Page 1 of 1
MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:12 am
by Jerry3904
This thread started as a feedback location for MX-Fluxbox 1.0. Now that later releases are available, I have moved it to Tips & Tricks and will be editing it.
------------------
Installation involves two steps. The base installation is enabled through the MXPackage Installer > Popular Applications tab, Window Managers entry. Once that installation finishes, the user clicks an entry in the Menu “MX-flux” to initiate the second step: moving a few small files and folders to the user’s Home directory once permission has been given. The user then logs out, selects fluxbox from the session menu in the upper right corner of the login screen, and logs back in.
desktop_default_medium.png
Fluxbox is small, fast and a pleasure to behold. When the user logs in, the desktop is up in the blink of an eye. The default is nearly bare: a stunning wallpaper by antechdesigns, a toolbar on top, and a link to the detailed FAQs (F1) in the upper left corner (to remove Menu > Out of sight). There is no menu visible, but a right-click anywhere on the desktop will bring it up. Conkies and system monitors can be added as well as killed from the menu, and style and background can be quickly changed. Dedicated function keys provide quick access to critical needs such as MX Tools, Thunar and an "All apps" menu—all described in the FAQs.
Another nice feature that the user can do with the menu whatever he or she wants, since it is just a flat file (
menu-mx) with very simple syntax. Add, remove, change, rearrange—all at your command. You can even do fun stuff such as have a single click to your local weather, Wikipedia or your favorite get-me-up-in-the-morning music or video.
But by far the best way to find out what it is and how it works is to log in and start poking around—and enjoy yourself!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:13 am
by Jerry3904
Nice mention and explanation of significance in today's DistroWatch News:
MX Linux has turned into a very polished distribution over the last few years, mainly due to its user-friendliness and effective integration of the desktop with its configuration tools. But it has never meant to be used as a lightweight desktop - until now. Thanks to a freshly developed and fully integrated Fluxbox overlay for MX Linux, the distribution can be installed and used even on less powerful computers...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:28 pm
by manyroads
Now all we need is to entice you to explore hlwm (Herbstluftwm) & bspwm ~ a couple of wonderful tilers. @stevo has made almost all their essential software available. pywal is the only manual install required (by me because I like the 'glitz' it provides in dynamically changing desktop colors to match wallpaper changes, as they come & go.)
Keep up the nice 'ricing' work.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:43 pm
by figueroa
Is Fluxbox safe? It doesn't look like there has been any news or development for four or more years.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:46 pm
by oops
manyroads wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:28 pm
Now all we need is to entice you to explore hlwm (Herbstluftwm) & bspwm ~ a couple of wonderful tilers. @stevo has made almost all their essential software available. ...
... Only bspwm, because Herbstluftwm is already for antiX ;-)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:57 pm
by manyroads
figueroa wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:43 pm
Is Fluxbox safe? It doesn't look like there has been any news or development for four or more years.
I am not certain that I would equate development with being safe.
Windows is actively developed... as for its safety; that's certainly worthy of discussion. Like Openbox, fluxbox is 'functionally stabilized'.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 2:00 pm
by manyroads
oops wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:46 pm
manyroads wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:28 pm
Now all we need is to entice you to explore hlwm (Herbstluftwm) & bspwm ~ a couple of wonderful tilers. @stevo has made almost all their essential software available. ...
... Only bspwm, because Herbstluftwm is already for antiX ;-)
I have hlwm looking vastly different on MX from the native antiX version.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 2:24 pm
by oops
manyroads wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 2:00 pm
...
I have hlwm looking vastly different on MX from the native antiX version.
Me too, but for icewm.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:09 pm
by Yeri
If I may ask (and this is from inexperience).
...so FluxBox takes the place of other Desktop Environments, like XCFE, KDE and Gnome? (XCFE I believe is the default overlay for MX)
Or is this a replacement for Thunar File Manager?
Jerry mentioned quick startup but right now I log into MX and the desktop is literally "there", no waiting.
Do we lose the whisper menu?
Just trying to find out if there will be benefits other than lightweight.
Thanks
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:23 pm
by Jerry3904
1) Fluxbox is a window manager, and replaces the window management part of Xfce or whatever you currently use. It is not provide a complete desktop environment, and Xfce (or whatever) will continue to carry out those functions
2) It has nothing to do with the file manager at all
3) Great that your system is so fast
4) Whisker menu itself is not there, but a variant is available (F6) that has the same categories and applications.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:27 pm
by manyroads
Yeri wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:09 pm
If I may ask (and this is from inexperience).
...so FluxBox takes the place of other Desktop Environments, like XCFE, KDE and Gnome? (XCFE I believe is the default overlay for MX)
Or is this a replacement for Thunar File Manager?
Jerry mentioned quick startup but right now I log into MX and the desktop is literally "there", no waiting.
Do we lose the whisper menu?
Just trying to find out if there will be benefits other than lightweight.
Thanks
Yes @yeri you would loose WhiskerMenu if you used Flux (I'm not sure which Menu he uses)... As for boot speed that may or may not be visible (depends on how powerful your platform is). File Managers like Thunar, nemo, Nautilus, Dolphin are not Desktop managers such as XFCE, KDE, i3wm, bspwm, gnome..... . There is a ton to learn. Have fun, we'll do our best to keep you confused! :lipsrsealed:
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:35 pm
by Jerry3904
(I'm not sure which Menu he uses)
He=me? Fluxbox has what it calls a "root menu" that users can completely design as they wish. I have set up one based on commonly used apps, since everything is available through the F6 menu and there's no use repeating everything.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:37 pm
by Yeri
@ Jerry @ manyroads
Thanks for the explaining. I was all ready to install because quite frankly it sounds amazing, but not sure I'll benefit -and yes might confuse me!
As for fast, my system is only 8GB Ram, but as Jerry suggested (and I didn't realize at the time) when I made a post regarding installing packages, the SSD makes a huge difference in loading times. Luckily is what I have on this system.
p.s. I did go to fluxbox.org and checked out the screenshots. of 20 screenshots I only recognized 1, Conky. If you don't understand it don't install it they say, wise words.
Again, thanks for the more detailed info.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:38 pm
by Buck Fankers
Yeri wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:09 pm
If I may ask (and this is from inexperience).
...so FluxBox takes the place of other Desktop Environments, like XCFE, KDE and Gnome? (XCFE I believe is the default overlay for MX)
Someone will explain more properly, I'm very new at this and only using Xfce. Anyway as much as I understand there are two main groups:
DE's (Desktop Environments) - XFCE, KDE, Gnome, Mate... (you have icons on the desktop)
WE's (Windows Environments) - I3, Fluxbox, hlwm, bspwm, icewm, awesome... any many more. Typically (not sure for all), you will not have icons on the desktop. The work flow with these is much faster once you get used to them. Most of them have menu by clicking (anywhere) with the right mouse click (or some hot key)
Try live antiX to see 3 different WM's
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:44 pm
by Jerry3904
If you don't understand it don't install it they say, wise words.
Mine is a bit different: if you don't understand it, install it and figure it out. As Adrian said to me a very long time ago: we weren't born knowing this stuff.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:45 pm
by Yeri
Buck Fankers wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:38 pm
Typically (not sure for all), you will not have icons on the desktop. The work flow whit these is much faster once you get used to them.
Thanks Buck.
When you say "workflow" makes sense as well. I am mostly on Firefox, mail and a few apps, not a power user, rarely switching between applications or using different tools.
(I tend to leave then open so the side menu has the icons.)
I'll have to check over at antix for the themes.
Thanks
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:46 pm
by manyroads
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:35 pm
(I'm not sure which Menu he uses)
He=me? Fluxbox has what it calls a "root menu" that users can completely design as they wish. I have set up one based on commonly used apps, since everything is available through the F6 menu and there's no use repeating everything.
Yes sorry, I meant you Jerry (our resident Fluxbox guru!)
I did not know if you used the Fluxbox panel/ menu functions or went with some other combination of items like jgmenu, rofi, polybar, tint2 or the dozens of other options.
@Buck Fankers... actually the classes of Desktops are known as Desktop Environments (KDE, xfce, gnome, cinnamon, budgie...) The second group is known as Windows Managers and they come in two main flavors:
-- Tiling/ Tilers like bspwm, hlwm,i3wm,sway...
-- Stacking WMs like FluxBox, icewm, jwm....
For more see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_manager
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:46 pm
by Buck Fankers
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:44 pm
If you don't understand it don't install it they say, wise words.
Mine is a bit different: if you don't understand it, install it and figure it out. As Adrian said to me a very long time ago: we weren't born knowing this stuff.
If I do this, I own it, all broken pieces!
(couldn't resist)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:48 pm
by Yeri
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:44 pm
Mine is a bit different: if you don't understand it, install it and figure it out.
Good point. I just have had a few bad experiences installing something and it affected something else and this feature then didn't work and ...... well you see what I'm saying.
I then default to a full re-install - (close to 'did you try turning off and on' as you can get!)
Thanks
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:53 pm
by manyroads
Yeri wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:48 pm
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:44 pm
Mine is a bit different: if you don't understand it, install it and figure it out.
Good point. I just have had a few bad experiences installing something and it affected something else and this feature then didn't work and ...... well you see what I'm saying.
I then default to a full re-install - (close to 'did you try turning off and on' as you can get!)
Thanks
@yeri if you want to live vicariously... you might enjoy reading about my 'adventures' with various items discussed in this thread. There's no charge and the material is worth almost every penny of what you'll pay for access (nothing).
https://eirenicon.org/knowledge-base/
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:17 pm
by figueroa
What is the perceived advantage from installing Fluxbox? What is gained? Is RAM saved? How much? What functionality is lost? Does Fluxbox do anything better than XFWM4/XFCE4?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:49 pm
by Jerry3904
People are doing testing now. Chrispop99 will be going through, and Adrian already reported the following after a quick check:
I tried it and it seems to be 200MB lighter than Xfce
In addition to speed and resources, which I don't happen to need all that much, for me the minimalistic aesthetic is very important. Since all of Xfce4 is still present and functioning, I don't foresee many complaints about loss of functionality.
If people don't like it or it doesn't serve their needs or wants--they should just leave it alone, end of story. No one is being forced to do anything.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:01 pm
by manyroads
figueroa wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:17 pm
What is the perceived advantage from installing Fluxbox? What is gained? Is RAM saved? How much? What functionality is lost? Does Fluxbox do anything better than XFWM4/XFCE4?
My guess is that someone will have fun using Fluxbox... and I think that is what it's all about.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:06 pm
by Jerry3904
+1
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:22 pm
by fehlix
Nice and functional. The Faq is great, the menu is extrem easy to adjust. As I like dark-ish themes, I installed lxappearance and switched gtk themes and icons sets.
lxappearance.png
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:28 pm
by JayM
Oh, boy! I'm going to have to try this on my 32-bit Atom netbook and see if I can have MX on it that runs as fast as antiX does. I just tested it on MX-19 in Virtualbox and it's pretty sweet. A couple of niggles or glitches though (that are probably due to pilot error so I won't say anything about them yet.)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:28 pm
by Jerry3904
That looks nice! Glad you like the FAQ, it took a lot of time...
I need to take a look at lxappearance some time.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:32 pm
by Jerry3904
A couple of niggles or glitches though (that are probably due to pilot error so I won't say anything about them yet.
Bring it! I'm hoping we can do another version before the end of time that is more of a group effort.
BTW: my repo is here:
https://github.com/jerry3904/mx-fluxbox, and DO has now forked it up to the main MX Linux repo (linked up top).
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:33 pm
by manyroads
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:28 pm
[...]
I need to take a look at lxappearance some time.
I think it is safe to say that you'll enjoy it.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:41 pm
by Gordon Cooper
Have spent an hour or so experimenting with it, had some of JayM's pilot error but overall I like it. Returned to XFCE to get some work done today. Fluxbox again later.
Thanks Jerry.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 9:09 pm
by JayM
One niggle was that the announcement in the blog says
Once that installation finishes, the user clicks an entry in the 'MX-flux' menu to initiate the second step - moving a few small files and folders to the user's Home directory once permission has been given.
but there is no MX-flux menu. Instead there's an MX-flux menu
item under System within the Whisker menu. That took me a moment to figure out and could be confusing to newbies. If instructions aren't perfectly clear forum posts will be generated.
(Edit: yes, I could have just typed flux into the search field in Whisker but I wanted to see where it was, so I explored the various categories until I found it.)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:35 pm
by figueroa
manyroads wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:01 pm
figueroa wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:17 pm
What is the perceived advantage from installing Fluxbox? What is gained? Is RAM saved? How much? What functionality is lost? Does Fluxbox do anything better than XFWM4/XFCE4?
My guess is that someone will have fun using Fluxbox... and I think that is what it's all about.
Based on the replies, fun seems to be the main answer. I'm not much into different desktops and distributions for fun anymore. MX Linux out-of-the-box is my fun. But, if I were to become weary of Gentoo someday, I think MX (or antiX) could become my main thing. In the meantime, I'll concentrate on deploying MX for other users as I convert them.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:44 pm
by figueroa
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:32 pm
Bring it! I'm hoping we can do another version before the end of time that is more of a group effort.
If you do another, I'd suggest LXDE (not LXQt). I'm some eight years into using LXDE over OpenBox on my main desktop (though I use XFCE on everything else), and I'm very happy with the snail pace development, stability, and ease of use. Then whatever investment has been made in using lxappearance will be well invested.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:01 am
by Jerry3904
Have to be somebody else, sorry.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:44 am
by chrispop99
Some of the apparent 'pilot errors' might be menu problems. In addition to the Browser item pointing to Opera, which may not be installed, Music points to DeadBeef, and YouTube points to SMTube, neither of which are installed by default.
Those things are dead easy to correct, either by installing the missing programs, or following the FAQ to edit the menu to point to an installed program of your choice.
I found the File item, and the F3 keybinding, pointed to /home/$USER/.fluxbox, which meant Thunar opened in the hidden configuration folder. This may or may not have been by intent; it's easy to change by editing both the menu-mx and the keys files, and removing the .fluxbox part. I have also set F7 to open a browser by adding it to the keys file.
