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Messages - PackRat

#2161
Artwork & Screenshots / Re: September 2013 Screenshots
September 16, 2013, 03:08:57 AM
messing around with window placement while downloading velociraptor:



let the system configuration begin -

#2162
Messing around with adding pseudo tiling behavior in fluxbox while downloading V-raptor.

Getting mixed results:



The code if anyone interested wants to tinker with it. Started out as an exercise in using MacroCmd and ToggleCmd for some keybindings:

Mod1 Shift l :MacroCmd {MoveTo 0 0 UpperLeft} {ResizeTo 683 200} {MaximizeVertical}
Mod1 Shift r :MacroCmd {MoveTo 0 0 UpperRight} {ResizeTo 683 200} {MaximizeVertical}
Mod1 Shift t :MacroCmd {MoveTo 0 0 UpperLeft} {RezizeTo 200 393} {MaximizeHorizontal}
Mod1 Shift b :MacroCmd {MoveTo 0 0 LowerLeft} {ResizeTo 100 393} {MaximizeHorizontal}

Mod4 Shift h :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 682 364} {MoveTo 0 0 UpperLeft}
Mod4 Shift j :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 682 364} {MoveTo 0 0 UpperRight}
Mod4 Shift k :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 682 364} {MoveTo 0 0 LowerLeft}
Mod4 Shift l :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 682 364} {MoveTo 0 0 LowerRight}
#2163
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 15, 2013, 01:57:01 PM
@vastone -

Yes, I find fluxbox much easier to configure than openbox since you don't need to deal with xml syntax. In all fairness though, I was using blackbox and fluxbox with RedHat 6 and 7 before openbox was around so there is a familiarity issue.

The real selling point(s) for me are:
1. tabbed windows -- can't live without 'em
2. self contained - don't need tint2 or some other 3rd party panel

Openbox is a solid window manager though - I know people that love pipe menus; which I don't think fluxbox can do (fluxbox macro maybe?) - but fvwm can. Like most things linux, you find what works for you and go with it.

I only recommended removing openbox and geany (which I use, by the way) because there is a duplication of services there with your preferred apps fluxbox and medit - same with spacefm and thunar. I am very much a advocate of the "one app that works" design philosophy when it comes to distros. The nice thing about using debian is that what the end user ultimately wants to use is typically only an "apt-get install" away.

So design VSIDO like you would paint a landscape or sculpt a still life and make it an extension of your self. We end users can then decide which frame suits our needs.

Looking forward to the new release, may prompt me to do a clean install if I have the time.
#2164
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 15, 2013, 01:40:09 AM
@statmonkey -

I'm guessing - no betting! - it was urukrama's blog you were using for openbox.

If you want/need to learn fluxbox, start with the HowTo section of the fluxbox wiki; and ask your questions in the fluxbox section of the wm configuration thread. The fluxbox thread over at #! forums is almost as good as VSIDO one  ;D
#2165
Artwork & Screenshots / Re: September 2013 Screenshots
September 14, 2013, 02:47:41 AM
@dizzie -

yep, some days you just don't want the eye candy ....

#2166
Artwork & Screenshots / Re: September 2013 Screenshots
September 12, 2013, 11:01:09 PM
^ what services are running / not running to get that memory usage?

booted the live usb and kicked the tires on the new build for a bit; smooth.

back on topic - bspwm; it's nice but still prefer fluxbox and i3 - tabbed windows are so much better IMHO:

#2167
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 12, 2013, 05:15:38 PM
@lwfitz

geany doesn't need any of xfce, just a couple gtk libs, and whatever plugins you want to install with it.
#2168
WM Designs and Discussions / bspwm window manager
September 11, 2013, 05:18:08 PM
Been checking out bspwm - second time I've tried it, put a little more patience and effort into this time.

It's a tiling window manager written by an arch linux user - check out the dedicated thread

There are two programs to install - bspwm itself, and the program to define the key bindings - sxhkd - both available from the github linked in the op of the arch thread.

Here is a good HowTo for installing on a debian system (it's in the aur for you arch users).

First time I tried using bspwm, I tried it with xbindkeys because sxhkd wasn't working for me (and a couple #! users) but following that HowTo fixed whatever was messing me up - dependency? Using xbindkeys was causing some issues with other window managers on my system, so go with sxhkd. Two other recommended programs - dzen2 and dmenu.

