Openbox

[Lorem-Ipsum]

Before anyone asks, this thread is about a window manager in Linux. NOT discount Products.

http://openbox.org/

When I first started using Linux I was a KDE user. I then moved to gnome as it felt more lightweight. I have tried most available desktop environments including LXDE and XFCE.

However, I am now finding gnome to be less lightweight than I used to think and with gnome shell set to be awful I will be moving away from desktop environments in general.


So I will be using a window manager...... openbox.

I'll keep a log here of my scripts and configs for the window manager.

As I use Arch Linux it will be centred about that.

I'll do a backup of my user settings first to be on the safe side.

Here is what mine looks like atm:

http://b.imagehost.org/0089/Screenshot.png

Here is what I intend my desktop to look like:

http://imgur.com/vv7MM.jpg
http://imgur.com/SXk6m.jpg

[Lorem-Ipsum]

Unity style left menu then ?

Maybe. I'll see. I really hate unity TBH but the left menu in unity has some real issues whereas I will be using a menu called tint2

So far:

I have backed up my config
Installed openbox, tint2, obconf, sudo pacman -S tint2, nitrogen, obconf, menumaker, obmenu, openbox-themes, lxappearance
Configured the wallpaper
configured tint2 - panel
got it to start - there were issues with gnome settings left over
Configured themes etc....

Just getting it all working.

I'll have to re-write the menu xml myself. its driving me nuts.

[Lorem-Ipsum]

Have got compositioning working. As compiz is a window manager too it cannot be used so I am using cairo-compmgr, which I am finding more productive and easier to configure than compiz.

Had a little issue with conky showing above other windows. Was quickly fixed by changing:


own_window_type override

to:


own_window_type desktop


I'm really enjoying setting this up. Last time I tried openbox I had loads of issues and couldn't fix any of them. Now I've got a bit more experience the issues I'm coming across are really easy to fix.

Added after 12 minutes:

Have now got a volume manager installed.

I've almost got a basic config up and running.

Everything feels really lightweight and smooth. Really liking it.

Needs a lot more of my time to perfect but its been pretty easy to set up so far.

Here's a dirty screenshot:
(thumbnailed cos its massive)
http://b.imagehost.org/t/0607/Screenshot.jpg (http://b.imagehost.org/view/0607/Screenshot)

[Lorem-Ipsum]

Well, after a bit of a bodged hack I've got dropbox working in openbox with a tray icon in the tint2 tray.

I'm going to sort out my menu and find a nice theme then I'll post the configs.

[Lorem-Ipsum]

As HAL is becoming deprecated and replaced with Dbus not everything is properly integrated yet...... so I have to use this as my xinitrc:


exec ck-launch-session dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session openbox-sessionMy menu is fairly basic so I won't show that.

My tint2 config is:


# Tint2 config file
# Generated by tintwizard (http://code.google.com/p/tintwizard/)
# For information on manually configuring tint2 see http://code.google.com/p/tint2/wiki/Configure

# Background definitions
# ID 1
rounded = 7
border_width = 0
background_color = #FFFFFF 1
border_color = #FFFFFF 0

# ID 2
rounded = 5
border_width = 0
background_color = #FFFFFF 0
border_color = #FFFFFF 40

# ID 3
rounded = 5
border_width = 0
background_color = #FFFFFF 0
border_color = #FFFFFF 60

# Panel
panel_monitor = 1
panel_position = center left vertical
panel_size = 94% 60
panel_margin = 0 0
panel_padding = 7 0 7
panel_dock = 0
wm_menu = 0
panel_layer = top
panel_background_id = 1

# Panel Autohide
autohide = 0
autohide_show_timeout = 0.3
autohide_hide_timeout = 2
autohide_height = 2
strut_policy = follow_size

# Taskbar
taskbar_mode = single_desktop
taskbar_padding = 2 3 2
taskbar_background_id = 0
taskbar_active_background_id = 0

# Tasks
urgent_nb_of_blink = 8
task_icon = 1
task_text = 0
task_centered = 1
task_maximum_size = 140 35
task_padding = 6 2
task_background_id = 3
task_active_background_id = 2
task_urgent_background_id = 2
task_iconified_background_id = 3