Only real bug I have found relates to the FAQ icon. I think it should be possible to drag it to a new location, but when I have tried that, it disappears without trace!
Things I am going to try when time permits (Christmas is apparently inescapable in the UK!) are creating a means of shutting down without logging out first, setting the Super key to open the Application Finder, and creating a 'live with persistence' USB on an old Pentium M 32-bit laptop. That might take a while...
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:53 am
by genericmeatsack
What makes the Fluxbox experience different from Openbox? On my older machines years ago, I was a HUGE fan of #! Crunchbang, and was sad when it was abandoned. This may be the go-to environment for my EeePc, and I plan on giving it a spin over the holidays.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:59 am
by jeffreyC
Wouldn't it be better to have the F4 key open the terminal in MX Fluxbox as it does in MX Xfce?
Having the same keys do the same things would make the experience more cohesive, I think.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:16 am
by JayM
chrispop99 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:44 am
Some of the apparent 'pilot errors' might be menu problems. In addition to the Browser item pointing to Opera, which may not be installed, Music points to DeadBeef, and YouTube points to SMTube, neither of which are installed by default.
Those things are dead easy to correct, either by installing the missing programs, or following the FAQ to edit the menu to point to an installed program of your choice.
I found the File item, and the F3 keybinding, pointed to /home/$USER/.fluxbox, which meant Thunar opened in the hidden configuration folder. This may or may not have been by intent; it's easy to change by editing both the menu-mx and the keys files, and removing the .fluxbox part. I have also set F7 to open a browser by adding it to the keys file.
Only real bug I have found relates to the FAQ icon. I think it should be possible to drag it to a new location, but when I have tried that, it disappears without trace!
Things I am going to try when time permits (Christmas is apparently inescapable in the UK!) are creating a means of shutting down without logging out first, setting the Super key to open the Application Finder, and creating a 'live with persistence' USB on an old Pentium M 32-bit laptop. That might take a while...
Chris
Add
Code: Select all
[exec] (Reboot) {sudo /sbin/reboot}
[exec] (Shutdown) {sudo /sbin/halt}
to menu-mx just above
https://www.linux.com/tutorials/fluxbox-menu-setup/
(That's what I meant about "pilot error." I only fooled with fluxbox for a few minutes this morning and was trying to figure out how to add these to the menu on my own without reading the manual or doing a web search. I didn't know what I was doing. I still don't but at least I have a few resources at my disposal now that I've had a chance to play with it longer.)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:24 am
by chrispop99
jeffreyC wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:59 am
Wouldn't it be better to have the F4 key open the terminal in MX Fluxbox as it does in MX Xfce?
Having the same keys do the same things would make the experience more cohesive, I think.
It does!
It actually opens the drop-down terminal in both of them, although I personally change that to a 'real' terminal.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:28 am
by chrispop99
JayM wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:16 am
chrispop99 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:44 am
Some of the apparent 'pilot errors' might be menu problems. In addition to the Browser item pointing to Opera, which may not be installed, Music points to DeadBeef, and YouTube points to SMTube, neither of which are installed by default.
Those things are dead easy to correct, either by installing the missing programs, or following the FAQ to edit the menu to point to an installed program of your choice.
I found the File item, and the F3 keybinding, pointed to /home/$USER/.fluxbox, which meant Thunar opened in the hidden configuration folder. This may or may not have been by intent; it's easy to change by editing both the menu-mx and the keys files, and removing the .fluxbox part. I have also set F7 to open a browser by adding it to the keys file.
Only real bug I have found relates to the FAQ icon. I think it should be possible to drag it to a new location, but when I have tried that, it disappears without trace!
Things I am going to try when time permits (Christmas is apparently inescapable in the UK!) are creating a means of shutting down without logging out first, setting the Super key to open the Application Finder, and creating a 'live with persistence' USB on an old Pentium M 32-bit laptop. That might take a while...
Chris
Add
Code: Select all
[exec] (Reboot) {sudo /sbin/reboot}
[exec] (Shutdown) {sudo /sbin/halt}
to menu-mx just above
https://www.linux.com/tutorials/fluxbox-menu-setup/
(That's what I meant about "pilot error." I only fooled with fluxbox for a few minutes this morning and was trying to figure out how to add these to the menu on my own without reading the manual or doing a web search. I didn't know what I was doing. I still don't but at least I have a few resources at my disposal now that I've had a chance to play with it longer.)
Thanks Jay; I would have tried something like that first. I have spent a bit of time with an Openbox distro, and a lot of it is the same. In fact both Openbox and Fluxbox are derived from Blackbox.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:23 am
by JayM
The one thing about fluxbox that's bothering me, and the next thing I plan to try to figure out how to "fix", is that once you've right-clicked to open the menu it stays there until you either select something or press the escape key. I want it such that if you left-click anywhere in the empty desktop it closes the menu. If that's possible it will be my next feat of legerdemain.
(Fluxbox is fun to play with! Thanks to whoever made the MX overlay for it! It's a new toy just in time for *insert holiday here*)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:24 am
by Jerry3904
@Chris: I seem to have pasted back in the old menu at some point.
Thunar opens up to ~/.fluxbox (as it says in the FAQ) because everything having to do with fluxbox is located there.
@JayM: I left those two commands out because they are both available from the login screen, and I was trying to keep the menu uncluttered. There are other ways to handle just about everything...
As OP states: "There is no menu visible, but a right-click anywhere on the desktop will bring it up."
Right about the menu sticking: I just hit Esc
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:56 am
by chrispop99
JayM wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:23 am
The one thing about fluxbox that's bothering me, and the next thing I plan to try to figure out how to "fix", is that once you've right-clicked to open the menu it stays there until you either select something or press the escape key. I want it such that if you left-click anywhere in the empty desktop it closes the menu. If that's possible it will be my next feat of legerdemain.
You close the menu by right-clicking on its header.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:06 am
by Jerry3904
chrispop99 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:56 am
You close the menu by right-clicking on its header.
Chris
I didn't know that...not intuitive, huh?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:13 am
by Jerry3904
Based on the replies, fun seems to be the main answer.
Perhaps for you that would be all there was. Other users will profit from the great reduction in load, and still others are attracted to the overall minimalistic aesthetic.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:20 am
by JayM
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:06 am
chrispop99 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:56 am
You close the menu by right-clicking on its header.
Chris
I didn't know that...not intuitive, huh?
I didn't know that either. Thanks, Chris. More pilot error/training needed.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:01 am
by manyroads
genericmeatsack wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:53 am
What makes the Fluxbox experience different from Openbox? On my older machines years ago, I was a HUGE fan of #! Crunchbang, and was sad when it was abandoned. This may be the go-to environment for my EeePc, and I plan on giving it a spin over the holidays.
Fluxbox uses a completely different paradigm/approach from Openbox. Even Openbox implementations are quite different, one from the other. I personally like BunsenLabs (very #! like) the best.
No reflection on Jerry's outstanding effort here, but I am not a fan of Fluxbox. If I am going to use a Stacking window manager style, I prefer using xfce over anything else (I know xfce is a Desktop Environment); but, xfce uses only a small amount of memory beyond most functional (by my standards) Stacking Window Managers like (jwm, iceWM, Openbox, Fluxbox).
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:33 am
by Wasp
I've been using Fluxbox for years, and curiously I installed MX to try it. Congratulations, very interesting to use it in combination with the XFCE tools and the MX Tools.
Thanks Jerry
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:43 am
by chrispop99
manyroads wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:01 am
Fluxbox uses a completely different paradigm/approach from Openbox. Even Openbox implementations are quite different, one from the other. I personally like BunsenLabs (very #! like) the best.
I've used Bunsen Labs, and CrunchBang++. I don't see that much difference between Openbox and Fluxbox, purely from using and configuring it.
One thing that I find is better in Fluxbox is the included panel. I find it much easier to configure than Tint2.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:53 am
by Jerry3904
Wasp wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:33 am
I've been using Fluxbox for years, and curiously I installed MX to try it. Congratulations, very interesting to use it in combination with the XFCE tools and the MX Tools.
Thanks Jerry
Thank you, and welcome to the Forum!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:11 am
by Jerry3904
OK, I'm going to do a quick point release to fix the menu. If you had 2 other changes you would suggest, what would they be?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:40 am
by chrispop99
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:11 am
OK, I'm going to do a quick point release to fix the menu. If you had 2 other changes you would suggest, what would they be?
Do you mean WRT the menu only? If so, shutdown and reboot would be key for me.
Is it possible to at least have a quick look at what happens when you drag and drop the FAQ icon? Or a I the only person seeing (or rather
not seeing) that issue?
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:49 am
by Jerry3904
It doesn't drag and drop, since Fluxbox has no ability to have icons on top of its windows. It's sitting in something called iDesk, and its coordinates are set in the file fluxhelp.lnk in ~/.idesk. There is an iDesk FAQ in the doc/ folder (it's not great).
--You can change the coordinates to move it somewhere else
--You can get rid of it (FAQ): Menu > Out of sight > FAQ icon
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 11:50 am
by chrispop99
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:49 am
It doesn't drag and drop, since Fluxbox has no ability to have icons on top of its windows. It's sitting in something called iDesk, and its coordinates are set in the file fluxhelp.lnk in ~/.idesk. There is an iDesk FAQ in the doc/ folder (it's not great).
--You can change the coordinates to move it somewhere else
--You can get rid of it (FAQ): Menu > Out of sight > FAQ icon
Thanks; I did understand that. I didn't want to move it (and knew I could by modifying iDesk), but when I tried it to see what might happen, the icon vanished.
Have you tried dragging it, and if so what happened?
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:25 pm
by Wasp
I would recommend to add thunar --daemon to the fluxbox startup, for a faster start up of the same and for the automonting of usb devices ...
To add shutdown options just add to the menu:
[exec] (Sospendi) {sudo 'pm-suspend'}
[exec] (Riavvia) {sudo 'reboot'}
[exec] (Spengi) {sudo 'poweroff'}
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:30 pm
by Jerry3904
@Chris: it disappears
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:33 pm
by Jerry3904
@Wasp: suspend is already there and works fine without sudo, the other two are on the table for inclusion. May have a submenu Exit or something like that
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:45 pm
by Jerry3904
@Chris: here is the super duper technical discussion of drag
http://idesk.sourceforge.net/html/usage.html
I see that icon only existing on the desktop until the user realizes that F1 will get it. It's just to get the user started.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:17 pm
by nathan2423
Sorry if I missed this upthread but I justed fully updated and I don't see Fluxbox in my 18.3 MXPI panel under window managers. Is this 19 only?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:47 pm
by Jerry3904
No but mxpi may not have been updated. Just run sudo apt install mx-fluxbox
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:53 pm
by dolphin_oracle
I'll try to update the mx17/18 version tonight. I think I still have some stuff from fehlix to add too.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:35 pm
by Jerry3904
OK, everybody, I'm uploading version 1.1 now. Contains the correct menu items this time, and I added the shutdown etc. that you asked for in a submenu under "Leave." Still no translations though, sorry to say.
If you have things the way you want them, don't run the install off the menu. If you forget and do it, or if you change your mind, not to worry: your current folder will be saved as fluxbox_BAK and you can just restore it.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 3:41 am
by chrispop99
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:35 pm
OK, everybody, I'm uploading version 1.1 now. Contains the correct menu items this time, and I added the shutdown etc. that you asked for in a submenu under "Leave." Still no translations though, sorry to say.
If you have things the way you want them, don't run the install off the menu. If you forget and do it, or if you change your mind, not to worry: your current folder will be saved as
fluxbox_BAK and you can just restore it.
Works fine here.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 3:55 am
by i_ri
hello Jerry3904
19.12.17 is version of mx-fluxbox that machine loaded; is that 1 or 1.1?. The >Leave >Shutdown button works if that is an indicator of version.
Marvelous, Jerry3904, compliments and congratulations on this fluxbox onto MX. Machine here fresh install MX19_64 for applying mx-fluxbox to poke and enjoy.
Thank you for sharing this version of MX.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 6:06 am
by Buck Fankers
manyroads wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:46 pm
@Buck Fankers... actually the classes of Desktops are known as Desktop Environments (KDE, xfce, gnome, cinnamon, budgie...) The second group is known as Windows Managers and they come in two main flavors:
Yes, was writing too fast and messed up. Thanks!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 6:28 am
by Jerry3904
i_ri wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 3:55 am
hello Jerry3904
19.12.17 is version of mx-fluxbox that machine loaded; is that 1 or 1.1?. The >Leave >Shutdown button works if that is an indicator of version.
Marvelous, Jerry3904, compliments and congratulations on this fluxbox onto MX. Machine here fresh install MX19_64 for applying mx-fluxbox to poke and enjoy.
Thank you for sharing this version of MX.
You can answer this question yourself (true for any package):
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 6:31 am
by Jerry3904
chrispop99 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 3:41 am
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:35 pm
OK, everybody, I'm uploading version 1.1 now. Contains the correct menu items this time, and I added the shutdown etc. that you asked for in a submenu under "Leave." Still no translations though, sorry to say.
If you have things the way you want them, don't run the install off the menu. If you forget and do it, or if you change your mind, not to worry: your current folder will be saved as
fluxbox_BAK and you can just restore it.
Works fine here.
Chris
Thanks, Chris. BTW: could you cross-post your image where fluxbox looks like Windows 95? It raises a couple of interesting questions IMO.
AND: translations have now started in Transifex, so anybody who can help please jump in!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:15 am
by tascoast
I likewise could not locate Flushbox in MX Package Installer using MX-17 Upgraded to MX-18, my everyday system.
sudo apt install mx-fluxbox
appears to work fine however.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:37 am
by Jerry3904
It appears that MX Package Installer has not been updated for MX-17 and -18.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:31 am
by dolphin_oracle
It's on the list just haven't got to it yet
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:33 am
by Jerry3904
Not a problem, there's no need for this to be high on anybody's list except my own
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:38 am
by meurglys
I upgraded to 19.12.17 but don't have the Leave submenu with Shutdown.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:45 am
by chrispop99
Jerry3904 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 6:31 am
Thanks, Chris. BTW: could you cross-post your image where fluxbox looks like Windows 95? It raises a couple of interesting questions IMO.