There is a bit of a learning curve - particularly with the default key bindings - to understand how the windows get manipulated, so read the man pages for bspwm and sxhkd before logging in for the first time. After learning some basics, and setting up some key bindings you're comfortable with, manipulating windows becomes pretty straight forward.

Like most tilers, it has it's default layout - the binary space partitioning was why I checked it out in the first place, it's unique. But, window partitioning can be manual as well - reminiscent of musca window manager for any that have tried it - so it's really easy to get open windows into the layout you want.

Some screenshots -



Panels do work with this window manager, but I'm not sure I got them set up correctly - got the panel started, but it is "always on top" so a portion of the active window disappears beneath the panel. Don't know if that's the default and can be changed. One way around it is to set the:

bspc config window_gap

in the $HOME/.config/bspwm/bspwmrc file to a value that leaves the panel uncovered, but there is only one setting for left, right, top, bottom, and space between open windows so a setting of 20 to clear a panel will leave a lot of unused screen space.



The default panels are defined by some pretty impressive bash scripts and require dzen2 be installed.

The conky in the screenshots is a regular conky with:

own_window no

Rules can be set up so that windows float by default (xine in the screenshot) and open on a particular desktop (9 virtual desktops by default).

All in all, a good, usable window manager that doesn't take too much effort to learn the basics. Hopefully, the project continues. This single post can't really do it justice, read through the arch thread to get an idea of what can be done with this wm; or watch the screencast (link at top of page) -- http://www.reddit.com/r/unixporn/comments/1m0ea1/arch_bspwm_why_bspwm_watch_this_screencast_and/
#2169
Artwork & Screenshots / Re: September 2013 Screenshots
September 11, 2013, 01:41:20 AM
@jed -

that the test release, or a re-install?
#2170
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 11, 2013, 01:39:37 AM
Reconfigured my vsido to mirror the planned release. I like it, sound quality is better with pulseaudio, never really used xfce so it's not missed. Will miss geany, but medit is solid.

Going to be a good release when you're done.
#2171
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 10, 2013, 05:30:13 PM
^ SalixOS (slackware based) has a fluxbox spin.

just curious, were you going with systemd, or sticking with the debian default? What about EFI?
#2172
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 10, 2013, 03:28:50 PM
Sorry, what I meant was that I think geany has a couple of gnome/gtk dependencies that medit does not require, so removing geany removes them as well.

Just looking through the default menu, there doesn't appear to be any gnome apps that would have dependencies; just the usual gtk apps and a couple qt apps.

the 3.10.2 kernel is stable on both my desktop (testing) and laptop (VSIDO). Runs a bit hot on my laptop (HP).
#2173
VSIDO Discussions / Re: New Direction thoughts
September 10, 2013, 02:36:26 PM
Drop openbox, just go with fluxbox.

Will you be removing all of Xfce (thunar, terminal, mixer, etc ..)?

I'm really starting to like spacefm, the xfce terminal and mixer are good apps though.

Maybe remove some other apps as well - medit is default editor (your fav, I believe) so geany doesn't need to be included, unload a couple gnome dependencies as well.

Given the thread about issues with Umplayer and CD's, maybe swap that out as well.
#2174
I've Got a Life / Re: Kid's and Dog's
September 10, 2013, 12:14:15 PM
I'm hoping our upcoming move back west will help him out. We are down south now - S. Carolina - and the humidity is making my joints ache. The dog's hip issues are definitely worse here. We'll be heading to where is will be colder, but dryer summer and winter.

I'm originally from the Pacific Northwest, so I'm basically heading home.
#2175
Artwork & Screenshots / Re: September 2013 Screenshots
September 10, 2013, 12:10:38 PM
CPU heat issues. Upgrading to the 3.11 kernel has worked out well - temps not going above mid 50's C with video running and other apps going.

I don't know if I can get the temp of my intel graphics on this laptop - be nice if I could. Have to check on that.

Back on topic -

bspwm - tiling window manager written by an Arch linux user (dedicated thread on their forum):



Second time I've checked this out. Nice tiler, default layout is unique (see Arch forum for details). Bit tricky to get installed and configured, if I figure some more of it out I'll post some results in the wm thread.

simple howto -- https://github.com/windelicato/dotfiles/wiki/bspwm-for-dummies