
Masinick sure I will add it up. Thanks for the intro about desktop manger and windows manager. Your explanation on your site is smooth, simple and understandable by anyone. I can smell the light there.

Best Regards my friend.