This one?
Screenshot-1.jpg
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:18 pm
by kmathern
meurglys wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:38 am
I upgraded to 19.12.17 but don't have the Leave submenu with Shutdown.
I had to rerun the mxflux_install.sh script to get the Leave submenu.
mx-fluxbox-leave-submenu-1.png
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:25 pm
by Jerry3904
That makes sense, thanks.
BTW, since you're on the phone, could you please check the startup file for how I dealt with Updater? Wasn't sure what to do exactly.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:26 pm
by meurglys
Tried that...no dice!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:32 pm
by Jerry3904
Tried what? Are you familiar with how MX Updater works?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:40 pm
by meurglys
I upgraded through apt-get dist-upgrade to get the latest version of mx-fluxbox, then I tried to re-install it from the mx package manager
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:53 pm
by kmathern
Jerry3904 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:25 pm
That makes sense, thanks.
BTW, since you're on the phone, could you please check the startup file for how I dealt with Updater? Wasn't sure what to do exactly.
I would have called the apt-notifier-unhide-Icon script to autostart the Updater. But I'm seeing the Updater icon superimposed over the time (
I moved the clock over to the far right with the systray immediately to the left of it), I don't see that with the way you're starting it. I also installed the fbautostart package which might be having an effect too.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:56 pm
by Jerry3904
meurglys wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:40 pm
I upgraded through apt-get dist-upgrade to get the latest version of mx-fluxbox, then I tried to re-install it from the mx package manager
So you know there is a two-step process, right? See OP if not.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:56 pm
by meurglys
Seems to be working for me. When I re-installed mx-fluxbox from the mx package manager and then redid the second step to initiate the home directory shutdown appears.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:57 pm
by Jerry3904
@Kent: Thanks--so I'm OK for now with that approach?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:00 pm
by GuiGuy
When can we expect a stable mx fluxbox in the repos?
This long thread, which keeps wandering off-topic, has me totally confused.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:09 pm
by Jerry3904
The version just released yesterday 12.17.19 is as stable as it's going to get--except for translations. Do an update+distro-upgrade then check if you have it using either MX Package Installer or the terminal:
Code: Select all
apt policy mx-fluxbox
mx-fluxbox:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 19.12.17mx19
Version table:
19.12.17mx19 500
500 http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo buster/main amd64 Packages
500 http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo buster/main i386 Packages
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:11 pm
by chrispop99
GuiGuy wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:00 pm
When can we expect a stable mx fluxbox in the repos?
This long thread, which keeps wandering off-topic, has me totally confused.
It's in the repos now, but not yet showing in the Package Installer except for MX-19.
If you want to install it in versions other than MX-19, use Synaptic for the time being.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:24 pm
by GuiGuy
I always use Synaptic, so which packages from the MX18 repos do I need to install?
Flux.png
(Without using MXPI)
P.S. I am using MX18, in case that is not obvious.
P.P.S. This looks like a good addition to MX18 on an eeePC901.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:16 pm
by Jerry3904
There's only one called mx-fluxbox...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:32 pm
by cinclus
GuiGuy wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:24 pm
I always use Synaptic, so which packages from the MX18 repos do I need to install?Flux.png(Without using MXPI)
P.S. I am using MX18, in case that is not obvious.
P.P.S. This looks like a good addition to MX18 on an eeePC901.
With Synaptic (MX18) I have installed:
fluxbox
menu-fluxbox-antix
mx-fluxbox
Works!
But what else should I install (Wallpapers)?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:42 pm
by Jerry3904
All you need, as has been said many times in this thread, is mx-fluxbox. That pulls in fluxbox itself and a couple of other small apps. This is not antiX, right? So there is no need to install the antix menu--and for all I know it may take over an you will have the antiX setup, which is completely different (no Xfce to start with). If you want to have what MX has developed, remove the antiX package.
What you do with wallpapers is your affair; the menu points by default to the collection of wallpapers that MX provides by default and there are a lot there already.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:52 pm
by oops
Great job Jerry.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:14 pm
by cinclus
Apparently 18.3 installations behave differently ...
So may I add what was my experience from two fully updated MX 18.3 installations (local and frugal):
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:12 am
...
Installation involves two steps. The base installation is enabled through the MXPackage Installer.
...
It does not appear there. So I have installed mx-fluxbox
and fluxbox with Synaptic because in Synaptic fluxbox does not appear as a dependency of mx-fluxbox.
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:12 am
...
Once that installation finishes, the user clicks an entry in the Menu “MX-flux” to initiate the second step:
...
I could not find this as a menu entry but only by searching for it.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 2:47 pm
by meurglys
Awesome job Jerry! MX-Fluxbox 1.1 works very well. I'm quite pleased with it. Thanks for your efforts.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 3:35 pm
by Adrian
I wonder if anybody would install mx-fluxbox package without installing the rest of the fluxbox packages, I think it would be nice to add the rest of packages as dependencies to mx-fluxbox (or recommended at least) so when you install mx-fluxbox (let's say you install it with apt-get not through mx-packageinstaller) it would either bring all the needed fluxbox packages or at least recommend them.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 3:43 pm
by fehlix
Adrian wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 3:35 pm
I wonder if anybody would install mx-fluxbox package without installing the rest of the fluxbox packages, I think it would be nice to add the rest of packages as dependencies to mx-fluxbox (or recommended at least) so when you install mx-fluxbox (let's say you install it with apt-get not through mx-packageinstaller) it would either bring all the needed fluxbox packages or at least recommend them.
I have just posted an enanced MXPI->pop-apps installer for Fluxbox (with in translation thread) as some translations would not needed for the MXPI pm file if that would be accepted. see (and test) here:
viewtopic.php?p=548193#p548193
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 4:17 pm
by Fibogacci
I am so happy with this MX Flux (fluxbox). It is like extra early Christmas present for me
I did already thank for it on Facebook, but I should thank here as well - so thank you.
It gives new, positive experience with MX, especially on old hardware.
For example, as you can see on one screenshot below, it is possible to watch video stream from YouTube in 1080p on MX 19 64bit Live USB with MX Flux on Celeron 2 GHz and 2 GB RAM. Processor uses max. 50-60% and RAM is about 500-550 MB.
Well, for me it is more than impressive.
The same is with other stuff. MX Flux is really great idea.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 4:26 pm
by Huckleberry Finn
Just for feedback:
MX 19 - 32bit :
In my case, Ram gain is only 3-6 MB when idling with the same conky and wallpaper. (percentage is same: 10% )
Cpu usage is also the same but fan is always on ..
When installed from "Stable Repo" and then Menu => MX-flux, Reboot, it didn't appear on Session Menu but after reinstalling from "Popular Apps" tab it was ok.
If you toggle conky off you can't toggle on, you need to restart it from System.. conky manager
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 4:43 pm
by Jerry3904
If you toggle conky off you can't toggle on, you need to restart it from System.. conky mana
The Toggle is not in the fluxbox menu for a reason: it doesn't work. A few other things don't work either, or not completely. And Conky Manager will screw things up on the Xfce side, so MX Conky is used to avoid that. Thus in the FAQ:
How can I get rid of the FAQ icon, the monitors or any conky?
Menu > Out of sight
The FAQ icon can be restored by navigating ~/.fluxbox/startup and removing the comment sign (= the “#”) at the beginning of the line idesk &. For the conky or monitors, click Menu > System > Conky or Monitors and select the one you want.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 4:48 pm
by Huckleberry Finn
Jerry3904 wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 4:43 pmMenu > System > Conky or Monitors and select the one you want.
Yes, I mean that's the only way, and "toggle" I mean the "Out of sight" => Conky turns it off but not on ..
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:07 pm
by Jerry3904
Which is what the FAQ says: doesn't call it a toggle, it's listed under Out of sight, and the correct way to turn it back on is given.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:09 pm
by Huckleberry Finn
Ok, I didn't mean it was a bug.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:25 pm
by Jerry3904
NO, I was just trying to understand exactly what you were saying. Maybe I need a blanket statement somewhere that, although Xfce sits underneath MX-Fluxbox, not all Xfce or for that matter MX apps will work within the fluxbox context.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:42 pm
by GuiGuy
Jerry3904 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:42 pm
All you need, as has been said many times in this thread, is
mx-fluxbox.
......
Does not work for me in MX1864
.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:55 pm
by Huckleberry Finn
GuiGuy, if you like: remove all you installed,
then install it particularly from MXPI => Popular Apps,
then Menu => MX-flux
Reboot (or Logout & Login)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:00 pm
by Huckleberry Finn
cinclus wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:14 pmI could not find this as a menu entry but only by searching for it.
It's under "System" here.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:18 pm
by Sparky
I read all of the thread and I can't see how this benefits me as an XFCE user. It's either that or I'm just failing to understand it. Does it do something better?
I even went to the linked site and could not make heads or tales from it. How easy is it to remove If I just want to try it (through MXPI, I did the apt-get updates)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:23 pm
by Jerry3904
Let me say it nice and loud:This is an option that stands on its own, it is not designed to benefit you as a user of Xfce.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:27 pm
by Sparky
Jerry3904 wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:23 pm
Let me say it nice and loud:
This is an option that stands on its own, it is not designed to benefit you as a user of Xfce.
Then its description is rather vague to say the least.
http://fluxbox.org/
If it wasn't for the long thread, I'd understand even less.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:33 pm
by Jerry3904
Sorry, I don't know how to help you.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 8:55 pm
by Gordon Cooper
Have uploaded the point update, no problems except a small bug (or might be me) with 'edit clock'. Selecting this brings a small box to screen center
for editing the clock format but i cannot find a way of clearing that edit box from screen except by logging out and re-staritng
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 11:24 pm
by Richard
Xfce is a Desktop Environment.
Fluxbox is a Window Manager.
IMHO, MX-fluxbox is aimed at making as much of the MX interface, MX-tools and Xfce utilities/tools available in Fluxbox, while maintaining compatibility with Xfce.
MX-fluxbox is a work in progress.
Use it, concious that it is beta software that mostly works but you may find untested cases.
It is a new development idea from Jerry3904 to provide an even lighter interface for MX while retaining the MX & Xfce Tools. It will require learning some new work patterns for a faster MX for older and new hardware.
It worked well enough for me on an old Asus EeePC, 1005HA, 32 bit netbook. Looking forward to trying it out on other hardware.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 12:02 am
by junoluna
never having used fluxbox before, i am extremely impressed.. it is lightning fast and really easy to get the hang of
guesstimating from conky stats that it uses about 20% less RAM than xfce from start up through to my normal running processes, which is a big bonus for people with less horse in their machines
excellent job jerry ... i think i will spend the rest of the day 'working' in it
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:49 am
by handy
Does this MX Fluxbox spin use Openbox as its window manager?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:00 am
by Jerry3904
Only know what fluxbox.org says:
Fluxbox is a windowmanager for X that was based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:37 am
by chrispop99
handy wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:49 am
Does this MX Fluxbox spin use Openbox as its window manager?
No; Fluxbox
is a window manager.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:00 am
by Adrian
From what I understand both Fluxbox and Openbox were derived from Blackbox so think of them as forks (alternatives).
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:06 am
by Jerry3904
@Adrian: MX has lots of Qt apps that show up in this Fluxbox overlay with tiny fonts. The Fluxbox documentation says that such font concerns have to be answered inside the Qt toolbox itself. Do you have a suggestion on how to do that?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:12 am
by PPC
@Jerry3904
Hi! I've not yet had time to test MX-Fluxbox, I've only seen the print-screens available here.
Maybe some "work" I did on antiX fluxbox can be handy here on Mx?- Checkout my thread
viewtopic.php?t=47962
(I used all 3 desktops available out of the box on antiX. I modded them all and then went back to the default icewm. It would be great to see MX-icewm too :-) )
During my time experimenting with antiX Fluxbox I made it look very similar to my Mx instalation (I like using the toolbar on the bottom of the screen, on both antiX and MX).
I do have some thoughts on MX-Fluxbox, I apologise in advance because, not having tested it, I don't know if I'm making redundant or uncessary/unwanted suggestions..., So here it goes:
- Most people like having a "start menu"- FB allows an "arrow" do be put on the toolbar, so the user can click it and access the rootmenu. Maybe you can use that as a default setting?
- I like having icons on my FB menu, I've not tested how much RAM this takes up..., but most people like seeing icons- the eye recognizes images faster than having to read text, right? Is the lack of icons on the menu a design choice?
- Skiddoo's fluxbox version also allows the use of quick start (text) entries on the toolbar, which can be handy (I used this FB version on my experiments)
- Using this version, I managed to find a "workaround" to have "icons" on the toolbar- using adapted fonts with icons for firefox, file manager, terminal, etc.- it's a very convoluted way to make FB look more like MX XFCE, if you so desire. Also, this way you can add a quick launch icon for the "replacement" for Whisker menu I saw mentioned on this thread.
- I used a window decoration theme that looked almost like the default MX's theme, I have that file around on a hard drive, I believe- drop me a line if you want to use it on MX-Fluxbox and I'll dig around for it..
- To finish up, something about my personal take on desktop "design"... A screen grab had FB's toolbar on the left, like the default MX XFCE- I don't really like it, but, if using it that way, maybe putting the clock on top would make it act more like most MX users expect the desktop to behave?
Using all of some of these suggestions i'll make MX-Fluxbox look almost like the XFCE version most people are used to, but, making it much more lighter on RAM usage (I did not upgrade my MX 18.X because I read 19 uses much more RAM...)
Maybe making MX-FB look the way it does on the screen grabs was a design option, to differentiate it from MX-XFCE, but, most of the user base, I believe, does like the way MX looks out of the box, so, having similar looks out of the box maybe appeals to some more users. Advanced users can tweak FB as they see fit...
P.
