MX Linux Forum

Given the good update and feedback from andyprough (thanks!) below, I'm taking up this project on a spare PC. Specific issues and hurdles will be posted and kind members may please chime in...

Current Progress:

• Selected MX-19.2_base_x64.iso
• Set up VM and do full update.
• XFCE removal wiki entry worked.
• LXDE works on installation. [used mxpi listed packagelist for lxde, also installed a few extra lxde packages]
• Working on theming.
• Trying to use LXQT as an option (more recent development).

ORIGINAL POST:

I was looking for xfce, fluxbox removed recent lxde mx release... looks like the old one listed in this forum is dead.

So, I just take the MX_base iso and run the old wiki xfce removal script and install lxde?
Is it that simple? Comments and suggestions welcome.

agnivo007 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:23 am I was looking for xfce, fluxbox removed recent lxde mx release... looks like the old one listed in this forum is dead.

So, I just take the MX_base iso and run the old wiki xfce removal script and install lxde?
Is it that simple? Comments and suggestions welcome.

If you point me to the "old wiki xfce removal script", I'll spin up an MX vm and try it for you. I'm wanting to try installing dwm and getting rid of xfce just for kicks, see if it will run properly.

agnivo007 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 18, 2020 1:27 pm https://mxlinux.org/wiki/xfce/how-to-co ... move-xfce/

OK, going in... I'm hopeful, as I see that the desktop-defaults-mx-common I need to reinstall at the end is now available. Some in the comments section said it was missing.

It worked! I used the exact commands on that page, and then installed LXDE. Here's a screenshot from inside LXDE.

First post updated. Does screenlock (icon at bottom right taskbar) work or throw error?

Starting myself with MX_base_x64 ISO now.

andyprough , that looks nice. Once I did that, too with openbox ...
At least lighter than Xfce 4.14 +
Maybe you have a look at free -mw at idle .. (or others, htop, inxi -xtm20 , lx taskmanager etc)

Next step is theming : consistent MX looks, fonts, icons, themes, window manager themes...
Check the screenshot, will post updates later.

agnivo007 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:46 pm Next step is theming : consistent MX looks, fonts, icons, themes, window manager themes...
Check the screenshot, will post updates later.

Wow, look what you did! You're going to need to release a respin at this rate.

So nice ! Congratulations .

(Meanwhile, mem shows 13% , out of ? )

@andyprough I run naked MX19.3 with dwm. I am happy to provide you with the setup. Why not start a thread and I'll contribute & help you get things running? 'tis a beautiful thing...

manyroads wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 6:44 pm@andyprough I run naked MX19.3 with dwm. I am happy to provide you with the setup. Why not start a thread and I'll contribute & help you get things running? 'tis a beautiful thing...

Oh really? Do you build up from a minimal system without xorg? Or do you start with MX and work your way down? I've built up from minimal installs of antiX and Artix several times starting without xorg, but I've had unsatisfactory results. My best DWM experience has been while starting with full MX or antiX or AntiX and working my way down. I really think that antiX is the ultimate base for an ideal DWM setup. It's so light and fast out of the box.

hello agnivo007
I have always appreciated the lxde look and the trusty lx panel. lxde can look good too. These days i see it as the raspberrypi look associated. Do you have exit dialogue? staying with thunar?
manyroads opened the suggestion door,
Next take your MX-KDE-19 and add lxqt to that? how do you like running that lxqt?
no i have not tried it; You go first.

Huckleberry Finn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 5:34 pm So nice ! Congratulations .

(Meanwhile, mem shows 13% , out of ? )

It's a 2GB VM with 64MB graphics memory.

My manjaro xfce install has long had lxde as a backup de. It's not difficult to theme, just choose a theme with full gtk2 and gtk3 elements. The matcha series of themes that come with mx should work.

i_ri wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 8:24 pm hello agnivo007
I have always appreciated the lxde look and the trusty lx panel. lxde can look good too. These days i see it as the raspberrypi look associated. Do you have exit dialogue? staying with thunar?
manyroads opened the suggestion door,
Next take your MX-KDE-19 and add lxqt to that? how do you like running that lxqt?
no i have not tried it; You go first.

In fact I'm more inclined towards LXQT as it has recent dev. works in progress, however, I find it has a "lacks something somewhere" feel to it. This LXDE is just a test project till now and should be easy with LXQT too (I have plans for it) as I remember having done it sometime ago out of boredom. (base respin didn't exist then)

People would be surprised to know that I haven't yet used the remaster, snapshot etc features yet, so fear a lot for a "release" as I have a lot of loose ends unplugged.

I'm concerned as xfce is not there, would a installer image iso boot to GUI?

asqwerth wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 11:53 pm My manjaro xfce install has long had lxde as a backup de. It's not difficult to theme, just choose a theme with full gtk2 and gtk3 elements. The matcha series of themes that come with mx should work.

Yea, it's not rocket-science stuff, anyone can do... However, I'm more pressed as to how to make all functionalities and keybindings work and possibly use another windowmanager instead of openbox now.

Also on cards, LXQT+LightDM+XFWM4 on MX base (no flux/xfce)!

Just install lxde on your system, configure the key bindings, appearance and other stuff you want that doesn't come by default, work out where those config files are stored in your home folder, copy them over to /etc/skel, and then run mx snapshot and make a general snapsnot.

I think that should more or less be it.

Dolphin's YouTube channel has a tutorial on customizing your snapshot for general use (ie it's not for your own use).

manyroads wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 6:44 pm @andyprough I run naked MX19.3 with dwm. I am happy to provide you with the setup. Why not start a thread and I'll contribute & help you get things running? 'tis a beautiful thing...

I'd be interested in trying this too (long time fan of DWMX and Mr Neilypops), so an 'instruction manual' would be most welcome sir :)

@Ghost67 I will create a thread here and provide links to detailed guidance & downloadable files when I make the material available.

Ghost67 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:08 amI'd be interested in trying this too (long time fan of DWMX and Mr Neilypops), so an 'instruction manual' would be most welcome sir :)

It's interesting, I saw Mr Neilypops had DWMX running at 149MB ram on his Debian Buster base, but I got down to ~130MB ram by simply running vanilla DWM on top of an antiX Buster base. I think anticapitalista has antiX Buster running significantly more efficiently than Debian Buster.

Perhaps... we should start a dwm thread???

manyroads wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:30 am Perhaps... we should start a dwm thread???

All threads are DWM threads
But yes, I'll start one in MX Modified. Maybe we can release an MX-DWM spin if we all combine our best ideas?

andyprough wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:23 amantiX Buster running significantly more efficiently than Debian Buster.

Yes, but also SysVinit is lighter on ram than systemd .

DWM thread is up -- viewtopic.php?f=100&t=61580

Move DWM related discussion that way

Ugh, well!

Started on Base LXQT+openbox test VM, seems to use 300MB ram...

BTW, a side question, does the preserve /home on the installer work on seperate /home partition as well as shared root partition?

Preserve /home works whether it's in its own partition or part of root

agnivo007 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:18 am BTW, a side question, does the preserve /home on the installer work on seperate /home partition as well as shared root partition?

Yes, I think there is no difference.

Btw, in one of earlier posts, you wrote you didn't try snapshot yet.
Give it a try, there are only few mouse clicks, super simple. Best tool in Linux world!
Once you have your system set up the way you like, with MX snapshot you will create install-able iso of your complete system. Then you use this iso to install it on any other computer or for using on live USB stick, or to use it as restore image in case you mess up your system...

Thank you both!

All removed, just base + LXQT setup in 30 mins flat: