OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

K0tuk · 2009-04-23 14:01:11

Hi!

I was thinking about installing OpenBox on my fresh Arch install. I`m more and more thinking about minimalism lately, so my previous DE ( i know that OpenBox is not a DE, just a WM ) was XFCE4. But before installing i wanted to know some things about Openbox:

How hard it is to configure it ( i mean adding items to panels, changing gtk themes, adding icons, transparency, etc. ) ? Does it have it`s tools for that?

All these questions might sound silly, but the only "box" i`ve used was Fluxbox (once), so i kind of lame when it comes to "boxes".

Also, as it is not a DE itself, should i run it on top of Gnome/KDE/XFCE4, or it can run just by itself? There is some info in Wiki, but just want to hear another user`s opinions.

SomeGuyDude · 2009-04-23 14:13:19

Easy. For each of your needs...

1) Get obconf and obmenu, as per the wiki. They'll set things up basic for you and you can mess with it from there.

2) Panel's super easy. For simplicity, get pypanel. For more customizability, get tint2 from the AUR. To be honest you won't need panel launchers because OB's menu is so amazingly convenient.

3) It can run by itself, I'm doing it right now. Remember a DE is just a bunch of tools smushed together. LXDE is Openbox + PCManFM + LXPanel. GNOME is Metacity + Nautilus + GNOME-Panel. If you have a WM, a file manager, and a panel situation you like, you have everything you need.

4) Look into "gmrun" otherwise you'll lose your alt+F2 menu.

.:B:. · 2009-04-23 14:26:08

Maybe you need to take a look at the Openbox homepage too:

http://icculus.org/openbox/index.php/Main_Page

Setup can be intensive, depending on how you want it done - manual or with the tools SomeGuyDude mentioned.

I prefer to edit my configuration files manually, but to each his own. It did take time to set up but you can tweak the hell out of it. Versatility often comes at the price of in-depth configuration.

fuscia · 2009-04-23 15:35:04

urukrama's guide is pretty good - http://urukrama.wordpress.com/openbox-guide/
he covers a lot of things, including the silly stuff (transparency, shadows, etc.)

ShadowKyogre · 2009-04-23 15:39:25

Openbox is amazingly easy to set up because of obconf and obmenu. The autostart.sh file is also easy to put stuff in to autostart.

SomeGuyDude · 2009-04-23 16:17:55

B wrote:

I prefer to edit my configuration files manually, but to each his own. It did take time to set up but you can tweak the hell out of it. Versatility often comes at the price of in-depth configuration.

I edit most things manually, but for getting it set up the first time those are the best. Run 'em real quick and when you log in you at least have a functioning and usable OB setup.

moljac024 · 2009-04-23 16:39:12

obmenu makes horrible newlines everywhere...

celettu · 2009-04-23 16:58:14

After reading Urukrama's guide, it's very easy.

thisllub · 2009-04-24 01:44:06

I love the resizing customisation options.
This resizes the current window and moves it to the top right of monitor 1.

  <keybind key="W-e">
      <action name="MoveResizeTo">
        <monitor>1</monitor>
        <height>1000</height>
        <width>1600</width>
        <x>-0</x>
        <y>+0</y>
      </action>
    </keybind>

I use these vim style shortcuts for moving windows into their own space.

 <keybind key="W-h">
      <action name="MoveToEdgeWest"/>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-k">
      <action name="MoveToEdgeNorth"/>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-j">
      <action name="MoveToEdgeSouth"/>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-l">
      <action name="MoveToEdgeEast"/>
    </keybind>

der_joachim · 2009-04-24 16:26:32

If you do not fear XML, editing your menus by hand is quite easy. I prefer obconf though for any other settings.

+1 for urukrama's guide.

K0tuk · 2009-04-25 10:21:43

Thanks guys for the replies, i`ll try OpenBox for sure. But i`ve got other issue now, when partitioning my HDD before install. I`ve made another topic about it.

Anyway, thanks again for your responses.

Army · 2009-04-26 16:03:56

Don't forget to give obkey a shot! The git version (obkey-git) can be found in the AUR. Makes editing shortkeys very easy!

K0tuk · 2009-04-26 22:27:39

Just installed OpenBox... wow... it`s so FAST! but a lot of configuring awaits me

SomeGuyDude · 2009-04-27 03:07:55

OB is gonna spoil you, man. The speed is unparalleled.

JK3mp · 2009-04-27 05:22:03

K0tuk wrote:

Just installed OpenBox... wow... it`s so FAST! but a lot of configuring awaits me

Yes it is . Im new to arch and have started using OpenBox, i used Fluxbox too. Im pretty in the middle on both of them. They both run hella fast.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-04-23 14:01:11

OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#2 2009-04-23 14:13:19

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#3 2009-04-23 14:26:08

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#4 2009-04-23 15:35:04

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#5 2009-04-23 15:39:25

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#6 2009-04-23 16:17:55

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#7 2009-04-23 16:39:12

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#8 2009-04-23 16:58:14

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#9 2009-04-24 01:44:06

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#10 2009-04-24 16:26:32

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#11 2009-04-25 10:21:43

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#12 2009-04-26 16:03:56

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#13 2009-04-26 22:27:39

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#14 2009-04-27 03:07:55

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

#15 2009-04-27 05:22:03

Re: OpenBox: Easy or Difficult?

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