You've done a excellent piece of art, Jerry!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:22 am
by dolphin_oracle
Jerry3904 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:06 am
@Adrian: MX has lots of Qt apps that show up in this Fluxbox overlay with tiny fonts. The Fluxbox documentation says that such font concerns have to be answered inside the Qt toolbox itself. Do you have a suggestion on how to do that?
you might want to check what font size you are setting the text and such to in the fluxbox configuration.
FWIW, antiX's fluxbox doesn't have that problem, and antiX uses a lot of the Qt apps.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:36 am
by Jerry3904
Thanks. We have tested raising the font size in the overlay file. It raises the menus, titlebars and toolbar but it does not affect the Qt apps (so corroborating what the fluxbox documentation states). I bet those sneaky antiX people have done something tricky here...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:50 am
by dolphin_oracle
I doubt it. I think it's the other way around. I suspect our gtk theme plugin is only in use under xfce.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:02 am
by Jerry3904
Is that something I can put into the fluxbox startup file?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:18 am
by dolphin_oracle
Jerry3904 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:02 am
Is that something I can put into the fluxbox startup file?
we have it in the X session startups.
I'll try to take a look at the setup tonight. there may be some other setting to change as well.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:35 am
by Jerry3904
That would help--thanks.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:05 pm
by GuiGuy
This would be a great boon for my eeePCs
.
But had a bad experience trying to get it on my main machine, so I will wait a while until the devs have polished it
.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:57 pm
by handy
chrispop99 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:37 am
handy wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:49 am
Does this MX Fluxbox spin use Openbox as its window manager?
No; Fluxbox
is a window manager.
Chris
@chrispop99, oops, I got Fluxbox mixed up with LXDE, which usually uses Openbox as its WM. Sorry about that...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:58 pm
by dolphin_oracle
Jerry3904 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:35 am
That would help--thanks.
so you have a couple of options.
you can source a bunch of variables as X is loading
Code: Select all
gtk-theme-name="Obsidian-2"
gtk-icon-theme-name="hicolor"
gtk-font-name="Sans 11"
where the various items are the theme, icon theme, and font/size you want.
lxappearance can do this for you, but it will store all of its entries in ~/.gtk-2.0, which may or may not cause conflicts with the main Xfce environment.
if you go the lxappearance route, the app will needed added to the fluxbox menu. it will not show up in the Application Finder (F6) as it has a flag in its desktop entry to not show in Xfce (among others).
for the Qt theming, you need to export our three Qt plugin environment variables. you might be able to do this in the fluxbox startup file but I haven't tried that. We do this in xfce in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/56xfce4-qtconfig so that all variables are available at login.
Code: Select all
export QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=gtk2
export QT_PLATFORMTHEME=gtk2
export QT_PLATFORM_PLUGIN=gtk2
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:11 pm
by Jerry3904
Thanks, will futz around...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:29 pm
by Jerry3904
Adding the three Qt variables to startup definitely improves the look and is a good step forward. Now the two missing icons in Package Installer show up, for instance.
The gtk part does not seem to be having an effect so far, but will keep on it.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 3:44 am
by Fritx
Very nice, especially for my "frugals". I just haven't figured out how to change the icon-theme.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 4:02 am
by JayM
It showed up in my MX-18.3 repo today (actually mx-packageinstaller-packagelist did, which included MX Fluxbox as one of the available packages) so MX-18.3 users can now try out Fluxbox that's been all set up and pre-configured for MX.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 5:37 am
by Jerry3904
Oh good, thanks. Whew!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 5:38 am
by Jerry3904
Version 1.2 is cued up now, might want to wait.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 1:18 pm
by Sparky
do I download mx-fluxbox or plain fluxbox (I'm on 19)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 1:23 pm
by GuiGuy
Jerry3904 wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2019 5:38 am
Version 1.2 is cued up now, might want to wait.
OK, it's cued up. Will it be queued up soon?
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 2:08 pm
by Jerry3904
I used to play a lot of cushion billiards, and came very close to flunking out of college because of it. It's depressing to realize that the game still occupies a good portion of my brain, especially the right side where I am constantly planning shots when I look at objects (especially people's heads) in the world.
Freaks out my family whenever I mention that particular aberration...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 8:30 pm
by JayM
Sparky wrote: Sat Dec 21, 2019 1:18 pm
do I download mx-fluxbox or plain fluxbox (I'm on 19)
You follow the instructions that were given in the original post.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 8:49 pm
by Richard
Installation involves two steps.
The base installation is enabled through the
MX Package Installer > Popular Applications tab, Window Managers entry.
Once that installation finishes, the user clicks an entry in the Menu “MX-flux” to initiate the second step: moving a few small files and folders to the user’s Home directory once permission has been given
The user then logs out, selects fluxbox from the session menu in the upper right corner of the login screen, and logs back in.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:38 am
by Fritx
JayM wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:23 amI want it such that if you left-click anywhere in the empty desktop it closes the menu.
This would be great, as in Antix. For me the workflow would be much better than useing "esc" or "right-click on header".
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 2:52 am
by jeffreyC
Fritx wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:38 am
JayM wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:23 amI want it such that if you left-click anywhere in the empty desktop it closes the menu.
This would be great, as in Antix. For me the workflow would be much better than useing "esc" or "right-click on header".
That is the outcome I expect in Fluxbox, so it is what I would want also.
If you open the right click menu on the MX (or Debian) Xfce desktop a left click on the desktop closes the menu, so it is what an Xfce user would also expect. (You can set the Xfce desktop right click menu to work like a WM menu such as Fluxbox, which I usually do)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 3:38 am
by JayM
I've got it! Open Files in the menu and edit the file "keys". Change
to
Save, log out, log back in. Tested in both MX-19 and MX-18.3. It survives a reboot too.
Much better!
FYI Mouse1 is the left button, Mouse2 is the middle button (press down on the scroll wheel) and Mouse3 is the right button.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 3:57 am
by Fritx
JayM wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 3:38 am
Much better!
Marvellous, you make my day!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 4:00 am
by JayM
I made my day too! Whee!
Next item: figure out how to get a conky to run every time I log in so I don't have to launch it via the menus every time.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 4:13 am
by junoluna
thanks for that jay
i am still tapping away automatically at the super/windows key and wondering why nothing happens ... muscle memory
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 5:58 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904
MX-Flux is as described = "...easily configurable … a pleasure to behold … simple syntax … enjoy"
Remarkable. Brilliant. Comprehensive.
hi GordonCooper stated "a way of clearing that edit box from screen" in that case is it? get the window focused and hit enter key, closes box accepting text and saves.(?)
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 6:34 am
by chrispop99
JayM wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 3:38 am
I've got it! Open Files in the menu and edit the file "keys". Change
to
Save, log out, log back in. Tested in both MX-19 and MX-18.3. It survives a reboot too.
Much better!
FYI Mouse1 is the left button, Mouse2 is the middle button (press down on the scroll wheel) and Mouse3 is the right button.
Great find Jay.
If you want a menu on the toolbar, you can add RootMenu to the entry session.screen0.toolbar.tools: in the init file, so that it might look something like this
Code: Select all
session.screen0.toolbar.tools: RootMenu, iconbar, systemtray, clock
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 6:36 am
by Jerry3904
Need to take a look to understand what you two are talking about.
@i_ri: I don't understand the second part of your post, sorry, partly because I don't know what is meant by "edit box"
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 6:37 am
by jeffreyC
JayM wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 4:00 am
I made my day too! Whee!
Next item: figure out how to get a conky to run every time I log in so I don't have to launch it via the menus every time.
Add it to your Fluxbox startup file located at ~/.fluxbox/startup
Best to sleep it for a few seconds, there are other things that need to start before conky.
If you have more than one .conkyrc you need to specify which one Fluxbox should use.
You could also start conky manager that way instead if you are using it.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 6:38 am
by Jerry3904
Next item: figure out how to get a conky to run every time I log in so I don't have to launch it via the menus every time.
You mean without reading the FAQ document? The startup file is preset to do that...
@jeffreyC: don't think a sleep is required b/c the screen is set so quickly. I have run it without it and never had a problem.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 6:42 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 , edit box was my way of saying hi GordonCooper normally the enter button closes the clock format edit box. What is happening there GordonCooper?
..
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 7:07 am
by Jerry3904
JayM wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 3:38 am
I've got it! Open Files in the menu and edit the file "keys". Change
to
Save, log out, log back in. Tested in both MX-19 and MX-18.3. It survives a reboot too.
Much better!
FYI Mouse1 is the left button, Mouse2 is the middle button (press down on the scroll wheel) and Mouse3 is the right button.
Good one, JayM! BTW: that whole entry is malformed, and it looks like a copy/paste error. Maybe I did it at some point by mistake. Will check.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 7:35 am
by JayM
All that's lacking is a comment above that section that describes it. I changed mine to
Code: Select all
# mouse click actions on the desktop
OnDesktop Mouse1 :HideMenus
OnDesktop Mouse2 :WorkspaceMenu
OnDesktop Mouse3 :RootMenu
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 7:36 am
by Jerry3904
Yeah, I knew how to fix it. My point was that the malformation points to the source of the problem.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:55 am
by JayM
JayM wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 4:00 am
Next item: figure out how to get a conky to run every time I log in so I don't have to launch it via the menus every time.
Got that one too!
Open Files, edit "startup", add
near the top (I put it above the command that puts the FAQ shortcut on the desktop.) Next, find
Code: Select all
#start a particular conky -- for example
#conky -p 5 -c ~/.conky/MX-BritPanel/conkyrc_fb &
and uncomment the second line. You can also edit it to point to the conky of your choice. Mine is
Code: Select all
conky -p 5 -c ~/.conky/MX-MyConky/MySysInfoConky &
and it looks something like this:
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:57 am
by junoluna
i have looked at the FAQs ... honest ....... and followed the instructions
but can't get the conky transparency to work like you have it
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:59 am
by JayM
You have to launch a compositor in fluxbox prior to starting the conky. I chose compton because I couldn't be arsed to try to find the command to run the Xfce/Xfwm one. Also edit the conky's widget in Conky Manager and set it to transparent. Pseudo-transparent makes it look trandparent within fluxbox without a compositor, but then when I log in with Xfce it's not transparent there. Now it's transparent in both.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:00 am
by junoluna
oh ... ok thanks
i will try that now
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:18 am
by JayM
I forgot to mention you need to log out/in after changing that file so the compositor loads.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:31 am
by junoluna
that all works great ... thanks jay
the transparency and the automated start up instructions
i was going to spend a little bit on upgrading the ram in this laptop but fluxbox makes it unnecessary for the time being ... i will spend it on some good quality christmas pud custard instead .... ambrosia devon custard is expensive in thailand
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 7:46 am
by dolphin_oracle
JayM wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:59 am
You have to launch a compositor in fluxbox prior to starting the conky. I chose compton because I couldn't be arsed to try to find the command to run the Xfce/Xfwm one. Also edit the conky's widget in Conky Manager and set it to transparent. Pseudo-transparent makes it look trandparent within fluxbox without a compositor, but then when I log in with Xfce it's not transparent there. Now it's transparent in both.
its just as well you didn't mess with the xfce compositor. its part of xfwm, which would replace fluxbox as they are both window managers.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 7:50 am
by JayM
dolphin_oracle wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 7:46 am
its just as well you didn't mess with the xfce compositor. its part of xfwm, which would replace fluxbox as they are both window managers.
That's what I figured. Anyway, compton seems to work better anyway. Fewer screen-tearing issues.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:09 am
by PPC
How to change MX-Fluxbox and make it look more "mainstream" MX:
1- The toolbar: the default toolbar has no startmenu icon, is on the top of the screen and has the time on the left side and the systemtray on the right.
To change that edit the file /home/Your_user_name/.fluxbox/init
and change
session.screen0.toolbar.placement: TopCenter
to
Code: Select all
session.screen0.toolbar.placement: BottomCenter
also change the value on the line referring to " session.screen0.toolbar.widthPercent:" to 100 to make the toolbar take 100% of the horizontal space
If you want a toolbar with a start menu change the line:
session.screen0.toolbar.tools: to include rootmenu at the begining. It may look something like this:
Code: Select all
session.screen0.toolbar.tools: rootmenu, iconbar, systemtray, clock
NOTE: to apply any change instantly, save the init file then open the Fluxbox Menu - Leave - Restart
2- Desktop icons
Note: please read previous posts on this, Dolphin talks about this...
Fluxbox does not directly allow desktop icons. To have them, you have to use a filemanager managing desktop icons. If you are low on RAM, not having that can be a good thing.
If you want desktop icons (and also the same wallpaper for XFCE) oprn a terminal and run:
Xfdesktop
(if you close the terminal you loose the desktop icons and also the wallpaper)
To make this permanent, add that command to the fluxbox initilization...
3- Toolbar quick launch icons
The Fluxbox version MX-Flux uses does not allow for that but... There's a way to work around that...
Skidoo built a version of Fluxbox that, among other differences, allows the use of "text" quick launchers to any applications... If you want to try it at your own risk (I'm using it without any problems on my MX 18.3) simply download the attached deb file from here:
https://github.com/antix-skidoo/fluxbox ... _amd64.deb
install it and restart your system.
You now can have Text quick launchers.
To use them you have to create the launch on fluxbox init file and then add it to the session.screen0.toolbar.tools line.
Example:
Code: Select all
#To create Quick launch "icons" add this to the start of the init file:
session.screen0.toolbar.button.ff.commands: exec firefox
session.screen0.toolbar.button.ff.label: FF
now add that quick launcher to the "session.screen0.toolbar.tools" line. Example:
Code: Select all
session.screen0.toolbar.tools: Rootmenu, button.ff, iconbar, systemtray, clock
Gets you a "button" saying "FF" on the start of the toolbar. click it to run Firefox...
You can add any application you want that way.
Instead of text you can use glyphs like these, for example:
••• , □ , Χ, χ, ⌧ , ✘, ✉, ✌, ✍, ✎, ✒, ✖, ✪, ❏
I have a workaround for having a limited number of "icons" on the toolbar: using a font with glyphs that look like icons, and use that font on the toolbar, changing the quick launcher's "label" so it displays the glyph that corresponds to the application icon (ex: firefox, file manager, terminal, start button, etc)...
