AV Linux... continue with Openbox, or not?

[Aceediq]

@AVLinux would users of AVL-MXE need a clean install when the new ISO comes out?

[AVLinux]

@AVLinux would users of AVL-MXE need a clean install when the new ISO comes out?

Unfortunately yes, far deeper changes than you might think were required to completely remove Openbox (and related helper apps, scripts, themes etc.. etc..) and then get XFCE4 and xfwm4 whipped into shape. I can't address it all with a simple Package update. I'm also taking the opportunity to make a more common custom/extra package base that will work for both AVL and MXDE so they will share a common Package base and cut down on future duplication. Currently I'm at a standstill because Liquorix has made a major change that breaks compatibility with the ISO build system. The MX devs are working their miracles on it so hopefully we will be back in the building business soon but in any case to get all the changes and full XFCE4 features unfortunately people will need to reinstall from the ISO..

[Aceediq]

@AVLinux would users of AVL-MXE need a clean install when the new ISO comes out?

Unfortunately yes, far deeper changes than you might think were required to completely remove Openbox (and related helper apps, scripts, themes etc.. etc..) and then get XFCE4 and xfwm4 whipped into shape. I can't address it all with a simple Package update. I'm also taking the opportunity to make a more common custom/extra package base that will work for both AVL and MXDE so they will share a common Package base and cut down on future duplication. Currently I'm at a standstill because Liquorix has made a major change that breaks compatibility with the ISO build system. The MX devs are working their miracles on it so hopefully we will be back in the building business soon but in any case to get all the changes and full XFCE4 features unfortunately people will need to reinstall from the ISO..

concerning liquorix, is the change on a new kernel or all kernels?

[AVLinux]

@AVLinux would users of AVL-MXE need a clean install when the new ISO comes out?

Unfortunately yes, far deeper changes than you might think were required to completely remove Openbox (and related helper apps, scripts, themes etc.. etc..) and then get XFCE4 and xfwm4 whipped into shape. I can't address it all with a simple Package update. I'm also taking the opportunity to make a more common custom/extra package base that will work for both AVL and MXDE so they will share a common Package base and cut down on future duplication. Currently I'm at a standstill because Liquorix has made a major change that breaks compatibility with the ISO build system. The MX devs are working their miracles on it so hopefully we will be back in the building business soon but in any case to get all the changes and full XFCE4 features unfortunately people will need to reinstall from the ISO..

concerning liquorix, is the change on a new kernel or all kernels?

Only Kernels beyond 5.19.0-14.1-liquorix are affected, see here:
viewtopic.php?t=72693

[handy]

@AVLinux , hi there. :)

Sometime ago you sent me a link to your Openbox spin. From memory (my memory ain't what it used to be) you have Openbox as the window manager on top of LxQT or similar?

If that is true, would I be able to get instructions from you on how to remove the DE from underneath? As I'm at the point where I'm being forced to have to upgrade/re-install MX, as my old MX18 is no longer supported & some things that I want to do, I can't due to the odd out of date file.

I'm asking you about this as I'm sorry to say that I've become that far out of touch with the functioning of Linux (possibly since I left the rolling release scene? & definitely due to the age of my brain! ).

[Aceediq]

Unfortunately yes, far deeper changes than you might think were required to completely remove Openbox (and related helper apps, scripts, themes etc.. etc..) and then get XFCE4 and xfwm4 whipped into shape. I can't address it all with a simple Package update. I'm also taking the opportunity to make a more common custom/extra package base that will work for both AVL and MXDE so they will share a common Package base and cut down on future duplication. Currently I'm at a standstill because Liquorix has made a major change that breaks compatibility with the ISO build system. The MX devs are working their miracles on it so hopefully we will be back in the building business soon but in any case to get all the changes and full XFCE4 features unfortunately people will need to reinstall from the ISO..

concerning liquorix, is the change on a new kernel or all kernels?

Only Kernels beyond 5.19.0-14.1-liquorix are affected, see here:
viewtopic.php?t=72693

are you planning on using the latest kernels to make the ISO builds? if not, how does this affect the ISO builds if you use kernels earlier tha 5.19?

[AVLinux]

@AVLinux , hi there. :)

Sometime ago you sent me a link to your Openbox spin. From memory (my memory ain't what it used to be) you have Openbox as the window manager on top of LxQT or similar?

If that is true, would I be able to get instructions from you on how to remove the DE from underneath? As I'm at the point where I'm being forced to have to upgrade/re-install MX, as my old MX18 is no longer supported & some things that I want to do, I can't due to the odd out of date file.

I'm asking you about this as I'm sorry to say that I've become that far out of touch with the functioning of Linux (possibly since I left the rolling release scene? & definitely due to the age of my brain! ).

Hi,

I have done a few different ISO builds and I do have one that is Openbox with LXDE GTK2 'classic' (not LXQT) called 'MXDE' here:
http://www.bandshed.net/mxde-a-custom-m ... xde-build/

This particular thread is about removing Openbox from my main 'product' AV Linux which is XFCE4 with Openbox so it's really the opposite of what you are looking for which is to have Openbox without an underlying Desktop Environment. To be honest I don't know how to do that safely in either build. 'MXDE' really is mostly Openbox with the minimum required LXDE stuff so it's already pretty close to what you want.. Sadly, I won't be continuing with MXDE because it seems imminent that Debian will be removing GTK2 from their next release so that will effectively end LXDE 'classic' and i have no interest in LXQT and have moved to the 'Enlightenment' Desktop since there are no other Enlightenment based MX ISO's out there and it's an intriguing alternative..

That said MXDE should run quite nicely as long as Debian 11 'Bullseye' is supported.. If you are moving from MX-18 I don't know how future-proof Openbox is since it doesn't work with Wayland which will most likely succeed Xorg, I personally think Openbox days are numbered and perhaps MX-Fluxbox or MX XFCE4 are a bit more future-friendly if you are starting fresh, but that is an opinion. I wish things that aren't broken could be left alone but that's not how the open-source world works sometimes..

[AVLinux]

are you planning on using the latest kernels to make the ISO builds? if not, how does this affect the ISO builds if you use kernels earlier tha 5.19?

It's not imperative that I have the very latest Kernel but this ISO will probably not be updated again for a while so if possible and if the ISO build tools can be modified to work with the new Liquorix changes I am hoping to provide an up to date 6.X Kernel

[handy]

@AVLinux , thanks for your informative reply & the link, I'll mull it over in my search for a solution.

Also, I agree with the "if it ain't broke, then don't fix it" philosophy.

[handy]

Addendum to last post: I've discovered homebrew: https://docs.brew.sh/Homebrew-on-Linux which allows me to "safely" install the latest versions of gcc , g++ & such on my unsupported version of MX18. This in turn allowed me to install visualstudio.code from its home page.

So I've bought my unsupported MX18 a little more time whilst I reluctantly move towards installing & building a customised replacement. Happy boy!