Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

pe7er · 2012-06-14 16:27:12

Today I decided to install Arch directly on my production PC (and not in a virtual box).
So I've just installed Openbox manually with help from https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Openbox

I noticed that none of the Openbox menu items was working because I had to install all software I needed manually.
So besides the differences discussed already, Archbang also has chosen & installed all kinds of software for you.
Now I have to do that myself...
IMHO this blogpost is an excellent resource to choose some software to start with: http://willensky.blogspot.nl/2010/01/ho … linux.html and
of course this overview: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … plications

With menumaker (# mmaker -v OpenBox3) I was able to compile the Openbox menu from all the software on my PC.

Installing everything yourself costs somewhat more time, but improves your knowledge of Linux substantially

Last edited by pe7er (2012-06-14 16:32:51)

DSpider · 2012-06-14 16:38:20

Maybe this will help too: http://urukrama.wordpress.com/openbox-guide

I remember it helped me a lot when I was just getting started.

fsckd · 2012-06-14 16:58:19

pe7er wrote:

Installing everything yourself costs somewhat more time, but improves your knowledge of Linux substantially

And empowers you.

Awebb · 2012-06-14 19:06:19

Archbang started as a midnight chat on the crunchbang forums. The term "Archbang" had been around for a while and was coined to describe an Arch base with Openbox, Conky and tint2.

FlyingHappy · 2012-06-14 20:50:48

I would say to definitely set up a conky on your own. Look through the conky thread here for some good designs to build off of. Just doing so will enhance your knowledge just like installing will. I know I had a ton of fun doing so and the experience would have been drastically less inviting if I had just configured it from a menu.

Trilby · 2012-06-14 21:55:19

I love openbox, it's definitely my favorite floating WM, though now I use dwm almost exclusively. I did install Archbang once when I first was getting started with arch. Archbang was a breeze to get installed, but I spent so much time removing software it became ridiculous. It would take me much much longer to go from a base archbang install than a base arch install to end up with an openbox system I was comfortable with.

Don't take this as a rant against archbang - it is a wonderful distro and I'm glad it is available - but it is so very far from being just arch + openbox. It is arch + openbox + a enourmous list of additional software. Much of that additional software is quite good in general terms - but much of it is very redundant: I don't need 3+ spreadsheet editors, just one that works well. I wouldn't want a menu that had half a dozen terminal emulators in a submenu. How many people use more than one terminal emulator (not more than one instance, more than one app)? I just want the one I use available.

Arch Linux

#26 2012-06-14 16:27:12

Re: Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

#27 2012-06-14 16:38:20

Re: Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

#28 2012-06-14 16:58:19

Re: Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

#29 2012-06-14 19:06:19

Re: Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

#30 2012-06-14 20:50:48

Re: Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

#31 2012-06-14 21:55:19

Re: Difference between Arch & Archbang (Arch + Openbox)?

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