4- The "Windows" or "Super" key
If you miss using the Windows key to launch the Menu, you can solve that by doing this:
edit the file /home/Your_user_name/.fluxbox/keys and add this line (then save the file and restart Fluxbox):
If you want the windows key to start the Whisker Menu "replacement", simply try this instead:
5- Final suggestion:
Fluxbox is very powerfull (dispite the above shortcomings)- it can make any windows always pop open on the same place. This can be handy, for example, to make the Appfinder always open on the lower left corner of the screen. To do this, run xfce4-appfinder, right click the title bar, click "Remember" and then "Position"
Enjoy MX-Fluxbox
P.
Edit: just added a screenshot of my system...
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:03 pm
by Jerry3904
Thanks for the long post, it will certainly prove useful. Skidoo is a real fluxbox expert, and people interested should check out his GitHub site. Like the antiX version, I avoided consulting them during the first phase of development.
You made me chuckle when you started by telling people how to make it more like MX, then promptly moved the toolbar to the bottom!
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 3:09 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and everyone
junoluna asked about conky background transparency. I found that changing the "own_window" value to no brings a background to most conky. There is variation; it confounded mx-lua (gave background but split layers), but most conky fill in the background on mx-fluxbox with
own_window no
and it allows a right-clicking on conky window area.
edit: that might fix many conky
It is something that fixes the mx-fluxbox side and totally ruins the xfce side. fix with new folder, do not share this setting with the xfce side.
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 6:37 am
by Jerry3904
Yes: the interaction between Xfce and fluxbox concerning conkies is important to keep in mind. The FAQ covers that topic, among other things recommending 1) that Conky Manager be avoided, and 2) that changes in the selection or configuration of a particular conky for fluxbox be indicated with a suffix such as "_fb"
Now that
version 1.2 has been released, this thread becomes rather a "Tips and Tricks" so I am moving it there and changing the title, and will slowly remove items now irrelevant.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2019 8:01 pm
by JayM
To use a solid-color background instead of a wallpaper, edit "startup" and change
Code: Select all
#start fehbg to get last background selected
~/.fehbg
to
Code: Select all
#start fehbg to get last background selected
# ~/.fehbg
fbsetroot -solid "#333333"
specifying the hexadecimal value of whatever you want the background color to be.
Log out/in.
For a more permanent change, delete the original comment and the feh line below it and create a new comment that reflects what the following line does, i.e.
Code: Select all
# set background color
fbsetroot -solid "#333333"
Resources:
https://www.computerhope.com/htmcolor.htm
https://www.w3schools.com/colors/colors_picker.asp
http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/docbook/ ... ap-bg.html
Re: MX-Fluxbox 1.0 released
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 5:22 am
by PPC
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:03 pm
Thanks for the long post, it will certainly prove useful. Skidoo is a real fluxbox expert, and people interested should check out his GitHub site. Like the antiX version, I avoided consulting them during the first phase of development.
You made me chuckle when you started by telling people how to make it more like MX, then promptly moved the toolbar to the bottom!
Lol, sorry for that, Jerry- I'm so used to the bar on the bottom of the screen (that is the first thing I do when I install Mx-Linux) that I tend to forget that's not the default configuration...
to have the Fluxbox toolbar on the left side, edit Fluxbox's init file's "session.screen0.toolbar.placement" line to look like this:
Code: Select all
session.screen0.toolbar.placement: LeftCenter
But it looks a bit strange, you have to tilt your head to read the Windows title displayed there... :-)
Also, one remark: before changing to Skidoo's Fluxbox version, I noticed that my Conky (and by the way it's my default Conky, that I used on XFCE, didn't edit anything...) all the characters that changed (example; minutes, CPU percentage, etc)- tended to leave a "ghost image". After installing Skidoo's version, that went away. I'm not running compton, and this conky looks as great as it usually does on MX-XFCE... Maybe it handles something very differently to the default Fluxbox version?
And I've never seen idesk's icon on my desktop... strange... Edit: I just noticed I add to install also idesk- never mind ]
Also, if you see, in the foreseeable future that MX-Fluxbox has any need to quickstart icons on the toolbar, let me know and I'll send you the font I created, it's a Ubuntu derivative that has the normal characters and also includes many of the icons most users would want on the toolbar (even the ugly "MX glyph" I managed to create- visible on the screen grab I previously posted).
Like I did over in the antiX forum, I would like to suggest a excelent gui window switcher to be included on MX-Fluxbox out of the box- skippy-xd- if you never used that,the user doesn't even need to install it- it can be run directly from a small (about 150kb) executable file, starts instantly and does not stay "RAM resident". I believe this adds a useful and cool functionality to any OS.
Because I run Skidoo's Fluxbox version I've not yet tested the new 1.2 MX-Fluxbox version. Great you included the click to close the menu option (I'm already using that, by the way the code that was available on the forum)!
Starting the rootmenu with the windows key OOTB would be nice- most users have "muscle memory" as someone put it on the forum, and press that key to get to the menu...
Because Fluxbox menu is so easy to edit ( ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx) I'm presumptuous enough to publish here te top part of my menu, as a suggestion of what I think users may need to quickly start via Fluxbox menu (now that I'm used to it I no longer have the "help" entry):
Code: Select all
[begin] (Fluxbox)
[exec] (Internet Browser) {firefox}
[exec] (File Manager F3) {thunar /home/$USER/.fluxbox}
[exec] (Terminal) {xfce4-terminal}
[separator]
[exec] (All apps F6) {xfce4-appfinder}
...
I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and I wish you all a happy new year!
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 1:28 pm
by Jerry3904
Now some thoughts about idesk.
1) I have been working on why the drag and drop feature of the icons does not work, so far without success.
2) Nevertheless, they can be moved by manually changing the X, Y coordinates of the entry in the ~/.idesktop folder. Here is the FAQ entry:
Code: Select all
table Icon
Caption:
Command: qpdfview ~/.fluxbox/doc/mxf-faq.pdf
Icon: /usr/share/icons/HighContrast/48x48/apps/help-faq.png
Width: 36
Height: 36
X: 39
Y: 29
end
I set those coordinates by eyeball, adjusting the X and Y until I got it where I wanted it. Sure would have been a lot easier to just drag it...
3) Once you know about the FAQ document, there is no need to keep it there unless you wish to do so. But it remains handy as a template for making more icons. For instance, let's suppose you want to have a line of icons down the side. That means you need to keep the X value constant and vary the Y one for each new icon. Start by copying and pasting the FAQ entry so you have something to work with. Let's say you want to have a particular document called morefoo.odf, linked on the desktop for easy access while you are working on it. Start by copying and renaming (e.g., WorkingDoc.lnk). Open it up and make the following changes:
Code: Select all
table Icon
Caption:
Command: libreoffice ~/Documents/morefoo.odt
Icon: /usr/share/icons/HighContrast/48x48/apps/libreoffice-writer.png
Width: 36
Height: 36
X: 39
Y: 79
end
Log out and back in, and now you will see the two icons lined up vertically--and you're off and running.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 1:56 pm
by anticapitalista
Are you sure that idesk supports drag and drop? I always thought it didn't.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:02 pm
by Jerry3904
It says it does, even on the SourceForge file:
http://idesk.sourceforge.net/html/usage.html
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:09 pm
by chrispop99
Do the icons still disappear when a drag is attempted? From my POV that's a fairly serious flaw.
I have spent some time trying to get drag and drop to work, but had no success.
Chris
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 5:49 pm
by Jerry3904
Yes.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 11:43 pm
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
WhoElse? plugged-in the default idesktop lnk;
interesting example use xmessage.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 6:19 am
by Jerry3904
Can anyone replicate one of these suggestions in a PM from i_ri:
idesktop drag and drop:
left-click hold to drag, get it to where you want it,
press right-click hold, press middle-click, it drops.
<second message>
idesktop Drop now is working left-click hold, middle-click.
The icon never moves for me in the first place.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 6:57 am
by Jerry3904
Wait a minute, got some progress:
1) open ~/.ideskrc
2) in the bottom section "table Actions", change this line
to
3) log out and back in, and now when I hit Control the icon is selected and I can drag it.
Don't have the release figured out yet, but this is serious progress. Can others replicate it?
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 8:06 am
by Jerry3904
One method: do the Control+click to move; then, when in position, don't release the left click but click the middle button. The linked action will launch, but the icon will stay in place.
Still looking for an improvement, but at least there's one way. Weird little program...
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 10:42 am
by Jerry3904
Best so far:
1) open ~/.fluxbox/startup
2) change this
to this:
This keeps fluxbox from overpainting idesk, according to a post I found
3) Now to move an icon: Control + click to drag, release it where you want it. It still launches, but then it is stable. Click middle mouse on it to lock it.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 10:48 am
by dolphin_oracle
to drag an icon, I disabled the icon snap in the .ideskrc file. now I can drop it anywhere with the config file otherwise as shipped.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 12:20 pm
by Jerry3904
Interesting. People reported that didn't do it, but now I will take a look.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 12:32 pm
by Jerry3904
That seems to work, though I still get the launch when I let go at the end.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 1:15 pm
by Jerry3904
OK, the problem is that the command for stop drag and execute are identical:
Code: Select all
table Actions
Lock: control right doubleClk
Reload: middle doubleClk
Drag: left hold
EndDrag: left singleClk
Execute[0]: left singleClk
Execute[1]: left doubleClk
end
We can eliminate that with the following change, using the right button for the drag function:
Code: Select all
table Actions
Lock: control right doubleClk
Reload: middle doubleClk
Drag: right hold
EndDrag: right singleClk
Execute[0]: left singleClk
Execute[1]: left doubleClk
end
Now I just click and hold with the right button, move it, and release it. Done!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:35 am
by PPC
Hi! I hope you all had a nice new years eve!
One of the things I like having on any interface I use on my computer is a quick launcher to, at least my browser, file manager, and also a start menu...
With some 15 minutes of work I managed to have just that: icons for "whisker menu replacement", Default Browser, File Manager an Terminal.
Here's what it looks like on the default layout- toolbar on top, using idesk icons (and the rootmenu on the Fluxbox toolbar, that shows up as a white arrow):
If anyone else likes this, it's quite simple to achieve, simply uncompress the attached file's content to ~/.idesktop/
and restart idesk.
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2020 7:03 am
by Jerry3904
Thanks, PPC! I'm sure some of the MX-Fluxbox users would be happy to return to the known and familiar, and this is a handy way for them to do that.
For the next version of MX-Fluxbox I would like to have a new entry under "Styles" like this:
Toolbar
--Fluxbox
--Traditional
Not sure ATM how to do that, but your package gives me a place to start. I think it would make a great option.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2020 8:35 am
by PPC
Glad you liked this particular suggestion, Jerry!
I also managed to have about all XFCE menu entries on Fluxbox, with minimal fuss. Any user can also try this:
1- Download MMaker, from SourceForge (over at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/menumaker ).
2- there's no need to install or compile MMaker. Just decompress the file to any folder. Using Thunar, open that folder, right click any free space on it's window and select "Open Terminal here". ( WARNING: Before doing this, if you want to, back up any existing "~/.fluxbox/menu" file)
On the terminal type:
3- this will create the "~/.fluxbox/menu" text file that includes about all your installed apps, sorted by categories. All you have to do is to insert that in your Fluxbox menu. Example:
Open for edition ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx
Select the line where you want the menu entry with all your applications to be and simple paste there:
Code: Select all
[submenu] (All Categories)
[include] (~/.fluxbox/menu)
[end]
All installed applications will be there, no need to start the xfce application launcher (although this app is great for searching applications- simply type and the corresponding application will be launched- there are no such niceties in the Fluxbox menu)
EDIT:
Note: after installing any application, you have to re-run MMaker, so it appears on the menu... Same thing after removing a application, to delete it from the menu... You can simplify this process by creating a menu entry called, for example "Update Menu" that simply runs "mmaker fluxbox -f", that's what I did...
My entry ended up looking like this:
Code: Select all
[submenu] (All Categories)
[exec] (Update Menu) {/home/menumaker-0.99.11/mmaker fluxbox -f}
[include] (~/.fluxbox/menu)
[end]
EDIT 2:
I just noticed two small problems with MMaker generated menus: synaptic will not run from the generated menu entry (probably lacks permitions) and also there are no dedicated LibreOffice entries ( for Writer, Calc, Impress, etc )- only the LO launcher, that appears as "Libre Office Impress" on the menu... Probably a small MMaker bug?
Because of the "difficulty" to directly start Writer and Calc, even with full fledged menu categories, I changed my Fluxbox "Office" Menu entry to this:
Code: Select all
[submenu] (Office)
[exec] (LibreOffice) {libreoffice}
[exec] (LO Writer) {lowriter}
[exec] (LO Calc) {localc}
[exec] (LO Impress) {loimpress}
[exec] (LO Base) {lobase}
[exec] (PDF viewer) {qpdfview}
[exec] (Notes) {xfce4-notes}
[end]
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2020 11:06 am
by PPC
Final tip for today, folks:
If you want to add a functionality that allows Fluxbox to search for a installed application you want to run, there's a tiny program that's great for just that: "j4-dmenu"!
Just like in the whisker menu, you begin typing, and a list of the apps that matches that text are shown on the lower part of the screen (note: press ESC to leave j4-dmenu).
It looks damn ugly out of the box, but I made it look a bit more "modern". I configured it to show the last searched apps first on the list. That way if you want to rerun the last command you just ran, start j4-dmenu and press the down key and then enter...
