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Welcome to T.he L.inux G.uide O.nline
The following is a reference to Linux. Please feel free to
contact me for any details.
Chapter 06 - Window Managers
This chapter covers a variety of window managers that are
available for the XFree86 server. As you have learnt in the
Chapter 5, that the X11 system provides the base for the various
window managers that run to provide the user interface.
6.1 Introduction to X11 Window Managers
Using Linux and the XFree86 distribution of X11 means the
freedom of choice. The choices of not only how the GUI looks
like, but also the very interface itself if totally changeable.
This look and feel of any Linux GUI depends entirely on the
Window Manager, with the X server only providing the functionality.
The Windows manager is nothing but a simple X client that
executes first and provides "windows" for the other, later,
tasks to execute. Since the window manager itself is a client
it must be possible to run the X server without a Window Manager.
Do the following as an exercise to see how invaluable the
Window Managers really are.
Make a copy of the .xinitrc file. Then edit the file to delete
all the lines and include just one line as shown below
$ exec xterm
Run the 'startx' and see the X server based terminal that
is created. Note that this terminal is different from a normal
terminal, as it is graphical in nature. Quit the server using
either the "exit" command or the Ctrl+Alt+bkspace key combination.
It will be pretty obvious to you that without the movable
multiple windows, there is not much you can do. There come
in the Window Managers. Remember to restore your .xinitrc
file.
XFree86 server comes with a number of window managers and
you can also install others. Most will be in the form of rpm
files that can be directly installed. Following is a quick
overview of the various Window Managers. But the real experience
comes when you actually change to the manager and explore
its various options.
6.2 tvm and fvwm
The tvm or the Tab Window Manager comes with the XFree86
distribution. It provides the basics of Windows such as customizable
keyboard and mouse, Icons, Resizable windows and Window Titles.
The fvwm or the F Virtual Window Manager is a descendant
of the tvm and has many advantages like using lesser memory
and supporting fancier decorations. It may not be the wackiest
of Managers but provides the pager and Virtual Screens.
Left clicking anywhere on the desktop brings up the system
menu. The many options can be experimented with. For example
through the Preference you can change the colors, backgrounds
and the mouse speed. You can also save you settings by selecting
the save desktop. Window options include resize, move, hide,
close, tile among others.
You can also create a number of virtual desktops that can
have different clients running on them, and the desktops can
be changed with a mouse click from the desktop panel. You
can also customize each of these virtual windows in any way
you want. That is the power of Linux.
There is a newer version of FVWM called the FVWM2 that has
an interface very similar to that of Windows and even goes
as far as having a "Start" button. The fvwm startup file,
like that of the tvm, is located in the /etc/X11/fvwm directory.
Copy the file called system.fvwm to you home directory as
.fvwm file and edit it to change your settings.
6.3 AfterStep
Afterstep is one of the more elegant looking Window Managers,
yet another descendant of the fvwm Window Manager. It was
designed to have the look and feel of NextStep, a popular
GUI for UNIX. It goes beyond Next interface and adds some
useful features. The Manager incorporates a wharf (a floating
window) for applications, a root menu, and distinctive icons.
If you right click on the AfterStep icon or any where on the
wharf, it minimizes into an AfterStep icon. The wharf looks
like a table with drawers coming out. It can contain running
applications and folders of programs. It also has a work panel
that allows you to switch between different Virtual Windows.
The Open Windows appear on top. If you move the mouse to another
window it becomes active, without having to click on it, and
the window color changer correspondingly. On the active window
there is an option to minimize it. When you do that it folds
like a curtain on a bar. You may also iconify it whereby it
turns into an icon after showing a nice animation. The top
bar has options to resize, maximize, minimize, quit, kill,
take a screen or window shot. One small icon on the top left
switches to the next open window.
The default system wide configurations are found under the
/usr/share/afterstep directory. "afterstep" is the name to
specify in the .xinitrc to use this particular Window Manager.
When run for the first time it creates default configurations
under the GNUstep directory of your home directory. You can
control many features through these files such as the look
of the desktop, the color scheme and the window handling.
More information can be obtained from www.afterstep.org.
6.4 KDE
One of the most popular Window Managers in the recent times
has been the K Desktop Environment or the KDE. Its similarity
to the interface of Windows is the reason for its fame as
the first WM to have brought Desktop ease of use to the Linux
OS. It has a browser kind of interface, with limited functionality
too. Similar to GNOME, KDE has a panel that can be hidden,
that contains navigation to the Virtual Desktops and also
has short cuts to the various programs. The K icon resembles
the familiar "Start" windows menu. It also has icons to easily
and quickly access the floppy, CD-ROM and the printer as well.
There is an exhaustive help on KDE that has a browser feel
to it. There are also options available to unclutter the desktop,
arrange the windows and lock the screen as well.
KDE provides a taskbar at the top where all the running applications
appear. The taskbar or the familiar Alt+tab combination can
switch between the running applications. The Ctrl+tab keys
or the Ctrl+Function key can be used to select the various
virtual desktops.
One additional feature of this Manager is that it provides
tooltips or balloons that have hints about the object that
is currently under the cursor. Anybody who is familiar with
windows will find this option very useful, in fact reassuring.
Internet users too have a number of useful clients under the
Internet menu, a PPP dialer, news and email clients and more.
The Kppp is a powerful PPP dialer, similar to the Windows
dialer but very much more powerful and can generate logs too,
statistics and even calculate the cost of your Internet connection.
Installation of KDE can be done by compiling the source or
by installing pre-compiled binaries. The pre-compiled binaries
can be installed as rpm files that are available as a set
of about six different files that can all be installed using
the command
$ rpm -ivh kde*.rpm
KDE components are installed in the /opt/kde directory. To
launch and use KDE clients, you'll need to add the /opt/kde/bin/
directory to the PATH variable in your system. You should
also define the $QTDIR to point to /usr/local/qt directory
and add the /usr/local/qt/lib and /opt/kde/lib to the $LD_LIBRARY_PATH
variable.
6.5 Enlightenment
Any discussion about Window Managers is incomplete without
mentioning Enlightenment. This Manager dazzles by its sheer
looks and power. It provides tremendous flexibility and customization
options. It has been designed for complete freedom - in everything,
from background to borders. It was written from scratch, not
once but twice leaving it with very few limitations. It offers
themes to change everything in the window and also gives the
option of associating sounds with the various actions and
is fully GNOME compliant.
6.6 GNOME
So far we have discussed only Window Managers. GNOME (GNU
Network Object Model Environment) is a desktop environment
and not a Window Manager. GNOME is part of the future of graphical
X desktop for Linux for a variety of reasons. The software
is Open Source and may be built upon without any restrictions.
The software supports multiple Operating Systems and external
programming languages, and works with any GNOME aware Window
Manager like the Enlightenment. It also uses the latest CORBA
(Common Object Request Broker Architecture) that allow applications
to talk to each other seamlessly.
GNOME has an interface that is similar not only to the Windows
Environment but also to the KDE. GNOME is extremely easy and
powerful. Its help features are friendly and useful. The File
Manager has several advance functionalities that other FMs
can only dream of.
GNOME consists of a number of software components (about
15 rpm files). Installation can be done using the glint tool
or the rpm command.
One useful tool here is the 'switchdesk' command that automates
the process of changing the next Window Manager. If you have
a number of managers installed use this program to select
the one of your choice.
In conclusion it can be said that, with the current, status
enjoyed by GNOME it will be the preferred Manager of the future.
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