Window Managers (Linux) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

fracturedmind · 04-19-2003, 10:56 PM

Well first, whats your favorite?

Then, a question: I just started experimenting with ones other than Gnome (Red Hat 9.0 here) such as IceWM and Enlightenment. I like IceWM because its insanely light, I run 'startx' and bam, there I am.

My question is -- do I need to run/addon something else to have it like a normal desktop like Gnome (desktop icons, quicklinks, ability to view my files like a windows explorer, all the nooblar stuff?) I ran Nautilus from Ice, and it did put my icons and backgroup from Gnome up, but that kind of defeats the purpose because I'm trying to cut down on all the stuff I'm running ... in short, I just wan to figure out how to change my desktop / add desktop icons (or icons on the task bar) / maybe set up some keyboard shortcuts for things -- all in IceWM instead of Gnome.

Thanks

And let me know which Manager is your favorite

skinnedmink · 04-20-2003, 12:10 AM

I'm a Linux noob but I love KDE because I like really lame things to do. For example, I am a huge fan of the fuzzy clock option. I mean, we have watches on our arms ,VCR, walls, computers, dvdplayers, sound systems, stoves, coffeemakers, microwaves, and cell phones. Do I really need to know the exact time from my computer?

Sorry once again that I can't help ya. Should check out some IRC rooms because they would be more then happy to help ya.

chodarama · 04-20-2003, 12:16 AM

Personally, I prefer Enlightenment to anything else I've tried. E17 will be a desktop shell rather than window manager like the previous versions (E16). Take a look at the screenshots for the new version: http://www.enlightenment.org/pages/shots.html

IceWM and Enlightenment are only window managers for X, currently. KDE and gnome are APIs that use X for gui apps. You can change the background and add icons to the "desktop" in Enlightenment and Icewm. Check out their websites and read the FAQ for more info.

Dave · 04-20-2003, 01:26 AM

I seem to remember that back in the days of redhat 5.2, I had X and windowmaker going from startx to workable in approx 5 seconds (that includes the time that it took to resync the monitor and it was a P120 with a whole 24MB of ram). Now, it's still just as fast on everything I try to run it with.

Honestly, I don't see why you'd need to run something as bloated as gnome for the things that you want. I feel that desktop icons are mostly useless (well, that's just my opinion). All I have on my screen is a few wm dockapps and whatever program I'm running. Other than that, everything gets done with a few (quite a few) rxvt's.

Of course, having a window manager that can handle a large number of virtual desktops is good for quickly switching between tasks. Windowmaker accomplishes this well, and then uses alt+n for switching to whichever desktop you want. Nice, fast, easy to remember and requires less mouse usage.

SecretMethod70 · 04-20-2003, 02:21 AM

KDE. I used to prefer Gnome back in the days when SuSE was free and Red Hat was around, I believe, version 5. Been using KDE for the past 2.5 years or so though.

Crimson · 04-20-2003, 03:19 AM

fracturedmind:

For desktop icons you will need iDesk - Look it up

For a 'windows explorer' interface I would just use nautilus (nautilus --no-desktop will run it like it should)

For buttons on the taskbar I suggest you check the documentation for your WM of choice - Try googling for '[name] icons in taskbar' A lot of linux questions can be answered that way - especially the 'nooblar' stuff

phunktastic · 04-20-2003, 04:30 AM

waimea is supposed to be pretty good. Based off blackbox. www.waimea.com

Planning on trying it out today

bullgoose · 04-20-2003, 06:10 AM

XFCE is my personal favorite; it's lightweight but still full-featured. It's pretty too.

Orionath · 04-20-2003, 08:17 AM

I'm a great fan of Windowmaker.
I had to hack the default RedHat gnome configuration file to stop it from loading the RedHat version of Windowmaker and use the "real" version.

For a file manager, I like ROX-filer.
http://rox.sourceforge.net
It's static linked, so it's easy to install on any linux system no matter which Xwindows manager you are using.

fracturedmind · 04-20-2003, 09:52 AM

Thanks guys

I'm running IceWM now, I figured out the whole "start menu" and "quickbar" icons in the files, I figure I dont need to run a file manager anyway since I use the terminal for most everything, and your right, Dave, desktop icons are pretty useless -- I guess I was just so used to them being there heh, I relize now I rarely if ever used them.

Thanks again.