It does not stay resident on RAM, and it can be run without installation, straight from the executable file that's inside the attached zip file. Uncompress it to your home folder and add this Fluxbox menu entry to use it:
Code: Select all
[exec] (Search apps) { ~/j4-dmenu-desktop.sh --dmenu="dmenu -i -fn ubuntu -b -l 10" --usage-log=j4log.txt}
Edit: if you want (as you should) to be on the safe side and run only applications from the oficial MX repositories, you may install j4-dmenu-desktop using synaptic. If you do that, then it's Fluxbox menu entry should simply be something like this:
Code: Select all
[exec] (Search apps) { j4-dmenu-desktop --dmenu="dmenu -i -fn ubuntu -b -l 10" --usage-log=j4log.txt}
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 12:12 am
by imschmeg
Has anyone tried the Debian "menu" package already installed in MX for generating a fluxbox root menu for all apps? You can see its man pages under 'man update-menus' and 'man install-menu'. I'm curious if install-menu is sufficient to build a full applications menu - before I venture on to menumaker - because I think it is already configured to update menus on new application installs. Not sure, though.
@PPC:
synaptic will not run from the generated menu entry
I think I know what that is. In /usr/share/applications, there are two .desktop files for synaptic. One is synaptic.desktop, and the other is synaptic-kde.desktop. Note the difference:
Code: Select all
$ cd /usr/share/applications
$ grep Exec synaptic*
synaptic.desktop:Exec=synaptic-pkexec
synaptic-kde.desktop:Exec=synaptic
Note that the names that a menu create app would see in these clash:
Code: Select all
$ grep '^Name=' synaptic*
synaptic.desktop:Name=Synaptic Package Manager
synaptic-kde.desktop:Name=Synaptic Package Manager
The one that runs synaptic-pkexec (synaptic.desktop) is the one you want, as it will start with a popup sudo-gui first. I've used the Xfce menu editor to make sure my Xfce menu sees the right one, but I think that it might just work to copy the right one to ~/.local/share/applications, where it will be seen first. Not sure about that. I think it would also work to alter the Name field in the synaptic-kde one to be different.
BTW: I had been discussing other minor MX fluxbox points on other threads, and got scolded over to this one. I didn't know there was a one-and-only thread for MX fluxbox users...
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 10:26 am
by PPC
imschmeg wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2020 12:12 am
Has anyone tried the Debian "menu" package already installed in MX for generating a fluxbox root menu for all apps?
I've run update-menus. I have no idea if it creates a Fluxbox menu file, and where it stores that file... That's why I resorted to MMaker, because it has no dependencies that need to be installed. and does not even be to be installed. The compressed file is about 200kb, the uncompressed folder is about 1 Meg, so you can try it without danger of ending up with a bloated system...
Fbmenugen is another script that creates Fluxbox menus, and can be configured to show icons on the menus, but has dependencies that have to be installed, so I stayed away from it...
The synaptic problem sorted it self out... Next time I tried to start it from the generated menu, it ran fine... What the...?!
@Jerry: Man I bow to your skills! The MX-Fluxbox menu to change backgrounds is simply the best and fastest way to change backgrounds that I've ever seen in any OS!
Suggestion: Add, Out-of-the-box a ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/ folder, where users can copy their own wallpaper images without needing root permissions. The menu entry already looks into that non existent folder, that's mentioned on the Manual. If you want to make life easier for the average user, you can add a entry that says something like "Wallpaper folder" or "add wallpapers here" that opens that folder on thunar, or just leave that as the help file entry and keep a unbloated sub-menu (Note: referring to the background image as "Wallpaper" at least once on the Manual would be a nice way for allow people using the "Find text" option to locate the relevant Manual section ...
Right now users can
create that folder (example from Thunar), copy their background images there,
restart Fluxbox (from the menu) for the menu entries to update and show those new files... Then they can just click the file name from the menu and see Fluxbox magic instantly happen!!!
I ran into a small problem- is there a easy way to not stretch the image, so the image does not fill the entire screen and loses proportions?
@Jerry: I also adapted the
MX arc dark theme from antiX Fluxbox to MX-Fluxbox. It makes window decorations look the same as they do in plain MX... Do you want me to upload that style here? Or do you think that's not a relevant feature for Mx-Fluxbox ?
Unwanted Fluxbox Menu review:
For a snappier use, I merged all the Menu-system entries into the same sub-menu, so they are fast to access and renamed the menu that shows the Wallpapers and Styles "Look and Feel". The Accessories and Multimedia entries are just great, all a user can need to access basic stuff needed on a daily basis!
I already published my Office sub-menu above (I like to start Writer and Calc directly, it's a matter of personal taste)
Some other suggestions: the gparted menu entry only shows a warning, telling the user it needs root privileges to run, also Menu- Settings- Configure does not show a "menu" entry- is that be design? It would be a fast way for users to adjust their menu file and it's refered to in the Manual (I hope I didn't manage to delete that entry unwillingly)...
Veridict:
As it is now (with my All Categories and Search Apps) my Mx-Fluxbox version is perfect for everyday use, a faster and lighter way to run MX-linux for all purposes. The only thing a "regular user" may miss is the presence of "normal" icons on the desktop and adding quick-launch icons to the toolbar (partly solved by the basic idesk icons from a previous post). Fluxbox is so easily costumizable that any user can make it perfect for their own personal use, or stick with the defaults.
Edit:
If a user wants a
Gui way to edit the Fluxbox menu, there's one available over at
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fluxmenu.berlios/
Simply download it, uncompress the file, using Thunar, open the folder with the extracted files and run "fluxMenu.py".
It's so versatile that even allows to "hide" entries from the Menus. Make the changes, adding or removing menu entries and then click Generate, click Yes in the pop up confirmation Window and then click "Save" to make the change instantly available...
Note: by default fluxMenu opens the general "menu" file. If you want to edit menu-mx click the File - Open - select "All files" on the bottom right and then navigate your wat to menu-mx to edit it...
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:45 am
by PPC
Over the week end I tested my MX-Fluxbox setup and I'm quite happy with it, no bugs, lower memory usage (I'm not really sure if we are able to call MX-Fluxbox a lightweight linux, but, at least, quite a bit lighter than the default MX Linux).
I also tried to test stuff I think "regular" MX users might appreciate... Idesk icons may be usefull but they are not very easy to manage. I tried out wbar (sudo apt install wbar) and then thought it was a good idea to have a GUI for managing it's icons, so I also installed wbar-config (sudo apt install wbar-config)
You do have to use wbar-config to change all the default entries, and it's icons, that point to a icon set that does not exist under MX-Linux by default. It may not be as easily configureble as some other docks, but it uses about half the RAM idesk uses ( about 3,5 Mb on my computer), and provides some very nice functionalites. I was just testing it, and the default MX-Fluxbox setup with the toolbar on the top of the screen and wbar on the left or the bottom of the screen.
To add a new icon to the toolbar you have to run wbar-config (the first icon from the wbar and create a new icon, choosing it's name, icon and command to be run, much like in idesk icons...)
Like I said, I was just testing... I usually find docks a waste of RAM on my very low specs computers. Users with more RAM may find this a very cool addition to any Linux with a Window Manager instead of D.E., like my beloved MX-Fluxbox.
P.
EDIT:
Mini How-to add application icons to Desktop (or pseudo "toolbar launchers", if the icons are the right size and aligned with the toolbar - see example above):
Requirement: you have to have downloaded "mx-idesktool" (it probably will be included on the next Mx-Fluxbox version?)
1- Start mx-idesktool
2- On Thunar open the folder.
that lists (almost) all your installed (gui) applications.
3- Open a terminal, just in case.
4- On Thunar select the application whose icon you want to add to the desktop, (Example; LibreOffice Writer), right click it, choose "Open with - Featherpad" (or any text editor of your choice).
Look for the line that begins with "Name=" and copy the application name, that's after the "=" sign.
5- On mx-idesktool Double click "New"; paste the name you previously copied; click "Next".
6- On Featherpad, search for the line "Exec=" and copy all that's to the right of the "=" sign
7- On mx-idesktool, on the field "Left-Click Command" paste the text you previously copied; Click next
8- Now you have to select the application's icon, which is the trickiest point.
If the "Icon=" field on the text file does not include the file path you'll have to navigate to the /usr/share/icons folder. choose the icon theme name you want to use (ex: hicolor), then select the icon size you want (ex:"16x16") then "apps"; then try to find your app's name on the list. If you find it, click "next" and the icon is generated an will appear on the middle of your desktop...
9- Drag the icon to where you want it to be. Done
If the icon does not appear on the icons folder then you'll have to look under another icon theme name or use the terminal...
If you want to use the terminal to find your icon do this:
-On Featherpad, look for the "Icon=" line and copy the name of the icon to the right of the "=" sign,
-On the terminal type "locate" (only the word locate) followed by space and then paste the name of the icon
-Several options will probably be show up in the terminal. Choose one that ends in ".png", copy that line and paste it in "Icon" field, on the mx-idesktool window and click "Next"...
Hum... If I have the time, I'll try to automate this process, adapting a yad script that extracts all that info from the .desktop files and writes it to a .lnk file... (The heavy lifting part is done in the Icewm-toolbar-icon-manager script, over at antiX...)
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:30 pm
by seaken64
PPC wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:45 am
To add a new icon to the toolbar you have to run wbar-config (the first icon from the wbar and create a new icon, choosing it's name, icon and command to be run, much like in idesk icons...)
Like I said, I was just testing... I usually find docks a waste of RAM on my very low specs computers. Users with more RAM may find this a very cool addition to any Linux with a Window Manager instead of D.E., like my beloved MX-Fluxbox.
PPC, thank you for your tips. I am using MX-Fluxbox on my P-III in 512MB RAM with only the standard setup. I like the idea of icons on the toolbar, or desktop, but I don't want to add overhead. Instead I am looking for ways to lower the memory footprint in MX-Fluxbox even further.
What are your "very low specs"? Maybe we can open a thread on how to lower RAM use below 100MB? We can take this over to another thread so as to not pollute this thread, which is very useful for others with more RAM.
see here
viewtopic.php?f=100&t=55302
Seaken64
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:51 pm
by Jerry3904
PPC is correct that hanging icons with idesk is not easy. For that reason, the Devs now have a functional GUI for correcting that that we are preparing for release.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:56 pm
by seaken64
Cool!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 4:54 am
by PPC
seaken64 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:30 pm
What are your "very low specs"? Maybe we can open a thread on how to lower RAM use below 100MB? We can take this over to another thread so as to not pollute this thread, which is very useful for others with more RAM.
Hi Seaken64 - "very low specs" is a relative term. My netbook is a Atom single Core with 1 gig of shared RAM (so it has about 950meg of usable RAM), my Office computer is a desktop, also a single Core, but luckily with 3 gig of RAM (WOW! I know, it has as much RAM as my cellphone
). Both are 64 bits.
On my netbook I use antiX 19 64 bits with the default icewm desktop, and a live MX-Fluxbox 18.3, 64 bits via usb. I have both of those systems installed on my Office desktop.
1 gig of RAM is for now, in my opinion the "bare minimum" specs for using a modern web browser. On my netbook I can stay under the 500Mb RAM usage, but navigating with "ungoogled chromium" ( that uses very little RAM, but unfortunately I know only of a 64bits versions) , and with one or two tabs open (and no fancy webpages). Smtube is great for watching YouTube videos even on the crappiest computer...
In your case, devices with less than 1 gig, I would stick with antiX as a main OS, with a lighter web browser than Firefox / FirefoxESR.
antiX 64bits on my netbook runs on 98-105Mb of Idle RAM (64 bits version uses more RAM than 32 bits).
More on topic- you can make Mx-Fluxbox run using less "idle" RAM disabling as much stuff you don't use as you can... In my case, I disable MX-updater, the clipboard app, bluetooth services. If you don't use a printer, disable CUPS, if you eject your external drives from the file manager, close MX's USB Eject. If you don't use notifications close XFCE notification daemon, if you are using a desktop computer, you may also not need XFCE power settings, etc, etc...
Of course, if you don't need desktop icons, close idesk. You can close conky and, if you want to shave about 1 Meg of idle RAM, don't use a wallpaper image.
I think even MX-Fluxbox will always use more RAM than antiX because it simple runs more stuff under the hood. If you close everything MX has running, you would probably be better off with antiX, for most uses (example: on my dekstop computer, antiX runs with a wallpaper, desktop icons, and quick launch icons and still uses less 100mb than MX-Fluxbox without desktop icons or toolbar quick launch icons (which the default Fluxbox version MX-Fluxbox uses does not provide. considering the current Fluxbox version is some 5 years old, and probably there wont be a new version anytime soon. It's already almost perfect, as long as you don't miss having icons on the toolbar)...
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:20 am
by PPC
Jerry3904 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:51 pm
... the Devs now have a functional GUI for correcting that that we are preparing for release.
Very nice news for Mx-Fluxbox usability. One of the main MX-linux "selling" points it's usability- It has a simple Gui way to do almost anything a normal user can think of, without using the terminal or having to type a lot...
If I may be so bold to make some suggestions for increased usability: having a Debian menu (generated by mmaker) and that wonderful GUI "fluxbox menu editor" would be "the cherry on top of the cake". Also having lxappearance installed and available via the Look and Feel menu (I grant that my j4-dmenu suggestion can be a hard sale- is fast but, it's not for everyone).
Some more minor suggestions I want to also leave here for the next version are about keybinding: having the Windows key summon the menu, alt-f4 to close the current window, are almost expectef by everyone. A couple more suggestions, to make the most use of Fluxbox- using the keyboard to show the desktop and hiding windows decorations
Example:
Code: Select all
Super_L : RootMenu # Windows key summons the Fluxbox menu
Mod1 F4 :Close #alt +f4 closes window
none F9 :ShowDesktop # F9 shows/hides the desktop
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 6:53 am
by anticapitalista
RE- Less idle RAM use.
Use
to see which processes can be turned off and do so via
.
Once you are happy, you could even remove the apps.
I don't think you'll get it to less than or even equal to what antiX uses.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 12:22 pm
by PPC
@Jerry3904
Probably my work won't allow me to spend a lot of time messing with antiX and MX-Fluxbox, but here goes a suggestion: Fluxbox does not allow for dynamic menus, so MX-Fluxbox users won't have access to the "Recent files" menu from XFCE.
