Install DE on BSD?

cortman · 01-31-2012, 09:59 AM

How can I install a DE on FreeBSD, and what is available? I am totally new to BSD, thought I'd mess around with it a bit. Thanks!

anomie · 01-31-2012, 10:14 AM

Please read this FreeBSD Handbook chapter on package/port installation:
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...ook/ports.html

GNOME, KDE, Xfce, and many WMs are all ported to FreeBSD. The selection is huge. Full-on DEs take awhile to build from ports if you go that route.

For a gentle, desktop-focused introduction to FreeBSD "under the hood", have a look at PC-BSD.

cortman · 01-31-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anomie

Please read this FreeBSD Handbook chapter on package/port installation:
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...ook/ports.html

GNOME, KDE, Xfce, and many WMs are all ported to FreeBSD. The selection is huge. Full-on DEs take awhile to build from ports if you go that route.

For a gentle, desktop-focused introduction to FreeBSD "under the hood", have a look at PC-BSD.

Thanks very much! I know my way around Linux, but I've never dabbled with BSD yet. I'll have a look at the link.

Konphine · 01-31-2012, 02:20 PM

As someone who used to use BSD, it's "pkg_add -r [packagename]" without the brackets of course.

Edit: And the quotes.

hitest · 02-09-2012, 08:31 AM

If your system has the horse power you can use the ports system to install whatever DE/WM you want in FreeBSD. A faster method to get up and running would be to use:

# pkg_add -r xorg

# pkg_add -r nameofde

As anomie mentioned please read the FreeBSD Handbook on how to configure xorg, your DE, and how to set-up a graphical or command-line log-in.

looop · 02-19-2012, 02:23 AM

just case you don't know Gnome3 dose not work on FreeBSD (YET)

TroN-0074 · 02-19-2012, 06:24 PM

You have to install xorg first.
To install that you need to type as root

Code:

# pkg_add -r xorg

then you need to set it up in this link are the instructions how to do that read them first
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO.../x-config.html

Then you need to install a desktop manager for KDE type

Code:

# pkg_add -r kde4

if you want to use Gnome instead you need to type

Code:

# pkg_add -r gnome2

for xfce you need to type

Code:

pkg_add -r xfce4

assuming you set up xorg correctly you just need to tell X11 to use a desktop manager when you type startx

you can find more instructions on how to set up GDM or KDM or just XDM on the handbook here is the link
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...ook/index.html
look in Chapter 6

Good luck to you