WMs from the console

How would i start different WMs from the console. An example would be, typeing 'startkde' would start both XFree86 and KDE. By default on my machine, KDE starts when i run 'startx'. I just removed gdm for other reasons, so how would i change the default WM for startx. Or, what commands can i use to start different WMs, such as:
Gnome
Blackbox
IceWM
while in console. Thank you in advance

startx should read your ~/.xinitrc for what commands to use if you have one. The only one of the commands that I know that you'll want would be "exec gnome-session" for GNOME (at least, it was way back in the 1.x days ...). Just put that line (by itself) in your ~/.xinitrc and startx should read that and start GNOME.

By the way, why did you remove GDM? I used to be anti-login manager, but I've since been swayed

Like Strike said

The basic format is
exec binaryname_of_windowmanager

For example
exec blackbox
exec icewm

You could either alais commands in your .bashrc, or create a .xinitrc file.

# Celeron 850 tinwhistle .bashrc file for user fancy
# User specific aliases and functions

# Change bash prompt. See the article:
# http://www-106.ibm.com/developerwork.../l-tip-prompt/
export PS1='\d \@ \[\e[32;1m\]\u\[\e[34;1m\]@\[\e[36;1m\]\H \[\e[34;1m\]\w\[\e[32;1m\] $ \[\e[0m\]'
# For the root account use this
# export PS1='\d \@ \[\e[31;1m\]\u\[\e[34;1m\]@\[\e[36;1m\]\H \[\e[34;1m\]\w\[\e[31;1m\] # \[\e[0m\]'

# Set paths
alias path='echo -e ${PATH//:/\\n}'

# Allow local users to use my X session
# xhost +local:

# Dialup, start fetchmail daemon and startx
alias x='/sbin/ifup ppp0;fetchmail -d 300;startx'

# Alter the ls command
alias ls='ls -ac'
alias lls='ls -lac'

# Become system administrator
alias god='su -'

# Connect/disconnect the internet by modem
alias dial='/sbin/ifup ppp0'
alias hangup='/sbin/ifdown ppp0'

# Launch links with my linux links page
alias links='links /home/fancy/bookmarks.html'

# Power down/reboot
alias off='shutdown -h now'
alias boot='shutdown -r now'

# For nano editor because I forget which one I use in which distro
alias pico='nano -w'
alias nano='nano -w'

# for launching window manager/desktop environments from console login
alias a='echo DESKTOP=AfterStep > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias ice='echo DESKTOP=icewm > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias kde='echo DESKTOP=KDE3 > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias wm='echo DESKTOP=WindowMaker > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias sf='echo DESKTOP=Sawfish > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias g='echo DESKTOP=Gnome > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias xf='echo DESKTOP=XFce > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias bb='echo DESKTOP=BlackBox > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias fb='echo DESKTOP=FluxBox > ~/.desktop;startx'
alias e='echo DESKTOP=Enlightenment > ~/.desktop;startx'

# Script needs to be on the bottom of the file or RH updates will fsck it up
# Source global definitions
if [ -f /etc/bashrc ]; then
       	. /etc/bashrc
fi

# Celeron 850 box "tinwhistle" user fancy .xinitrc file
# Start the stuff I want to run when I startx

# The artwiz-fonts sometimes conflict with your locale settings. To get
# them to work you may have to put the following at the beginning of your
# .xinitrc file
# export LC=C
# export LC_ALL=C

# Set the background for fluxbox
# Esetroot ~/backgrounds/linux.png &

# Start gkrellm and put it in the slit
gkrellm -w &

# This will run a screensaver as your background
# /usr/X11R6/lib/xscreensaver/hopalong -root &

# Start the screensaver daemon
# xscreensaver &

# Finally, I start my window manager
exec fluxbox
# exec kde
# exec gnome-session