I propose that the Fluxbox menu could have a entry to a yad script that allows the user to double click a recent file to execute it. It would be something like this: (I hope the forum does not mangle the code)
( Tip: save this script as a hidden file, so it does not show up on the presented recent files list...)
"BUG": the script correctly opens files with spaces with the correct application, but, while testing this script with .odt files, strangely opens the correct file, but with a random name ?!?. Ex. "lowriter 'aa aa.odt'" opens the correct file, displayed as "aa aa.odt", but "xdg-open 'aa aa.odt'" opens the correct file, displayed as "fileXXXX.odt". I'm guessing it's a small xdg-open bug?
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
find ~ ! -path $HOME/'\.*' -and ! -path $HOME/'Mail*' -type f -mtime -2 | sed 's/file:\/\///g' | sed 's/\"//g' |sed 's/%20/ /g' > ~/.recent.txt
EXEC=$(yad --title="Recent files" --width=400 --height=400 --center --separator=" " --list --column=Files < ~/.recent.txt)
echo "'"$EXEC"'"
run="'"$EXEC"'"
# add inital ' and last ' ( bash automatically adds a space before the last ' so... see the next lines
v="'"$EXEC"'"
# to remove the space before the last " ' " and add "'"
v2=${v::-2}"'"
# to launch the file using xdg-open:
runny=$(echo xdg-open $v2)
eval $runny
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 6:08 am
by PPC
I'm not sure anyone else will use this script, but I fixed it for my own personal use (because I heavily use LibreOffice Writer)
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
find ~ ! -path $HOME/'\.*' -and ! -path $HOME/'Mail*' -type f -mtime -2 | sed 's/file:\/\///g' | sed 's/\"//g' |sed 's/%20/ /g' > ~/.recent.txt
EXEC=$(yad --title="Recent files" --width=400 --height=400 --center --separator=" " --list --column=Files < ~/.recent.txt)
echo "'"$EXEC"'"
run="'"$EXEC"'"
# add inital ' and last ' ( bash automaticaly adds a space before the last ' so... see the next lines
v="'"$EXEC"'"
# to remove the space before the last " ' " and add "'"
v2=${v::-2}"'"
# normal command to run selected file:
runny=$(echo xdg-open $v2)
### work around the error opening files with spaces in LibreOffice Writer - check extension and if it's ODT, force it to open with lowriter
check=$(echo -n $EXEC | tail -c 3)
if [[ $check -eq odt ]]; then
runny=$(echo lowriter $v2)
fi
# run selected file
eval $runny
EDIT: improved version:
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
awk -F"file://|\" " '/file:\/\// {print $2}' ~/.local/share/recently-used.xbel > ~/.recent0.txt
#reverse order, so last file comes first, etc
tac ~/.recent0.txt > ~/.recent.txt
#function to decode file name (from %20 instead of spaces, etc, from https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/159253/decoding-url-encoding-percent-encoding
urldecode() {
local url_encoded="${1//+/ }"
printf '%b' "${url_encoded//%/\\x}"
}
# select file to execute
EXEC=$(yad --title="Recent files" --width=400 --height=400 --center --separator=" " --list --column=Files < ~/.recent.txt)
#do decoding on file name, just in case
decoded=$(urldecode $EXEC)
# generally open with general aplication used for the selected file type
openwith=xdg-open
###work around th error opening files with spaces is LibreOffice Writer - check extension and force it to open with lowriter
check=$(echo -n $EXEC | tail -c 3)
if [ "$check" == "odt" ]; then openwith=lowriter ; fi
#add quotes to name of file, just in case the name has spaces
EXEC2="'"$decoded"'"
#to open the file
runny=$(echo $openwith $EXEC2)
eval $runny
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:36 am
by PPC
Folks, I have the final version of the "Recent files" script if anyone wants to use it on MX-Fluxbox. It parses the ~/.local/share/recently-used.xbel file to get the real list of all recent executed files.
It's over at
https://pastebin.com/fSDPR9E1
If you want to have a "Recent Files" entry on your Fluxbox menu:
1-create a file in your home folder called recent_files.sh and open it for edition
2- paste the code (everything on the "RAW Paste Data" section) from the above link to that file and save it.
3- make the file executable (right click it in Thunar - Properties - Permitions Tab - make sure the option to execute the file, on the bottom is checked)
4- edit your ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx file and add, anywhere you want (below the first line) this:
Code: Select all
[exec] (Recent Files) {~/recent_files.sh}
4- save the menu-mx file
6- Menu-Leave-Restart
You now have a Fluxbox menu entry that shows you recent files list. Just double click the file you want to run.
I use this a lot, it's up to the dev team if this script should come on the next MX-Fluxbox version or not
EDIT: as a bonus, for people having problems "finding" their applications on MX-Fluxbox, here's a very basic and simple script that lists "all" your installed applications (using the respective .desktop files). Scroll down to the application you want to start and and double click it.
Code: Select all
cd /usr/share/applications/
find *.desktop > ~/.apps.txt
# Use a Yad window to select file to be executed
EXEC=$(yad --title="Select Application" --width=300 --height=400 --center --separator=" " --list --column= < ~/.apps.txt)
# launch select file:
exo-open $EXEC
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:16 am
by Jerry3904
With all the changes you propose for people to make MX-Fluxbox as you like it, I sometimes can't tell if you have actually looked at MX-Fluxbox itself.
F6 brings up the menu of all applications and has a search box, so I'm not clear how anyone would have trouble finding an application.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:28 am
by PPC
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:16 am
With all the changes you propose for people to make MX-Fluxbox as you like it, I sometimes can't tell if you have actually looked at MX-Fluxbox itself.
F6 brings up the menu of all applications and has a search box, so I'm not clear how anyone would have trouble finding an application.
Hi Jerry, please let me just say why I make so many "proposed changes" to MX-Fluxbox...
First- I did explore MX-Fluxbox- one of my earlier posts even pointed to the fact that the users could make the "windows" key start XFCE's appfinder.
Second- I like my OS's to have all the amenities I'm used to- including- accessing applications from the menu, searching applications, searching files, and quick access to recent files.
Third- I don't mean to step on your (or the rest of the Dev team's) toes, with a deluge of "useless" suggestions, but, like in another thread here, I'm trying to make MX-Fluxbox run on the least resources possible, but without losing functionality. XFCE's appfinder is a very nice and familiar way to access apps BUT stays resident in memory taking some 40Megs or RAM. Not a big deal on modern computers, a huge deal on my 1 gig of shared RAM netbook. Having a Debian menu generated by MMaker or whatever is a familiar GUI way of accessing all the applications without "wasting" RAM, same thing for locating applications with j4-dmenu (or any other launcher that does not stay resident on RAM).
I'm tweaking Fluxbox for my own personal use, and sharing my findings here, just in case the dev's or any other user, wants to also implement any of them...
A user did say (on another thread) something like that there was no other good way for locating applications other than XFCE appfinder. The tiny script I shared on the final part of my previous post was part of an on-going experience to try to make a script hable to add idesk icons or/and FLuxbox menu entries from .desktop files- just click the app's name to add it to the menu or the desktop (I did manage to write a script that added quick links to ICEWM's toolbar, before). I was doing that because, sometimes I need quick access to applications, as do, I believe many users.
I went as far as generating the correct line [exec]... but stopped when I was trying to add that line to Menu-MX's text file...
Sorry for making so many suggestions on this "Tips and Tricks" MX-Fluxbox thread. It stops here, I do have to do work that actually pays...
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:41 am
by Buck Fankers
Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:16 am
F6 brings up the menu of all applications and has a search box, so I'm not clear how anyone would have trouble finding an application.
"Recent Files" is great addition. I can't see the reason for me typing in the search box some text to get something I'm using frequently. (or worse, navigating through the menu of all apps over and over again) Just clicking with the mouse and picking up something I use a lot increases workflow. IMO, this addition is worth adding to Fluxbox. @PPC, thank you!
P.s.
But I'm the person to much prefer one single click on desktop shortcut to get to something instead 'clean desktop' & navigating menus and typing text in search box to get to something. So why to use Fluxbox then instead Xfce? Hardware limitations on some machines...
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:47 am
by Jerry3904
Well what was confusing was the context of your suggestion:
I'm trying to make MX-Fluxbox run on the least resources possible
. WIthout that or any reference to appfinder, I was not clear about what you were doing. There's no reason for you to stop, of course.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:17 pm
by PPC
@ Buck Fankers - Thanks! I have the same "problem" as you...
Just because you (or any other user) may benefit from having a "quick and dirty" way to add the applications you want to the start of the Fluxbox menu, and because I don't want to waste the work that went into patching together that script, here goes the code to
"add_quicklauncher_to_menu.sh"...
Before running it, please
back up your "~/.fluxbox/menu-mx" file.
This is the fastest way ( scroll down the list, if needed, then a double click) that I thought of for adding a quick launcher, easy to access, to the start of the menu, without digging around for the application you want.
The menu entry name is extracted from the .desktop file name (not parsed from the .desktop file contents), so, if you want, manually edit the menu-mx file to edit the entry's name...
Depending on your resolution you can add as many "pinned" apps to the top of Fluxbox as you like. In my case I have j4-dmenu, Firefox, File Manager, Terminal, Writer, Recent Files, All Categories, and then it's basically the stock menu, with a few alterations...
Note: If you want to delete/change the order of any menu entries, do so manually (it's pretty intuitive, editing the text file) or using the "FluxBox menu editor" I previously mentioned. that allows non "geek" users to add and remove applications to the MX-Fluxbox menu without having to know how to edit a single line of the configuration files...
Example: if you use Libre Office Writer a lot and want a quick way to access it without manually editing the menu: run this script, scroll down until you find "libreoffice-writer" and double left click it (or click once and then the "ok" button). A entry that launches writer, called "libreoffice-writer" is added to the start of the menu.
Now to start LibreOfice Writer just open the menu and click the very first entry... If you are using the keyboard to summon the FluxBox menu it's insanely fast: summon the menu - down key - enter. If using the mouse, it's not as fast as clicking a quick launch icon on the toolbar (yeah, I also have those on my personalized Fluxbox toolbar- see how to do that in my older posts): summon the menu (a rootmenu icon on the toolbar is useful) and then click the name of your application.
EDIT: @Buck- you can have the same functionality as having quick launch icons on the toolbar, using idesk icons- create the icon you want,using a icon the size of your toolbar or smaller (see one of my previous posts about creating idesk "icons", if needed). Use a toolbar that is not 100% size (the stock is not) and drag the icon(s) of your app(s) just near enough to the bar so it looks almost part of it (see post
viewtopic.php?f=143&t=54848&start=180#p551009 ). That way you can always click the apps icon to start it even if running a maximized application.
Code: Select all
#! /bin/bash
#Application to pin and unpin applications to the top of Fluxbox menu
# requeriments: yad and exo-open (both are included out of the box in MX-Linux 19)
# By PPC - 15/01/2020 - GPL licence- do what you want with this script, please keep this comments about the author and date
# TO DO: a option reorder the "pinned" applications
# -- idea1- present the list of pinned applications, like in the "unpin" funtion. When user clicks on, use sed or whatever, to get the selections line number, a new yad window pops up, presenting the line number, allowing to user to increase or decrease the number. Delete current entry, create one at the chosen line number - This will take more work than the pin and unpined functions combined!
#idea2- simply create a button that executes flux menu editor, the user can then move the pinned applications using drag and drop!
#
#Declare Functions
pin()
{
# creates a list of all installed .dekstop files, saved in .apps.txt
cd /usr/share/applications/
find *.desktop > ~/.apps.txt
# Use a Yad window to select file to be added to the menu
EXEC=$(yad --title="Select Application to pin to Menu" --width=470 --height=400 --center --separator=" " --list --column= < ~/.apps.txt)
#generate menu entry
foo="[exec] ("
foo="${foo}"${EXEC//.desktop}""")"" {exo-open /usr/share/applications/${EXEC}}"
# insert this generated new line at line 2, but first check, and only add a entry if something was selected"
if test -z "$EXEC"
then
echo "nothing was seleted"
else
sed -i "2 i\\$foo" ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx
fi
}
################################################
unpin()
{
# generate a list of all pinned aplications (searchs for the string #.desktop ", created by the pinning script
grep -E '.desktop ' ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx > ~/current_apps_pinned_to_menu.txt
### make choices easier to read- show just app.desktop:
# show only everything betwenn brakets
cat ~/current_apps_pinned_to_menu.txt | cut -d "{" -f2 | cut -d "}" -f1 > ~/temp0
# remove the first 33 characters from each line, the "exo-open /path" part
sed -i 's/\(.\{33\}\)//' ~/temp0
# Use a Yad window to select file to be added to the menu
EXEC=$(yad --title="Select Application to unpin from the Menu" --width=470 --height=400 --center --separator=" " --list --column= < ~/temp0)
# delete selected pinned application from the menu, but first check, and only add a entry if something was selected
if test -z "$EXEC"
then
echo "nothing was seleted"
else
#remove selected pinned application
cat ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx | grep -v $EXEC > ~/filename.1
mv ~/filename.1 ~/.fluxbox/menu-mx
fi
}
##########################################################
# Main part of the script
# makes the previous created funtions available
export -f pin unpin
# menu to select options:
yad \
--title "Pin and unpin apps to MX-Fluxbox menu" \
--center --text=" This is a quick way to add or remove Applications to the top of the menu, \n for faster access, using the application's .desktop files, and, according to the MX-Fluxbox \n visual style,no icon is used.\n \n The 'Pin' button shows a list of the applications .desktop files installed on your system.\n Scroll down until you see the app you want to pin, double left click it.\n \n The 'Unpin' button shows a list of the applications .desktop files pinned to the menu. \n This does remove any 'normal' menu entries, only the ones related to .desktop files. \n \n IMPORTANT: Always have a back up copy of your ~/menu-mx file!" \
--button="Pin":"bash -c pin" \
--button="Unpin":"bash -c unpin" \
--button="Exit":0
echo $?
