LXDE missing lxpolkit [SOLVED]

[figueroa]

Installing lxde desktop from the MX Package Manager does not include installing lxpolkit by default. However, lxpolkit is absolutely required to run applications from the desktop that invoke root (su-to-root). With lxpolkit, LXDE works great and the default configuration is totally usable, as long as lxpolkit is installed.

lxpolkit IS a recommended pacakge, but this degree of desktop dysfunction should not happen by default.

MX-19 works great wtih the default XFCE, but looks terrible in a remote x2go session because transparency doesn't work. That's all.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

lxpolkit IS a recommended pacakge, but this degree of desktop dysfunction should not happen by default.

The MX devs have decided to disable recommended packages by default, see the comment in /etc/apt/apt.conf

To remove this restriction just move that file out of the way:

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sudo mv /etc/apt/apt.conf{,.bak}

[figueroa]

The MX devs have decided to disable recommended packages by default, see the comment in /etc/apt/apt.conf

Thank you for replying. I wouldn't want to do that. I agree with not installing recommended packages by default. But, lxpolkit is totally needed for LXDE. Installing lxpolkit should be forced when installing LXDE from MX Package Installer. Otherwise, why have MX Package Installer? Would we install VirtualBox without modules? MX Package Installer is supposed to improve the user experience when installing software. That's why I wrote about this.

I don't mean to sound like a complainer. MX Linux works great. In fact, LXDE works great as a desktop on MX, except for the missing lxpolkit. And it wasn't easy figuring out why programs wouldn't authenticate as root from the desktop. I'm almost an expert and I noticed lxpolkit was in the recommended apps, but I assumed it wasn't needed in MX since it wasn't installed by default.

The truth is, I ultimately installed about half of the recommended programs in order be able to manage and configure LXDE and its window manager with the GUI.

In my clumsy way I'm trying to make a contribution by sharing my experience. I realize that many dysfunctions are simply inherited from upstream. I also realize that not many users care about LXDE. Sometime tomorrow afternoon I'll share here the list of what else I installed to improve the LXDE experience.

[asqwerth]

... lxpolkit is totally needed for LXDE. Installing lxpolkit should be forced when installing LXDE from MX Package Installer. Otherwise, why have MX Package Installer? Would we install VirtualBox without modules? MX Package Installer is supposed to improve the user experience when installing software. That's why I wrote about this.

....The truth is, I ultimately installed about half of the recommended programs in order be able to manage and configure LXDE and its window manager with the GUI.

In my clumsy way I'm trying to make a contribution by sharing my experience. I realize that many dysfunctions are simply inherited from upstream. I also realize that not many users care about LXDE. Sometime tomorrow afternoon I'll share here the list of what else I installed to improve the LXDE experience.

Hi, figueroa, I just checked the MXPI entry for LXDE under Popular Apps. Looks like that entry doesn't include lxpolkit, probably because not many of us are using LXDE (I used to use it in WattOS and Kanotix, but that was years ago and it came preinstalled).

I would recommend you post in the Bugs subforum or Bugzilla your list of all the recommended packages that you ultimately installed, so that the Popular Apps entry, which is supposed to be a one-click way to get your desired application up and running, can be improved for LXDE.

[sunrat]

I think MX should reconsider installing recommended packages by default. Debian does now.
Recommended packages used to be a dog's breakfast at times in the past but is much more sane these days.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

The MX devs have decided to disable recommended packages by default, see the comment in /etc/apt/apt.conf

Thank you for replying. I wouldn't want to do that. I agree with not installing recommended packages by default.

Apply the option temporarily then:

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sudo apt install --install-recommends task-lxde-desktop

^ That will install the desktop as it would be if you had used the Debian LXDE image. Other options are the lxde & lxde-core metapackages, which will install a more minimal subset of the LXDE desktop packages.

I think MX should reconsider installing recommended packages by default.

+1

[dreamer]

@Head_on_a_Stick
Your replies provide valuable info, but you are missing the point, because

so that the Popular Apps entry, which is supposed to be a one-click way to get your desired application up and running, can be improved for LXDE.

which was all that figueroa wanted. This was meant as help to other people and the MX team so we should thank him for pointing this out.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

^ My replies are intended to aid anybody who wants to install recommended packages.

[figueroa]

I would recommend you post in the Bugs subforum or Bugzilla your list of all the recommended packages that you ultimately installed, so that the Popular Apps entry, which is supposed to be a one-click way to get your desired application up and running, can be improved for LXDE.

Thank you and good idea. I'll do that. I'll post as suggested in the Bugs subforum.

Apply the option temporarily then:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install --install-recommends task-lxde-desktop

^ That will install the desktop as it would be if you had used the Debian LXDE image. Other options are the lxde & lxde-core metapackages, which will install a more minimal subset of the LXDE desktop packages.

In the case of LXDE, I wouldn't want to do that either. The total recommended programs are a bit of a dog's breakfast in this case. One would end up with unnecessary duplication to what's already installed in MX-19 out-of-the-box, and I don't intend to un-install any of that. I'm using LXDE as a supplementary desktop here, not as a replacement.

What I did end up installing in addition to lxpolkit was: gtk2-engines gnome-disk-utility gnome-system-tools gucharmap usermode lxhotkey-plugin-openbox lxhotkey-data and obconf. Of those, I would put obconf (GUI OpenBox configuration manager) highest on the list. Why install a WM without it's configuration tool?

[dolphin_oracle]

I've just added lxpolkit to the lxde entry in Popular Apps. Will probabky show up in a day or two