# Task Icons
task_icon_asb = 70 0 0
task_active_icon_asb = 100 0 0
task_urgent_icon_asb = 100 0 0
task_iconified_icon_asb = 70 0 0

# Fonts
task_font = sans 7
task_font_color = #FFFFFF 60
task_active_font_color = #FFFFFF 80
task_urgent_font_color = #FFFFFF 80
task_iconified_font_color = #FFFFFF 60
font_shadow = 0

# System Tray
systray = 1
systray_padding = 0 4 5
systray_sort = ascending
systray_background_id = 0
systray_icon_size = 16
systray_icon_asb = 70 0 0

# Clock
time1_format = %H
time1_font = Birdman Bold 20
time2_format = %M
time2_font = Birdman Bold 14
clock_font_color = #2091B1 100
clock_padding = 10 2
clock_background_id = 0
clock_rclick_command = orage

# Tooltips
tooltip = 0
tooltip_padding = 2 2
tooltip_show_timeout = 0.7
tooltip_hide_timeout = 0.3
tooltip_background_id = 1
tooltip_font = sans 10
tooltip_font_color = #000000 80

# Mouse
mouse_middle = close
mouse_right = none
mouse_scroll_up = toggle
mouse_scroll_down = iconify

# Battery
battery = 0
battery_low_status = 10
battery_low_cmd = notify-send "battery low"
battery_hide = 98
bat1_font = sans 8
bat2_font = sans 6
battery_font_color = #FFFFFF 60
battery_padding = 1 0
battery_background_id = 0

# End of configMy conkyrc:


use_xft yes
xftfont Liberation Sans:size=8
override_utf8_locale yes

text_buffer_size 2048
update_interval 1
total_run_times 0
double_buffer yes
no_buffers yes
net_avg_samples 1
cpu_avg_samples 1

own_window_class Conky
own_window yes
own_window_type desktop
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager

