MX Linux Forum

Hello,

Has anyone got Window Maker (wmaker package + various wm* & a*(afterstep) applets that are in Debian repos), running on antiX or MX? I'm interested in this one (had it on the top of another distro for some time)

On MX it installs just fine (on antiX-base less so, but spent just few minutes on it, basically couldn't login into it from login screen), but to get it usable (integration of MX menus, applications, maybe gtk theming, selection of best fitting apps like fm, editor, console) may take time so why reinvent the wheel, if someone has it nicely working.

Windowmaker had last release in 3.2017 so recent enough even though being not so intensively developed, it's a light fast WM, just different compared to the rest: https://www.windowmaker.org

2 Debian based distros have/ had it, Sparky and Window Maker Live (discontinued now), and have different customized metapackages in their repos:
http://sparkylinux.org/repo/
https://sparkylinux.org/multi-desktop-installer/

http://wmlive.sourceforge.net
http://wmlive.rumbero.org
http://wmlive.rumbero.org/repo/

& GNUstep:
https://distrowatch.com/gnustep

What you referred to as "afterstep applets", I've known as "dockapps". https://www.dockapps.net is the most comprehensive catalog (and download) site for these.
Dockapps also work with (get swallowed into) the fluxbox "slit".
Because dockapps are non-antialiased and non-scalable, they are unappealing for use with high-res displays (so I avoid 'em).

Windowmaker desktop environment does not provide a toolbar//tray component. That's fine, we can use a freestanding fbpanel or tint2 panel or xxyyzz...
...but Xfce menu and/or whiskermenu, those are usable solely with xfce4-panel, and the xfce4-panel actions, at least "logout", are probably bound to xfce4-session

regarding theming, I believe this from my bookmarks is still accurate, still relevant: Window-Maker-Howto#gtk-and-qt-themes
Also from bookmarks, the (fonts) troubleshooting section of this page: Window_Maker

on antiX-base less so, but spent just few minutes on it, basically couldn't login into it from login screen

You would need to edit /etc/slim.conf and add wmaker as a choice. Upon login, you will discover that the antiX "Desktops }} Other Desktops" submenu is not designed to interoperate with windowmaker, and antiX "Update Menus" command does not (re)build windowmaker menu entries.

@skidoo, thanks for refreshing my memory, I had used all these resources you pasted, but long ago and didn't keep bookmarks/ couldn't find anymore. I tweaked a bit yesterday, and it's more or less coming to usable form:

-antiX: it adds wmaker to Slim just fine, just it cannot start/ login, probably as you mentioned how "Other desktop" interoperation works etc. There's some message like "cannot execute..." Jumps back to Slim login.
-I just decided to take "Minimal" MX script by Manyroads/Richard and start building on the top of that one instead.
-Dockapps will keep to minimum, intend to use no panel, using wmsystray instead (may opt for stalonetray though later)
-using Debian menu now, but it's too extensive and confusing, so using something like to get MX submenu:
(
"MX-Applications",
OPEN_PLMENU,
"|| find /usr/share/applications -type f -name '*desktop' | xargs wmmenugen -parser:xdg"
),
-and simplifying Wmaker menu (looking at Sparky/ Wmlive menu as reference), putting apps most fitting.
-i will probably just remove xfce completely, so whisker menu isn't a problem.
-logout works just fine with original wmaker menu.
-> may post a screenshot later

@skidoo: attached a screenshot Windowmaker on antiX - a bit ugly as mainly had some time to spend on the menu, but works just fine so far[