#####
@Jerry, I really have no time to work on any other suggestions I may have, but I'll be checking for news here on the forum for any development on this very nice idea you started!
P.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2020 11:32 am
by gsm
I like to have different wallpapers for each workspace. This is one reason i am using MX-Linux (XFCE).
There seems to be an utility called Fluxspace that could do the job
What about adding a tested and working Fluxspace to the repository, to make some settings possible including setting different wallpapers?
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2020 11:52 am
by Jerry3904
Never heard of it but I'll take a look, thanks.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 7:34 pm
by Jerry3904
There's only an alpha from 15 years ago as far as I can tell. Not holding my breath...
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:52 am
by Adrian
One thing I'm missing is a calendar when I click on the clock, is it possible to add such a thing? (sorry, it's 21 pages of stuff here, maybe this is discussed somewhere)
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:29 am
by Jerry3904
Orage is the calendar under Accessories, and you can leave it in systray
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:08 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
On fresh MX-19_64 installed <xfdashboard> 0.7.7.
XFCE4 set key board to open it with Control+d. works.
Installed mx-fluxbox for overlay session. Set fluxbox keys to open xfdashboard with Control+d.
Log-into MX-19 fluxbox session press Control+d and there is xfdashboard. works.
edit: updated the shortcut to Shift+Alt+f for all sessions.
"Maybe a Gnome shell like dashboard for Xfce"
Xfdashboard pager, launcher, application menu. at about 38MiB[anyone else? With or]. It can run without a daemon; close and gone.(?)
This mx-fluxbox session screen , look , so ,
see image attach thdashnodae.jpg
Shift+Alt+f
xfdashboard windows view. click or drop a [favorite]/launcher.
see image attach thxfdashboardwin.png
xfdashboard applications menu view (the theme is -wine(the red).) click or drop a menu item or favorite.
see image attach thxfdashboardapp.png
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 8:51 pm
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
This fresh install MX-19_64 adding mx-fluxbox
found a niggle with nomacs. the fluxbox session first use of a not-responsive nomacs did not show Language Select message dialogue. In xfce session the nomacs language select appears. select. Now nomacs works systemwide.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 8:14 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
MX-19_64 mx-fluxbox
A Main menu a Look menu a Settings menu.
The Look > Look executes xeyes; for fun.
Right-click upper desktop to have pointer poised near top of main menu.
Right-click low on desktop to have pointer poised near bottom of main menu.
This should weight the most used entries near top and bottom of main menu. Least used in the middle.
In this case the menu got so long that it is closer to put a link to all apps in the accessories tab than to mouse travel to the top of the main menu from the bottom. F6, okay.
Having no icons in menu is really smooth except one place. The kill zone strike area out of sight can use some big red x stop sign stop process icons next to each Menu item executing kill. (?) No, the big hammer is for file-manager.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:07 pm
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
idesk
Is it not ethical to copy command0 into command1 to make the left or right click inescapable same result?
Is there icon no-nos?
For the fluxhelp.lnk added Command[1]: /usr/bin/xmessage --msgbox "IDESK documents; opening browser" & xdg-open
https://mxlinux.org/wiki/help-files/help-mx-idesktool/
two helps in one. (?) left FAQ, right wiki.
Fair share. here is sample-data icon lnk for a happy, personal, small computer:
table Icon
Caption: watch MX
ToolTip.Caption: MX on Distrowatch
Icon: /usr/local/share/icons/start-menu/mx-icons-start-squarecolour6.png
Width: 48
Height: 60
Command[0]: xdg-open
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mx
Command[1]: /usr/bin/xmessage --msgbox "Visit mxlinux.org/ for info."
X: 500
Y: 500
end
change right-click into link to forum or anything you want to run. Open multiple actions like group with either-click on one idesk icon.
added : Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
idesk
image format. Have had working .xpm and .png.
not yet a .svg is not working here.
.
table Icon
Caption:
ToolTip.Caption: text and symbols
Icon: /usr/share/icons/Faenza/apps/48/accessories-character-map.png
Width: 48
Height: 48
X: 500
Y: 400
Command[0]: gucharmap
Command[1]: mx-idesktool
end
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 4:43 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
xfdashboard MX19_64
When hotcorner set to active in the xfdashboard settings
in the xfce session the hotcorner works because xfdashboard is startup.
in the fluxbox session the hotcorner works after commanding xfdashboard to daemon mode. Running the xfdashboard daemon will allow its hotcorner feature to be available.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 6:19 am
by Jerry3904
Interesting, thanks. I've not had much interest in or luck with either of these, but may need to look again.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:49 am
by i_ri
Hello Jerry3904 and Everyone
MX19_64
idesk
the background [wallpaper] parts of idesk seem to work here. for source plugged in /backgrounds/ path. for single file plugged in a /Pictures/ path. Background changed every three specified minutes. set interval to zero, source to None and the single file showed. file set back to None and idesk is off the background control.
Re: Want to create a set of tint2 configs for MX-21
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2021 2:17 pm
by tequila
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
yad --form --columns 1 --width=300 --title "Tisztitok" --borders=8 --window-icon="gtk-quit" --center \
--field="<span font='Monospace'>Bleachbit </span>!bleachbit!_bleachbit":fbtn "bleachbit" \
--field="<span font='Monospace'>BleachbitRoot </span>!_bleachbit":fbtn "su-to-root -X -c bleachbit" \
--field="<span font='Monospace'>MX Cleanup </span>!_cleanup":fbtn "su-to-root -X -c mx-cleanup" \
--field="<span font='Monospace'>Sweeper </span>!_sweeper":fbtn "sweeper"\
--field="<span font='Monospace'>Stacer </span>!_stacer":fbtn "stacer" \
--field="<span font='Monospace'>Adblock </span>!_adblock":fbtn "su-to-root -X -c block-advert.sh" \
--button=gtk-cancel:1 \
exit 0
A little script, In one place all the programs that can be important.
Re: Want to create a set of tint2 configs for MX-21
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 8:34 am
by tequila
Maybe someone is interested, on new laptop I did not find conky disk temperature.
I found a solution for tint2 panel:
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
temp1=$(sensors acpitz-acpi-0 | grep 'temp1'| tr -d '(),+' | awk '{printf("%.0f"),$2}')
temp2=$(sensors coretemp-isa-0000 | grep 'Core 0'| tr -d '(),+' | awk '{printf("%.0f"),$3}')
temp3=$(nvidia-smi -q -d TEMPERATURE | grep "GPU Current Temp" | awk -F ' ' '{ print $5 }')
temp4=$(hddtemp -n /dev/sda | cut -d " " -f3)
temp5=$(hddtemp -n /dev/sdb | cut -d " " -f3)
rpm=$(sensors | grep -i fan | head -n1 | sed -r 's/.*?:\s+(.*?)\s+RPM/\1/')
echo "$temp1°C"
echo "$temp2°P"
echo "$temp3°V"
echo "$temp4°D"
echo "$temp5°B"
printf "$rpm"
Re: Want to create a set of tint2 configs for MX-21
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 8:41 am
by tequila
with nvme disk:
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
temp3=$(sensors acpitz-acpi-0 | grep 'temp1'| tr -d '(),+' | awk '{printf("%.0f"),$2}')
temp2=$(sensors k10temp-pci-00c3 | grep -i "Tctl" | tr -d '(),+' | awk '{printf("%.0f"),$2}')
temp4=$(sensors amdgpu-pci-0500 | grep -i "edge" | tr -d '(),+' | awk '{printf("%.0f"),$2}')
temp1=$(sensors nvme-pci-0400 | grep -i "Composite" | tr -d '(),+' | awk '{printf("%.0f"),$2}')
rpm=$(sensors | grep -i fan | head -n1 | sed -r 's/.*?:\s+(.*?)\s+RPM/\1/')
echo "$temp3°P"
echo "$temp2°P"
echo "$temp4°V"
echo "$temp1°D"
printf "$rpm"
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:40 pm
by 3az
Hello friends, I hope this is the appropriate place to include this post.
I've created some themes for MX-Fluxbox, which I think look great.
I want to share it with you, I hope you like it. I made them thinking that one day, at least one of them will be considered to be included in the official realease.
I hope you like it. If you have a good comment, I will be grateful.
themes:
Simple-ArcDark -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1690655
Stylish-Arc - Dark -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1690652
Stylish-Adwaita - Light -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1685944
Stylish-Adwaita - Dark -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1685480
Simple-AdwaitaDark -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1686462
Simple-AdwaitaLight -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1686456
walls:
BrickWall -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1690639
CrossAndFrames - Light -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1685945
CrossAndFrames - Dark -->
https://www.pling.com/p/1685468
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:00 pm
by Jerry3904
Hey, welcome to the Forum! That is a great collection of themes for MX-Fluxbox, and we really appreciate your contributing them for all of us to enjoy.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:07 pm
by SwampRabbit
@3az I agree with Jerry, that is a great collection indeed.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:13 pm
by 3az
Thank you all!
From Peru, Land of the Incas, many greetings!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:55 pm
by Jerry3904
I have been in your wonderful land, once in the South where everybody goes and a second time in the North (Chachapoyas), where nobody goes.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 3:35 pm
by 3az
Hi Jerry3904, I'm glad you visited my wonderful land. I am in the north, in the coastal city of Chiclayo, 10 hours from Chachapoyas.
Chiclayo, is 1 hour from Sipan, birthplace of the Lord of Sipan.
A huge hug from these lands!!!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 3:50 pm
by Jerry3904
Even had lunch in Chiclayo!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 4:28 pm
by 3az
Cool!
Then you also know my city!
A new and immense hug from this warm city!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:28 pm
by kobaian
Good job!
That's why I like MX-Fluxbox! It's not only a question of WM, environment etc. It is also a community of great people, that share their ideas and work. Thank you!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:29 pm
by 3az
Hello kobaian,
It is a pleasure to greet!
Glad you liked them.
Enjoy them!
This work was made with that sense, that we all can use it!
thanks too!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:24 am
by tequila
Hi, someone might be interested in adjusting the brightness using the yad script:
Code: Select all
#!/bin/sh
YELLOW="\033[1;33m"
ENDCOLOR="\033[0m"
icon=cs-desktop
jas=$(xbacklight -get)
yad --image="$icon" \
--window-icon="$icon " \
--text="current is=$jas%" \
--button="20%":2 \
--button="40%":3 \
--button="60%":4 \
--button="80%":5 \
--button="100%":6 \
--button=gtk-cancel:1 \
--on-top
ret=$?
case $ret in
2) adj=20
;;
3) adj=40
;;
4) adj=60
;;
5) adj=80
;;
6) adj=100
;;
*) adj=$jas
;;
esac
if test $jas != $adj; then
xbacklight -set $adj
fi
echo -e $YELLOW"set brightness!"$ENDCOLOR
exit 0
xbacklight needs to be installed.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:52 am
by Jerry3904
Thanks, will give it a try!
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 8:10 am
by ceeslans
tequila wrote: Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:24 amHi, someone might be interested in adjusting the brightness using the yad script:
xbacklight needs to be installed.
Nice script. It doesnt work for me though
Saved the script as 'brightness-ctrl' and made it executable. Also installed xbacklight.
but when I run it, it doesnt draw current settings - and outs an error message "No outputs have backlight property"
and... MX' own 'Brightness-Systray' works without any problems.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 8:19 am
by Jerry3904
I couldn't get it to work either.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 8:55 am
by tequila
sorry, it works for me, here is the original:
Code: Select all
#!/usr/bin/env bash
YELLOW="\033[1;33m"
ENDCOLOR="\033[0m"
icon=cs-desktop
jas=$(xbacklight -get)
yad --mouse \
--undecorated \
--title "fenyerö" \
--image="$icon" \
--window-icon="$icon" \
--text="Valassz! Aktualis=$jas%" \
--button="10%":2 \
--button="40%":3 \
--button="60%":4 \
--button="80%":5 \
--button="100%":6 \
--button=gtk-cancel:1 \
--on-top
ret=$?
case $ret in
2) adj=10
;;
3) adj=40
;;
4) adj=60
;;
5) adj=80
;;
6) adj=100
;;
*) adj=$jas
;;
esac
if test $jas != $adj; then
xbacklight -set $adj
fi
echo -e $YELLOW"fenyerö bealitva!"$ENDCOLOR
exit 0
Original from link:
https://linuxos.sk/blog/zaphod/detail/r ... -z-linuxu/
I found a better one:
Code: Select all
#!/bin/bash
# detect monitor
MON=$(xrandr -q | grep " connected" | cut -f1 -d ' ')
# find current xrandr brightness value
XR=$(xrandr --verbose | grep -i brightness | cut -f2 -d ' ' | head -n1)
BrCur=`awk "BEGIN {print $XR*100}"` # calculate, so e.g. 0.5 gets 50
BrMax="100"
BrMin="10"
yad --undecorated --on-top --geometry=450x70+550+650 --scale --value $BrCur --print-partial --min-value $BrMin --max-value $BrMax --button="Done":1 | while read BrNew; do
# division using awk, so xrandr value gets e.g. 0.5 rather than 50
xrandr --output $MON --brightness $(awk "BEGIN {print $BrNew/100}")
done
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:24 am
by dolphin_oracle
not all backlights provide an interface that is operable with xbacklight.
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:03 am
by Huckleberry Finn
Afaik Xbacklight works (only) with Intel cards and also with
Intel driver (not with
modesetting). Therefore this may be required (even when the card is already Intel):
/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Code: Select all
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "TearFree" "true"
# Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight" # ( If the backlight directory is intel_backlight in /sys/class/backlight )
# Option "AccelMethod" "uxa" #could also use the default "sna"
EndSection
And for non-Intel devices / drivers
Acpilight might work (just maybe)
Re: MX-Fluxbox
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:34 am
by tequila
Original script with ddcutil didn't work for me on notebook so i wrote at xbacklight,it would be nice to combine the two.
2.sript,maybe someone is interested in the alarm,works on mx:
https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtop ... 2#p1045692
on Antix to be rewritten >kill $! to>pkill -P,at the end of the script> yad --fixed --center --button=gtk-cancel:1