default_color 8be5ff #cccccc
draw_shades no

color0 2091b1 #white
color1 2091b1 #white
color2 2091b1 #white

alignment top_right
gap_x 25
gap_y 40
minimum_size 182 0
maximum_width 182

default_bar_size 60 8

imlib_cache_size 0

TEXT
${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}SYSTEM $stippled_hr${font}
${color0}${voffset 6}${font OpenLogos:size=19}B${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -14}Kernel: ${alignr}${color2}${kernel}${color}
${goto 32}Uptime: ${alignr}${color2}${uptime}${color}
${goto 32}User: ${alignr}${color2}${exec whoami}${color}
${offset 1}${color0}${font Poky:size=16}P${font}${offset -19}${voffset 9}${cpubar cpu0 4,18}${color}${voffset -16}${goto 32}CPU1: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${cpu cpu1}%${font} ${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${execi 30 sensors | grep temp1 | tail -1 | cut -c15-16}°C${color}${font} ${color2}${cpugraph cpu1 8,50 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}CPU2: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${cpu cpu2}%${font} ${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${execi 30 sensors | grep -m 1 'temp1' | cut -c15-16}°C${color}${font} ${color2}${cpugraph cpu2 8,50 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}CPU3: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${cpu cpu3}%${font} ${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${execi 30 sensors | grep temp1 | tail -1 | cut -c15-16}°C${color}${font} ${color2}${cpugraph cpu3 8,50 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}CPU4: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${cpu cpu4}%${font} ${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${execi 30 sensors | grep -m 1 'temp1' | cut -c15-16}°C${color}${font} ${color2}${cpugraph cpu4 8,50 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${color0}${font Poky:size=16}M${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -7}RAM: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}$memperc%${color}$ {font}
${offset 1}${voffset 2}${color2}${membar 4,18}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -2}F: ${color2}${memeasyfree}${color} U: ${color2}${mem}${color}
${voffset 2}${color0}${font Poky:size=14}s${font}${color}${voffset -8}${goto 32}SWAP: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${swapperc}%${colo r}${font}
${voffset 4}${offset 1}${color2}${swapbar 4,18}${color}${voffset -4}${goto 32}F: ${color2}$swapmax${color} U: ${color2}$swap${color}
${color0}${voffset -4}${font Poky:size=17}N${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -8}GPU Temp:${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${exec nvidia-settings -q GPUCoreTemp | grep Attribute | cut -d ' ' -f 6 | cut -c 1-2}${font}${color}°C
${goto 32}GPU Clock:${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${exec nvidia-settings -q GPU2DClockFreqs -t}${font}${color}MHz
${goto 32}Video RAM:${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${exec nvidia-settings -q VideoRam -t}${font}${color}KiB
${goto 32}Driver Version:${alignr}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${exec nvidia-settings -q NvidiaDriverVersion -t}${font}${color}
${voffset 2}${color0}${font Poky:size=15}a${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -10}Processes: ${color2}${alignr 13}CPU${alignr}RAM${color}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 1}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 1}${alignr }${top mem 1}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 2}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 2}${alignr }${top mem 2}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 3}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 3}${alignr }${top mem 3}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 4}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 4}${alignr }${top mem 4}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 5}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 5}${alignr }${top mem 5}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 6}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 5}${alignr }${top mem 6}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 7}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 5}${alignr }${top mem 7}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 8}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 5}${alignr }${top mem 8}${color}${font}
${voffset -1}${goto 42}${color2}${top name 9}${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1} ${goto 124}${top cpu 5}${alignr }${top mem 9}${color}${font}
${color0}${font OpenLogos:size=19}P${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -10}Pacman Updates:
${color0}${goto 32}${execpi 1000 ~/.conkyupdates.py }
${voffset 2}${color0}${font Poky:size=15}y${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -10}HDD Space${color}
${goto 32}Root: ${color0}${alignr}${fs_used /}/${fs_size /}
${alignc}${color0}${fs_bar 8,120 /}
${goto 32}Home: ${color0}${alignr}${fs_used /home}/${fs_size /home}
${alignc}${color0}${fs_bar 8,120 /home}
${goto 32}Data: ${color0}${alignr}${fs_used /data}/${fs_size /data}
${alignc}${color0}${fs_bar 8,120 /data}
${voffset 2}${color0}${font Poky:size=15}y${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -10}HDD Temps:${color}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}
${goto 32}${execi 5 sudo hddtemp /dev/sda | cut -c10-100}${color}
${goto 32}${execi 5 sudo hddtemp /dev/sdb | cut -c10-100}${color}
${voffset 4}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}DATE $stippled_hr${font}
${voffset -10}${alignc 46}${color2}${font Arial Black:size=30}${time %H:%M}${font}${color}
${alignc}${time %d %B %Y}
${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}NETWORK $stippled_hr${font}
${if_existing /proc/net/route wlan0}
${voffset -13}${color0}${font VariShapes Solid:size=14}q${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -6}Up: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${upspeed wlan0}${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${upspeedgraph wlan0 8,60 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}Total: ${color2}${totalup wlan0}${color}
${voffset -2}${color0}${font VariShapes Solid:size=14}Q${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -6}Down: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${downspeed wlan0}${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${downspeedgraph wlan0 8,60 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}Total: ${color2}${totaldown wlan0}${color}
${voffset -2}${color0}${font Poky:size=14}Y${font}${color}${goto 32} ${voffset -2}Signal: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${wireless_link_qu al wlan0}%${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${wireless_link_bar 8,60 wlan0}${color}
${voffset 4}${color0}${font Poky:size=13}w${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -8}Local IP: ${alignr}${color2}${addr wlan0}${color}
${goto 32}Public IP: ${alignr}${color2}${execi 10800 ~/.conkycolors/bin/conkyIp}${color}
${else}${if_existing /proc/net/route eth0}
${voffset -13}${color0}${font VariShapes Solid:size=14}q${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -6}Up: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${upspeed eth0}${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${upspeedgraph eth0 8,60 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}Total: ${color2}${totalup eth0}${color}
${voffset -2}${color0}${font VariShapes Solid:size=14}Q${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -6}Down: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${downspeed eth0}${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${downspeedgraph eth0 8,60 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}Total: ${color2}${totaldown eth0}${color}
${voffset -2}${color0}${font Poky:size=13}w${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -4}Local IP: ${alignr}${color2}${addr eth0}${color}
${goto 32}Public IP: ${alignr}${color2}${execi 10800 ~/.conkycolors/bin/conkyIp}${color}
${else}${if_existing /proc/net/route ppp0}
${voffset -13}${color0}${font VariShapes Solid:size=14}q${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -6}Up: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${upspeed ppp0}${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${upspeedgraph ppp0 8,60 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}
${goto 32}Total: ${color2}${totalup ppp0}${color}
${voffset -2}${color0}${font VariShapes Solid:size=14}Q${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -6}Down: ${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}${color1}${downspeed ppp0}${color}${font} ${alignr}${color2}${downspeedgraph ppp0 8,60 CE5C00 E07A1F}${color}<h1></h1>
${goto 32}Total: ${color2}${totaldown ppp0}${color}
${voffset -2}${color0}${font Poky:size=13}w${font}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -4}Local IP: ${alignr}${color2}${addr ppp0}${color}
${else}${color0}${font PizzaDude Bullets:size=12}4${font}${color}${goto 32}Network Unavailable${endif}${endif}${endif}
${voffset -8}${font Liberation Sans:style=Bold:size=8}RHYTHMBOX $stippled_hr${font}


