[solved] In what order should I configure Xorg - i3 - xterm?

xtian · 2017-10-21 20:03:13

Starting point:
I just installed the Arch system on Lenovo Thinkpad W541 i7 4810MQ Quad 2.8GHz--it's running. I'm working from a virtual console. I've created a user account (not working in root).

Boundary conditions:
1) This laptop appears to have "HiDPI" hardware (2280 x 1620 px / 96x96 dpi). The drivers reported by

lspci | grep -e VGA

are:

VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK107GLM [Quadro K1100M]

I'm guessing this means I have "hybrid Intel/NVIDIA graphics" hardware configuration.

2) I've elected to use `Xorg`, `i3-wm`, and `xterm`. I've also opted (with this, my third, Arch install) to try `rsh` as my default shell.

Goal:
- Make the X/i3 font bigger
- Get X/i3 to stabilize and perform basic i3-WM operations
- Setup the most stable display drivers suitable for workstation use case (battery not important)

I can start Xwindows/i3-wm, but there are serious issues:
- Xterm fonts are too small:
- Configure xterm in `.xinitrc`, `.Xresources`

- Configure Xorg, `sudo Xorg :0 -configure`;
> abort with seg fault at both console and from X terminal

- Configure i3 with `i3-config-wizard` from X terminal.
- Mod4 key does not perform commands as expected (i.e mod+f doesn't toggle full screen, but produces the character 'f'; Mod+enter just does return. The other Mod key is not active either)

(Note: I also asked another question about Lenovo specific configurations here.)

Last edited by xtian (2017-10-22 21:14:07)

jasonwryan · 2017-10-21 20:15:16

Your configure Xorg step is wrong. Read the wiki on optimus and approach it that way.

Similarly, with i3.

Bottom line, wizards aren't going to configure your system for you. That's your job.

Not an Installation issue, moving to NC...

escondida · 2017-10-22 02:29:47

Since jasonwryan addressed the main issue, as a side note I'd say that if you want to use a minimalist shell, [core]/dash (POSIX-complient modern sh) is probably a better option than the remote shell client. If you specifically want an *oddball* minimalist shell, [community]/plan9port's implementation of Duff's rc shell is nice, and particularly good for scripting.

xtian · 2017-10-22 20:59:08

I appreciate the guidance. I decided to go the Nvidia proprietary driver route. The machine is new enough, and it seemed the simpler and faster route.

Not an Installation issue, moving to NC..."
I wasn't sure which side Xorg and video drivers fell, given I couldn't get out of the console, and it was unstable in X.

+++
@escondida. When you say scripting, what stack are you specifically referring to?

I was doing my little Python, and webdev projects in my sandbox with a near default config (Xorg + xterm + bash + DWM). I heard good things about i3 and thought it was a good time to try it while my system was still fresh. rsh was just a lark since out-of-the box it has some nice features. I spend most of my time in iPython, Jupyter, SSH, and managing files in the terminal.

+++
I'm marking this Question as "solved", and I've opened a more specific post (with pictures) about the Xorg config for my display.

Last edited by xtian (2017-10-22 21:10:57)

Arch Linux

#1 2017-10-21 20:03:13

[solved] In what order should I configure Xorg - i3 - xterm?

#2 2017-10-21 20:15:16

Re: [solved] In what order should I configure Xorg - i3 - xterm?

#3 2017-10-22 02:29:47

Re: [solved] In what order should I configure Xorg - i3 - xterm?

#4 2017-10-22 20:59:08

Re: [solved] In what order should I configure Xorg - i3 - xterm?

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