Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

rajibando · 2023-05-23 08:02:36

This follows the advice of Mr. Morn on the thread I plan to switch to Archlinux from Debian on Windows Manager. Mr. Morn said that he is very satisfied with jwm.

I recently switched over to OpenBox WM from LXDE, dissatisfied by its limited ways, but I was told that OpenBox WM is no longer in development. LXDE forums also isn't very vibrant apparently.

I tried jwm but I am not satisfied by its utility.

My priority is a Menu List that could be exhaustive. Any GUI package I install should be reflected on the Menu List.

Further, I desire the Menu List to be completely customisable, in the sense that I should be free to add menu-items, if required, by hand, linking scripts and commands, especially with adding menu-items on the Menu list accessible by right clicking on a free area on the desktop outside of a program window, so that the said command/script could be launched then itself from there.

Any suggestion based on these two aspects are welcome.

seth · 2023-05-23 11:16:35

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Window_manager

OpenBox WM is no longer in development

So? Does it work or are you running into bugs?

Alternatively fluxbox is another *box derivate, arch is shipping a newer git version and upstream is preparing for a new release (what might happen later this year)

rajibando · 2023-05-23 11:38:30

seth wrote:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Window_manager

Ok. I will check.

seth wrote:

So? Does it(Rajib's addition for clarification: i.e., openbox) work or are you running into bugs?

As said above (I emphasise my request for your perusing that portion: "... Further, I desire the Menu List ... ... then itself from there ), OB system doesn't have info, resource or support to allow me add custom menu-items. I have tried using Arch info, but failed.

seth wrote:

Alternatively fluxbox is another *box derivate, arch is shipping a newer git version and upstream is preparing for a new release (what might happen later this year)

I have one untoward experience: Suppose I begin with OpenBox WM and have a menu. Later I learn that I can use a better WM. But the trouble is that the Menu created during installation with the original WM is the most comprehensive. Later on, new WM addition doesn't properly port all the menu-items from the older WM to newer.

I prefer a LXDE (or Doze) type Menu like Start Menu ⟶ Program Categories ⟶ Program Link with every link on the list, or allow me to include those that aren’t listed.

Any suggestion based on these two aspects would be welcome.

seth · 2023-05-23 12:04:27

OB system doesn't have info, resource or support to allow me add custom menu-items

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Openbox#menu.xml
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Openbox#Menus

I have one untoward experience: Suppose I begin with OpenBox WM and have a menu. Later I learn that I can use a better WM. But the trouble is that the Menu created during installation with the original WM is the most comprehensive. Later on, new WM addition doesn't properly port all the menu-items from the older WM to newer.
I prefer a LXDE (or Doze) type Menu like Start Menu ⟶ Program Categories ⟶ Program Link with every link on the list, or allow me to include those that aren’t listed.

What does that have to do with anything?
And what are yo even trying to say here?
You're afraid to use a WM because later on you might want to use a different WM and actually you want to use LXDE (which kinda defaults to openbox) but you don't which is why you "switched over to OpenBox WM from LXDE", ie. from a DE to a WM?

Frankly, nothing of what you post makes a lick of sense.

rajibando · 2023-05-23 13:28:12

seth wrote:

... Frankly, nothing of what you post makes a lick of sense.

Yes Sir, sometimes I can be really stupid. Not that at other times, I am not. Generally, I am only slightly stupid.
I was talking about the Original OB website at http://openbox.org.

seth wrote:

... And what are yo even trying to say here? ...

That presently I am in Debian V11 LXDE with OB WM. I am trying to switch to Arch or Arch-based distro. Seeking help. Because I can't accomplish my objective.

seth wrote:

... from a DE to a WM? ...

Yes Sir, from lxpanel to OB WM.

Last edited by rajibando (2023-05-23 13:29:58)

dogknowsnx · 2023-05-23 13:56:07

Quickly chiming in...
There probably is no WM that ships a prefab menu similar to "the one" you're describing - mainly because most WMs (that I've tried) basically follow the KISS philosophy as apposed to fully fledged DEs and let the user decide which menu/launcher implementation they want to use.

So you could either try a WM and set up a menu (e. g. 'rofi') according to your needs - here's a couple links that might help you in doing so:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Rofi
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Desktop_entries

- or you could opt for a DE that ships a more "sophisticated" menu - 'Gnome' and its 'arc-menu' extension comes to mind...

Last edited by dogknowsnx (2023-05-23 13:56:46)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2023-05-23 14:09:07

jgmenu is rather good and it can be used with pretty much any window manager. Grab a BunsenLabs ISO image and steal their configuration — the developer works on both projects.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2023-05-23 14:09:46)

seth · 2023-05-23 14:09:51

Rofi is a completely different kind of launcher approach (superior, imho, but not what the OP is asking for)

To feed the openbox menu out of xdg, see https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Openbox#Static

rajibando · 2023-05-23 14:22:43

dogknowsnx wrote:

... There probably is no WM that ships a prefab menu similar to "the one" you're describing ...

Yes Sir, I am aware of that.
What I said was this: I would like a Distro with a DE which creates a comprehensive menu-list.
Then I thought of porting it to the WM like OB WM and also be allowed the flexibility to add my own

But what I need is a system better than OB WM that would allow me to either port the comprehensive menu list or allow me to include those that aren’t listed easily, and back to the portion of my first post (a little touched up):

rajibando wrote:

... Further, I desire the Menu List to be completely customisable, in the sense that I should be free to add menu-items, if required, by hand, linking scripts and commands, especially with adding menu- and sub-menu- items on the Menu list accessible by right clicking on a free area on the desktop outside of a program window, so that the said command/script could be launched then itself from there. ...

dogknowsnx · 2023-05-23 14:25:28

There's also tint2

rajibando · 2023-05-23 14:39:09

dogknowsnx wrote:

There's also tint2

Am already using it. Horrible! Doesn't port LXDE lxsession-created menus to itself. No script file could be found to edit. No script for editable Start Menu (and sub-menu ⟶ sub-sub-menu ⟶ sub-sub-sub-menu cascading ad nauseum, ad infinitum) ⟶ Program Categories ⟶ Program Link; unlike in LXDE or DozeXP or Vista.

Last edited by rajibando (2023-05-24 07:41:49)

Arch Linux

#1 2023-05-23 08:02:36

Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#2 2023-05-23 11:16:35

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#3 2023-05-23 11:38:30

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#4 2023-05-23 12:04:27

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#5 2023-05-23 13:28:12

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#6 2023-05-23 13:56:07

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#7 2023-05-23 14:09:07

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#8 2023-05-23 14:09:51

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#9 2023-05-23 14:22:43

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#10 2023-05-23 14:25:28

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

#11 2023-05-23 14:39:09

Re: Info requested: a fully user-customisable WM in Arch please?

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