My autostart:


# This shell script is run before Openbox launches.
# Environment variables set here are passed to the Openbox session.

xmodmap /home/llawwehttam/.xmodmap &

# Set a background color
BG=""
if which hsetroot >/dev/null 2>&1; then
BG=hsetroot
else
if which esetroot >/dev/null 2>&1; then
BG=esetroot
else
if which xsetroot >/dev/null 2>&1; then
BG=xsetroot
fi
fi
fi
test -z $BG || $BG -solid "#303030"

# D-bus
if which dbus-launch >/dev/null 2>&1 && test -z "$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS"; then
eval `dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session`
fi

# Make GTK apps look and behave how they were set up in the gnome config tools
if test -x /usr/libexec/gnome-settings-daemon >/dev/null; then
/usr/libexec/gnome-settings-daemon &
elif which gnome-settings-daemon >/dev/null 2>&1; then
gnome-settings-daemon &
# Make GTK apps look and behave how they were set up in the XFCE config tools
elif which xfce-mcs-manager >/dev/null 2>&1; then
xfce-mcs-manager n &
fi

# Preload stuff for KDE apps
if which start_kdeinit >/dev/null 2>&1; then
LD_BIND_NOW=true start_kdeinit --new-startup +kcminit_startup &
fi

# Run XDG autostart things. By default don't run anything desktop-specific
# See xdg-autostart --help more info
DESKTOP_ENV="OPENBOX"
if which /usr/lib/openbox/xdg-autostart >/dev/null 2>&1; then
/usr/lib/openbox/xdg-autostart $DESKTOP_ENV
fi

xscreensaver -no-splash &
/opt/dropbox/dropboxd &
tint2 &
cairo-compmgr &
obmixer &
parcellite &
nitrogen --restore &
sleep 5s && conky &

[Lorem-Ipsum]

Well its all up and running. I've made a few more tweaks.

I am currently partially dependant on the gnome DE being installed to provide some utils and themeing etc... as well as most of the keyboard bindings.

Hopefully I'll slowly remove gnome components until its as pure as possible.

Here's two screenshots:

Dirty:
http://d.imagehost.org/0234/Screenshot-1.png (http://d.imagehost.org/view/0234/Screenshot-1)
Clean:

http://d.imagehost.org/0188/Screenshot.png (http://d.imagehost.org/0188/Screenshot.png)

[Smifis]

Makes me want to try linux again :lol:

[Lorem-Ipsum]

Makes me want to try linux again :lol:

Go for it mate.

I tried openbox a while ago when I first got into linux, and really struggled with it TBH.

Its taken a while for me to pluck up the courage to try it again and I am very glad I did.

[Smifis]

I might go with Kubuntu again, the only main issue is I need windows for my media work.

How would I go about dual booting?

[Lorem-Ipsum]

I might go with Kubuntu again, the only main issue is I need windows for my media work.

How would I go about dual booting?

The newer versions of ubuntu, kubuntu and xubuntu all come with grub2, so during the setup you can resize the windows partition, install linux next to it and linux should handle the bootloader automatically now.

[waba]

ahhh i really like the look of it...will give it a go when i have the chance :)