blackbox noob ?

phishintrip · 07-24-2003, 09:09 AM

i am running slack9 on a slow ass laptop and so far have been using kde for my xwindows enviroment. I heard blackbox would run a lot faster so i got the file untar'ed ./configure, make, make install. Problem is how do i tell the xserver to start up using blackbox instead of kde?

I know this is a noob ? but i am still a noob so. I figure i can figure out how to change all the settings and menus once i see what the default settings look like.

slakmagik · 07-24-2003, 09:40 AM

I kind of goofed up my Slack wm stuff at first so I don't know if the file would get created or if you have to do it. (I may still be goofing it up.) But create an xinitrc.blackbox in /etc/X11/xinit if it isn't there and then run 'xwmconfig' and you'll be able to choose between various managers including blackbox. Or just create your own ~/.xinitrc, I guess. The first option would be better. That'll do the ~/.xinitrc creating for you.

-- Try running 'xwmconfig' first, of course, just to see if it's in the list.

phishintrip · 07-24-2003, 12:08 PM

so i ended up just adding blackbox instead of startkde at the end of my xinitrc file. Now it starts and i guess i am in blackbox. It comes up with two xterm windows and one named bash. There is no background or anything. I am installing bbconf so i am hoping that will help.
My problem right now is that i cant see the whole screen only like the top left 2/3 or so. Anyone know how to fix this or should i just read anout bbconf when it finishes installing?

slakmagik · 07-24-2003, 12:31 PM

Um. If there's another terminal and a clock, I'd say you were in twm. Blackbox is minimal but you should get a bg image and right-click menu and a toolbar and so on.

I have no idea why your screen would be weird with blackbox if it was good in kde unless you reconfigured X or something. Blackbox doesn't control display, as such, but only windows and its internals.

Course, it's been awhile since I used blackbox - I use flux now.

phishintrip · 07-24-2003, 12:49 PM

yes twm
thats exactly what im in so how do i go from there to blackbox?
i know i am in twm b/c when i click out on the screen somewhere it says twm and gives me options like resize, kill, etc.

phishintrip · 07-24-2003, 12:50 PM

what's twm?

slakmagik · 07-24-2003, 01:01 PM

twm's -- I think it's "Tom's Window Manager"? I forget. It's like the original X window manager. It actually can be customized to be almost usable but... well, I wouldn't. *g*

Well, like I say, try running xwmconfig - if /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.blackbox doesn't exist or isn't created by it, try copying and editing one of the lightweight wm files in that directory - change the name and the wm it starts. Then run xwmconfig again and select it.

phishintrip · 07-24-2003, 01:12 PM

thanks, i got into it. First, i ran xwmconfig and selected my xinitrc.kde, then i edited that file to read blackbox instead of startkde at the end. I tried it and it worked so in order for it to be right. I am going back now to copy xinitrc.kde to xinitrc.blackbox, then i will run xwmconfig again and select the xinitrc.blackbox, then go edit my xinitrc.kde back to startkde.
Thankyou again for the help!!!!

slakmagik · 07-24-2003, 01:27 PM

Glad you got it going.