04-19-2003, 10:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
fracturedmind Crazy Location: Dallas, TX	Window Managers (Linux) Well first, whats your favorite? Then, a question: I just started experimenting with ones other than Gnome (Red Hat 9.0 here) such as IceWM and Enlightenment. I like IceWM because its insanely light, I run 'startx' and bam, there I am. My question is -- do I need to run/addon something else to have it like a normal desktop like Gnome (desktop icons, quicklinks, ability to view my files like a windows explorer, all the nooblar stuff?) I ran Nautilus from Ice, and it did put my icons and backgroup from Gnome up, but that kind of defeats the purpose because I'm trying to cut down on all the stuff I'm running ... in short, I just wan to figure out how to change my desktop / add desktop icons (or icons on the task bar) / maybe set up some keyboard shortcuts for things -- all in IceWM instead of Gnome. Thanks And let me know which Manager is your favorite __________________ It won't give up, it wants me dead, god damn this voice inside my head.
$fracturedmind is offline$

04-20-2003, 12:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
skinnedmink Banned	I'm a Linux noob but I love KDE because I like really lame things to do. For example, I am a huge fan of the fuzzy clock option. I mean, we have watches on our arms ,VCR, walls, computers, dvdplayers, sound systems, stoves, coffeemakers, microwaves, and cell phones. Do I really need to know the exact time from my computer? Sorry once again that I can't help ya. Should check out some IRC rooms because they would be more then happy to help ya. Last edited by skinnedmink; 04-20-2003 at 07:52 AM..

04-20-2003, 01:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dave Upright Location: Within GMT+10	I seem to remember that back in the days of redhat 5.2, I had X and windowmaker going from startx to workable in approx 5 seconds (that includes the time that it took to resync the monitor and it was a P120 with a whole 24MB of ram). Now, it's still just as fast on everything I try to run it with. Honestly, I don't see why you'd need to run something as bloated as gnome for the things that you want. I feel that desktop icons are mostly useless (well, that's just my opinion). All I have on my screen is a few wm dockapps and whatever program I'm running. Other than that, everything gets done with a few (quite a few) rxvt's. Of course, having a window manager that can handle a large number of virtual desktops is good for quickly switching between tasks. Windowmaker accomplishes this well, and then uses alt+n for switching to whichever desktop you want. Nice, fast, easy to remember and requires less mouse usage. Last edited by Dave; 04-20-2003 at 01:32 AM..

04-20-2003, 02:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	KDE. I used to prefer Gnome back in the days when SuSE was free and Red Hat was around, I believe, version 5. Been using KDE for the past 2.5 years or so though. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

04-20-2003, 03:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Crimson Crazy Location: Leicestershire UK	fracturedmind: For desktop icons you will need iDesk - Look it up For a 'windows explorer' interface I would just use nautilus (nautilus --no-desktop will run it like it should) For buttons on the taskbar I suggest you check the documentation for your WM of choice - Try googling for '[name] icons in taskbar' A lot of linux questions can be answered that way - especially the 'nooblar' stuff __________________ Crimson If my life is to change - Let it change If my whole world is to be destroyed - So be it If my fate is to die - I must simply laugh

04-20-2003, 12:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
chodarama Insane Location: a van, down by the river	Personally, I prefer Enlightenment to anything else I've tried. E17 will be a desktop shell rather than window manager like the previous versions (E16). Take a look at the screenshots for the new version: http://www.enlightenment.org/pages/shots.html IceWM and Enlightenment are only window managers for X, currently. KDE and gnome are APIs that use X for gui apps. You can change the background and add icons to the "desktop" in Enlightenment and Icewm. Check out their websites and read the FAQ for more info.

04-20-2003, 04:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
phunktastic Insane Location: Dayton, Ohio	waimea is supposed to be pretty good. Based off blackbox. www.waimea.com Planning on trying it out today __________________ "Relax, the world will spin beside itself and suck you in. With threats and hopes beyond compare"

04-20-2003, 06:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
bullgoose Insane Location: Central N.Y.	XFCE is my personal favorite; it's lightweight but still full-featured. It's pretty too. __________________ "If I had it to do all over, I'd do it all over you."

04-20-2003, 08:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
Orionath Crazy Location: Scapponia	I'm a great fan of Windowmaker. I had to hack the default RedHat gnome configuration file to stop it from loading the RedHat version of Windowmaker and use the "real" version. For a file manager, I like ROX-filer. http://rox.sourceforge.net It's static linked, so it's easy to install on any linux system no matter which Xwindows manager you are using. __________________ What awful irony is this? We are as gods, but know it not. http://www.pbase.com/procyon_groot&view=recent/

04-20-2003, 09:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
fracturedmind Crazy Location: Dallas, TX	Thanks guys I'm running IceWM now, I figured out the whole "start menu" and "quickbar" icons in the files, I figure I dont need to run a file manager anyway since I use the terminal for most everything, and your right, Dave, desktop icons are pretty useless -- I guess I was just so used to them being there heh, I relize now I rarely if ever used them. Thanks again. __________________ It won't give up, it wants me dead, god damn this voice inside my head.
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