Ultimate Mini Debian Live Fluxbox/Blackbox Edition- what should it feature?

linus72 · 01-06-2010, 07:58 PM

So
you memebers that are fluxbox/blackbox fanatics
Please tell me all the cool apps etc for fluxbox/blackbox?
like nitrogen, fluxconf,etc?

I'm no expert so need to know?
I will be building this for you flux guys so please give me all your suggesstions for a mini(sub 500MB) livecd/usb I can make??
thanks

mark_alfred · 01-09-2010, 12:57 AM

I recommend a nicely set up wmdrawer for the slit.

linus72 · 01-09-2010, 05:42 AM

Sounds great
thanks

Now, how do I do that?

just start wmdrawer in fluxbox startup script

wmdrawer &

or what?

mark_alfred · 01-09-2010, 03:34 PM

Yup, putting it in the startup script would start it. It's good because it creates a launcher (similar in function to a start button). The right-click method of accessing the menu can be irritating, given that it involves several steps -- IE, right-click, then go to applications, then go to network, then go to web-browsing, and finally select Iceweasel. Admittedly, on most systems, the launcher/start button provides a similar difficulty, which is often solved by desktop icons (this can also be done with fluxbox via either idesk or fbdesk.) But, with wmdrawer, you can specify which programs you wish to always have quick access to, and because it's in the slit, it is always accessible (IE, unlike desktop icons, you don't have to have your desktop showing via minimising all the active windows).

It needs to be set up with in the ~/.wmdrawerrc file. So, you could set up the top ten or so programs that you figure will be the most used. I've included an x-window-dump (converted to png for your convenience) of my wmdrawer as an example (see attachment). This bar comes up after pressing a penguin launcher button, and includes tooltips.

linus72 · 01-09-2010, 04:01 PM

hey thanks for answering back mark

I noticed when trying to start wmdrawer from ~/.fluxbox/startup
that it bombs out with not finding the .wmdrawerrc

so, how do I make one or what?

whats the syntax?

thanks

mark_alfred · 01-09-2010, 04:40 PM

If you want to use it for quick access to ten programs, then you'd create two columns of five programs each -- though you can do more (IE, mine has eighteen). The file itself describes what's needed. From my .wmdrawerrc file:

Code:

# Images directories
[images_paths]
/usr/share/pixmaps
/usr/share/icons

# A first column with 5 buttons
# Each button must be defined with this syntax:
# (tooltip)  (image)  (command)

Since the image paths are set, you only need to put the name of the icon image in column two. The command need only be the name of the program if it's in the system's PATH. The tooltip can be whatever you wish.

Here's a full window dump of my desktop. Note that I have the wmdrawer on the right side, because I prefer it there. Given that many people are used to having a launcher on the left side, you may wish to place the slit/wmdrawer there. I also set the window buttons to be in an OSX style (coloured dots) as illustrated by the program xcalc, and in this dump, I've got idesk going (note desktop icons). I don't generally run idesk because I find desktop icons irritating. But, I did feel the need to prove to myself that I could have them if I wish. So, with Fluxbox you can have a start button, and desktop icons, a random background image, and you can alter the window settings to a degree too (via the styles).

linus72 · 01-09-2010, 04:56 PM

Thanks for the info mark

heres where I'm at thus far

http://multidistro.com/deb/powerbox/scrot1.png

http://multidistro.com/deb/powerbox/scrot2.png

http://multidistro.com/deb/powerbox/scrot3.png

heres a incomplete menu

Code:

[begin] (fluxbox)
[include] (~/.fluxbox/root-menu)
[include] (~/.fluxbox/magic-menu)
[include] (~/.fluxbox/hag-apps-menu)
[include] (~/.fluxbox/fluxbox-menu)
  [separator]
  [include] (~/.fluxbox/hag-xrandr-menu)
  [include] (~/.fluxbox/hag-baseconf-menu)
  [separator]
  [include] (~/.fluxbox/logout-menu)
  [include] (~/.fluxbox/hag-exit-menu)
[end]

heres whats running from ~/.fluxbox/startup

Code:

conky -d &
fbpanel &
systray-volume-control &
rotate.sh &

rotate.sh is a script a member suggested to control another script
called rotate-wallpaper from CrunchBang linux
the wallpaper rotates every 5min or whatever you set to

you want the rotate wallpaper setup? its 2 scripts

mark_alfred · 01-10-2010, 04:07 AM

I'm assuming from your post that wmdrawer did not capture your fancy, which is fine. The marvel of Linux is that it provides different things to different users. Having choice is a wonderful thing. Anyway, looking forward to whatever you do ultimately decide to include in your release. Good luck with it.

linus72 · 01-10-2010, 06:56 AM

Actually your wrong mark
I like wmdrawer alot!

I just got to get it working as I'm no coder

hopefully I'll have a pic for you this morning

linus72 · 01-10-2010, 09:07 AM

Hey mark
I found wmdrawer site
http://people.easter-eggs.org/~valos.../?section=docs

and this example
http://people.easter-eggs.org/~valos...awerrc.example

and I started it and theres a little penguin at the bottom right of screen and it has a pop-up vertical menu thing
with ? marks
guess I gotta edit it?

looks pretty cool though

see here
http://multidistro.com/deb/powerbox/wmdrawer1.png

so, yes I will be checking it out

you got any more good hints?
and thanks alot mark

linus72 · 01-10-2010, 12:36 PM

OK
so heres where I'm at now
http://multidistro.com/deb/powerbox/now.png

thats fbpanel up top
lxpanel at top left
and wmdrawer at bottom right

now I gotta configure them all or take some out,etc

linus72 · 01-10-2010, 12:39 PM

oh
and heres pic where wmdrawer pops open when you hover mouse over it
http://multidistro.com/deb/powerbox/up.png

what is the fluxbox slit exactly?

mark_alfred · 01-10-2010, 02:52 PM

Looks good. Regarding the slit, from what I can figure, it seems to be a designated place for small programs to be hidden away but made as visible choices when your mouse pointer goes over the slit. It is generally in the bottom left corner, but this can be changed. Usually programs that work in the slit are wmsomething, IE, wmdrawer, or wmdate, etc. Just search synaptic or aptitude for programs beginning with "wm" and many of these will be slit programs.

the trooper · 01-10-2010, 03:11 PM

Linus,

I'm a little confused here,you have fbpanel and the default Fluxbox menu and you still want a clickable icon/s to launch apps?.
Had you considered using keyboard shortcuts to launch apps?.
If you look in the .fluxbox directory i sent you,look in keys and you'll see what i mean.

linus72 · 01-10-2010, 03:20 PM

hey Trooper
yeah I'm just trying out different stuff

when I'm done and got most half-configured I was gonna edit
fluxbox startup so all the apps were in there, just not started
that way one could start whichever and they would be half-configured at least

right now I got fbpanel, lxpanel, conky and wmdrawer going
mem output is at about 110MB RAM with iceweasel also running
so not bad

I definitely want to setup the keys thing as then I can use crunchbangs conkyrc
to better effect as it has entries for kybd predefined too

so, I'll check it out Trooper