[MX Desktop files] From MX 23.6 Minimal Xfce4 to "Bento Openbox MX"

[melodie]

Hello,

I have been working on creating respins from distributions, spreading an Openbox branded environment user oriented, since 2009.

After PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu, antiX, I am now working on an MX respin for the same purpose. My goal is to provide as many Bento Openbox branded distributions as possible. Openbox can be compared to Fluxbox, when talking about lightness. The Bento Openbox recipe makes the system close to what an Lxde environment in terms of easyness to use, but does not have all its dependencies, hence lighter.

I like both antiX Linux and MX Linux distributions for their respective qualities. antiX, the forefather, sticks to user friendly and very light, while MX Linux is user friendly and more compatible for, let's say, applications and drivers having SystemD as a prerequisite (met with a blocker trying to install an Epson printer driver once, in an antiX system, the driver requested SystemD).

Bento Openbox is also very versatile, as it can also be turned into a full blown desktop by installing any meta package desktop. For example I installed Bento Openbox Remix (Ubuntu basis) to a very recent laptop I bought to work on such developments more confortably, and the laptop having HiDPI, I found myself unable to fix the 2 different screen resolutions (a 24" external screen plugged with HDMI). (I could have tried to fiddle something manually in the Openbox autostart file, but I didn't want to go through that method, especially as it would have to be redone each time I would change to no external screen or to another screen… ) So I added the whole Xfce4 desktop packages on top of it, and have now been using this setup for months without any issue.

My guess it could work with any other DE among ones that benefit from a openbox-kde-session, openbox-gnome-session, openbox-lxde-session package setup, for example.

Here some links to show the works done : https://linuxvillage.org/en/blog/2022/0 ... x-i486-en/ - you can also check the Downloads menu, where you'll find the link to the most recently updated ISO images (among which a Bento antiX i486 who does not have yet a full presentation), and you can visit the Github menu link, if you wish to have a look at the sources (this part is a work I have restarted only this year).

While working on preparing a respin to create a Bento MX x64 version, I noticed the entry menus "MX Tools" and "System Tools" have many times the same entries, and some of the also belong to one and should belong to the other.

I have to say, I have been using the XML file from the Lubuntu project for a long time, because it triages desktop files better than the original LXDE one. That's to say, applications logically belonging to "System" aren't in "Preferences" (System is the category where most applications need the admin password to be started).

But with the specific MX tools, it looks like a mess.

I add a screenshot of the compared MX Tools entry menu versus the System Tools entry menu.

Here after is the list of things I intend to change for them.

# Desktop files modified to belong to the right category and one only

## Changes in the MX Tools Entry menu
* Nividia driver installation GOES TO System Tools
* MX Tools - MX Outils GOES TO **nowhere** (hide it) **+fix language**

## Changes in the System Tools Entries menu

* MX Remaster Control center ALREADY IN MX Tools (remove *System* from *Categories* **+fix language**
* MX Date and Time ALREADY IN MX Tools (remove *System* from *Categories* **+fix language**
* MX USB Unmounter GOES TO MX Tools **ONLY** **+fix language**
* MX Repos Manager ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language**
* MX User Manager ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language**
* MX Package Installer ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language**
* MX Snapshot ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language**
* MX Mise à jour apt-notifier GOES TO MX Tools **ONLY** **+fix language**
* MX Boot Options ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language**
* MX Boot Repair ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language**
* Paquets Installés par l'utilisateur ALREADY IN MX Tools **+fix language** => Is there a "Name=" for English? Else, is it an MX tool?
* UEFI Manager ALREADY IN MX Tools **+check language**

**+fix language** : We don't want two languages in the Name=, we want one
line per language:

Name=Name
Name[fr]=French Name
Name[es]=Spanish Name
and so on…

Once done, I'll be glad to share the result and the files, if someone asks.

[putih]

Hello,

https://downloads.linuxvillage.org/

bento-antix-20250707_64bits.iso 2025-07-07 01:49 1.6G

open terminal,

Code: Select all

sudo netstat -aptu
sudo netstat -aptun

Why so many open port what is that ?

[melodie]

bento-antix-20250707_64bits.iso 2025-07-07 01:49 1.6G

Code: Select all

sudo netstat -aptu
sudo netstat -aptun

Why so many open port what is that ?

Hello putih,

I thought it was the MX forum here, not antiX related, and my post was related to menu entries, not network security. But while you're at it, why don't you provide the results, and a suggestion for a fix?

And do you get the same result with Bento MX? bento-mx-20250701_x86_64.iso

[j2mcgreg]

bento-antix-20250707_64bits.iso 2025-07-07 01:49 1.6G

Code: Select all

sudo netstat -aptu
sudo netstat -aptun

Why so many open port what is that ?

Hello putih,

I thought it was the MX forum here, not antiX related, and my post was related to menu entries, not network security. But while you're at it, why don't you provide the results, and a suggestion for a fix?

And do you get the same result with Bento MX? bento-mx-20250701_x86_64.iso

Lose the attitude. You opened the door by suggesting / inferring a great benefit to all from using your Bento respin with this statement:

spreading an Openbox branded environment user oriented

[melodie]

@putih I am still waiting for your answer, but meanwhile, about the ports opened : it might be related to bind9 installed, which is a DNS server. Remove bind9, reboot recheck, and please provide the outputs of your netstat commands.

Lose the attitude. You opened the door by suggesting / inferring a great benefit to all from using your Bento respin with this statement:

spreading an Openbox branded environment user oriented

So what, and what attitude are you talking about?

@j2mcgreg do you not have rules in the MX forums, such as not asking unrelated questions in a topic? => I carefully chose this section of the forum, to let the author of the respin I used as a basis about a handful of menu entries which where appearing in 2 different categories, and offering to provide desktop files I fixed in the respin I uploaded online. Where does you post leave me?

Same for @putih, I come talking about a respin built on MX, he comes asking about an antiX respin…

And what about "an openbox environment user oriented" is not understandable, and how is it "an attitude", or a door opened? (Yes, there is benefit, as can bring a fluxbox environment for instance, but different).

/never been welcome this way in any forum - free software community - during the last 20 years by any gui or gal. This is unpleasant.

[j2mcgreg]

@melodie
You have only made three posts here, all about your own project. You have hit back at a criticism while crowing about your extensive experience (for which we only have your word). You have not offered help to any of the other posters which is he point of these forums.That is arrogance and it is unwelcome here.

[melodie]

@j2mcgreg
I have posted only once, really, to offer to share a minor defect in a respin which I have been glad to use. And while expecting, eventually, a request to share the concerned files, I have received a criticism (with no technical information), on a distribution which is not concerned by my initial post.

So I am sorry if my offer seems arrogant, this is not the purpose. I just came in good faith to share, and as said, didn't expect agressive feebacks, especially off topic.

About my experience : you could have deduced by looking at the original links. (linuxvillage.org).

Again, I found you not very welcoming, and treating me « arrogant » when I am just sharing the work done, and taking the time for it, is not very nice.

(I'm out, I don't want to disturb this community anymore).

[Eadwine Rose]

Topic locked since OP is no longer participating.