Running another X window manager
 

I have the default KDE windows manager which installs with MDK9.1. I'd like to try a different windows manager and have downloaded and installed (I think) IceWM. Problem is - I don't know how to run IceWM.

I say "I think" because there seems to be no way of knowing for sure when an app has been correctly installed in Linux. I've managed to work my way through unpacking and configuring .tar.gz archives, but then I've had difficulties finding the appropriate executable to link from a desktop shortcut (eg. Opera and Firebird browsers - but got there eventually in these two instances). However IceWM isn't really an application, so how do I configure Mandrake to load a different windows manager?

And, for that matter, is it possible to get a new app to appear automatically on the Start menu? If so, how?

Is there life beyond Windo$e? I hope so - I really want to learn to love Linux and dump M$. But installing software is a bit of a headache. Sorry for all the questions in this and other posts of mine. :cry:

many more apps today ARE adding themselves to the KDE / Gnome start menu. however most will not do it by default for many reasons (respect for your configuration and settings for one).

as for IceWM, blackbox, fluxbox, afterstep, enlightenment, and any one of the many linux window managers... these are all just apps ... just like any other app.

Being that you are using MDK you probably have a graphical login correct? And if I remember my MDK from days of old the graphical login allows you to select your window manager. Thus you will have to find out how to edit the 'window manager' selections correct?

hi mhl.
1. to find where ur apps are located -
*if you know the exact name of the app (usually without the version numbers), you only have to type in:
"which app-name" , and you will get the path to it.
for instance, try 'which gcc", "which mozilla", "which icewm" ...
this is the path to the binary(executable).
*if you aren't sure of the path name (say, for some reason you dont ), then you can find the path to those objects approximately using the following two:
- locate file-name (but for this you have to run "updatedb' as root once)
- find / -name "file-name" (this will look for the file-name u specified starting from root. u can try it with any dir other than '/' if u know which dir to look under)
so, you can try "locate gcc", "locate mozilla" (after u had done an 'updatedb' as root)
and "find / -name "gcc"", "find / -name "mozilla""

thats that for finding stuff on ur machine. :)

now for ur window manager.
from my experience, whenever i installed a window manager, all, i had to do to see it in my list of options at startup (if i were using a graphical login), were to restart the current window manager (in ur case, kde).
now in case u rnt using a graphical login, then all u have to do would be to edit you ".xinitrc" file under ur home directory, and add a line that says "exec path-to-window-manager". in ur case the "path-to-window-manager" would be whatever "which icewm" gives u (or the others).
then after u edited it, do a startx, and u will be in ice. :)

hope that helped.

Thanks jpbarto and h/w. I found a choice of window managers exactly where you said - on a drop-down list in the graphical login screen. I didn't particularly like any of them though, so I have gone back to the default KDE until I find something better.

im using something called xfce.
it's fast, themable (though im not theming), and , umm...really fast. i was using flux b4 it, and when i switched to xfce, it just felt faster (it was)