Hey all,
I'm new to Linux and there is something that I've been wondering about the X windows and the programs they include amoung other things.

First thing. I've been looking around to get my 5 button mouse setup, some tutorials have been saying "xorg" or "XFree86". I'm using SUSE 9.3 and I seem to have xorg. What is this piece of software doing and how does it fit in with KDE/Gnome/any other other GUI? Can I have Xfree running with SUSE? Does Gnome work only with a specific one?

Currently I have KDE installed but I prefer Gnome. However I like Kmail and a few other KDE applications. Is there a way I can install Gnome and keep/use those KDE applications I want?

When I installed Slackware it gave me a prompt to work with. By typing a windows config command let me choose which XWindows I wanted to use. Is there a way I can setup SUSE so it boots me up to a prompt and I can type "startGnome" or "startKDE". I guess if I can get the programs I want in one Xwindow I won't need to do it.

I'd really like to use fluxbox because it didn't have many applications bundled with it. But if I install that how would I get to Yast and system status/modifying type programs?


Any help would be much appreciated.


[EDIT] I knew this would happen. I always find a lot of info I need straight after I post. I've installed fluxbox and can run all my KDE programs. I can see that my mouse i behaving differently. Gotta find out which config file flux is using.

gnome works with both , xorg is a X server which provides the basic framework for a GUI environment: drawing and moving windows on the screen and interacting with a mouse and keyboard.


you could use kde programs in gnome providing that you have the basic libraries of kde installed


you could choose to use either kde or gnome or other from the current login manager that your using (kdm , gdm)

Fluxbox will also use xorg.conf (I believe it is /etx/X11/xorg.conf, but I am not sure; you can make a search for it), but it only has a few setup files for itself, mostly located in /home/you/.fluxbox; try using the 'keys' file for keyboard shortcuts - that works great.

Thanks for the replies.

heema, I had a look around and worked out how to stop auto-login. I could then get to the login screen and by clicking the session link I was able to select which windows manager to use. I'm just trying to install Gnome now. Lucky you told me about kdm, I would never have thought there was something like that.

OSourceDiplomat, I had a look at the keys files and in that directory was the menu. Very easy to understand and edit. I now have a fully customized menu. It's exactly what I was looking for.


I got thinking though about using kde and gnome applications. There are probably alternatives just as good elsewhere right? I will have to look more into it.

Once again thanks, you two have answered pretty much all my concerns.

If you are going for the really lightweight system, you could try CD-burning with CDW and music playing with MP3Blaster. For e-mail ThunderBird and Sylpheed are fairly light. Sylpheed is becoming more pleasant to look at in the latest versions.

Whoa that mp3 player is ultra lightweight.

I'll give these programs a run tonight.