mayfrost-guides/X.md

#X Set xorg and a desktop environment fast.

##NO DE To use a window manager without any desktop environment, or even a login manager, you can just install the applications mentioned here. After that you login and simply type: start whenever you want to start X.

Next is an example ".xinitrc" file:

# load your preferred terminal settings
[[ -f ~/.Xresources ]] && xrdb -merge -I$HOME ~/.Xresources

# load your preferred keybindings
xbindkeys

# set the wallpaper (requires hsetroot to be installed)
hsetroot -fill ~/.wallpaper.jpg

# alternative way to set the wallpaper using imagemagick (DISABLED)
#display -size 1280x800 -window root ~/.wallpaper.png

# launch the window manager (needs to be done at the end)
exec dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session ratpoison

##RATPOISON

Productive, automated, scriptable, and minimal, Ratpoison is a strict tiling window manager using similar bindings to GNU Screen. A few of its benefits are.

• No mouse used, all done by commands called by typing "control" and "t" at the same time, plus another key.
• You can set your own bindings in the file ".ratpoisonrc" which is extremely friendly.
• Extensible by scripts. The "rpws" script for example adds multiple workspaces (comes by default), another script ("expose.pl") gives a mozaic of current windows.

###A few keys to get you started.

• Show the help cheatsheet: Ctrl-t + ?

• Bring an application menu: Ctrl-t + .

• Get time and date: Ctrl-t + a

• Clear screen from help cheatsheet or menu: Esc

• Show open windows: Ctrl-t + w

• Close a window: Ctrl-t + k

• Swith back between windows: Ctrl-t + Ctrl-t

• Go to next window: Ctrl-t + n Ctrl-t + Space

• Go to previous window: Ctrl-t + p

• Split screen vertically: Ctrl-t + s

• Split screen horizontally: Ctrl-t + S

• Go to next frame: Ctrl-t + Tab

• Go to previous frame: Ctrl-t + Alt-Tab

• Make a window the only one visible: Ctrl-t + Q

The custom ".ratpoisonrc" used here can be customized to your need

# text editor
bind e exec gjots2
bind E exec xterm -e elvis

# web browser
bind y exec palemoon
# highlight an url in a window and the url is opened in a new tab
bind Y exec palemoon `$RATPOISON -c getsel`

# MOC as a music player, alsamixer as volume control
bind o exec xterm -e mocp
bind O exec xterm -e alsamixer

# file manager
bind d exec spacefm
bind D exec xterm -e vifm

# mail
bind g exec xterm -e mutt

# IRC
bind h exec xterm -e irssi

# RSS
bind j exec liferea
bind J exec xterm -e newsbeuter

# password manager
bind z exec xterm -e kpcli
# looks for the JDownloader program under the designated path
bind Z exec ~/jd2/JDownloader2

# expose-like switch window by using "Ctrl-t + ,". Get the script from http://ratpoison.wxcvbn.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl/expose.pl
bind comma exec ~/bin/expose.pl

# as colon invoke ratpoison commands, semicolon invoke shell commands ("Ctrl-t + ;")
bind semicolon exec

# no startup message announcing what the prefix keys are
startup_message off

# change font, color and position for messages
set font "Fixed-11"
set fgcolor gray
set bgcolor black
set bargravity c

# normal cursor
exec xsetroot -cursor_name left_ptr

# fix java swing, needs wmname from suckless
exec wmname LG3D

# multiple workspaces by using "Alt + FX" (where "FX" is from F1 to F4), needs rpws script
exec rpws init 4 -k

# get rid of the one pixel border around windows
set border 0

##XBINDKEYS Custom keys can be added with the Xbindkeys program.

With the help of the default xev program you can check the keys you want:

• Start the program and type the key you want to see its information xev > keys.txt
• Look for the line that says keycode KEY_NUMBER (keysym INGORE_THIS, KEY_NAME)
• Now on xbindkeysrc you'll be adding the information for each bind you want:

"WHAT_YOU_WANT_HERE_GOES_HERE"
  m:0x0 + c:KEY_NUMBER
  KEY_NAME

In the example below we'll have the modified keys:

• The "windows" key switch windows using dmenu pre-installed.
• The "menu" key brings an application launcher you type names into using dmenu.
• The "print screen" key takes a screenshot using imagemagick.
• The "scroll lock" key records the desktop using either libav-tools or ffmpeg.
• The "mute" button if available will mute/unmute volume.
• The "lower volume" button if available will lower volume.
• The "raise volume" button if available will raise volume.

Now the example ".xbindkeysrc" file:

# Enable "Scroll_Lock" for the next keybinding
keystate_scrolllock= enable

# Switch windows using the "windows key" (needs dmenu)
"ratpoison -c "select $(ratpoison -c "windows "%t"" | dmenu -nf gray -nb black -sf black -sb gray -b -l 20)""
  Super_L

# Launch application using the "menu key" (needs dmenu)
"dmenu_run -nf gray -nb black -sf black -sb gray -b"
  m:0x0 + c:135
  Menu

# Take screenshot using the "print screen key" (needs imagemagick)
"import -window root png:$HOME/xwz_$(date "+%Y-%m-%d-%H:%M:%S").png"
  m:0x0 + c:107
  Print

# Record desktop (needs libav-tools or ffmpeg)
"killall -INT avconv 2>/dev/null || avconv -f x11grab -r 25 -s 1280x720 -i :0.0 $HOME/output.webm &"
  m:0x0 + c:78
  Scroll_Lock

# Mute/unmute volume
"amixer set Master toggle"
  m:0x0 + c:121
  XF86AudioMute

# Lower volume
"amixer set PCM 5%-"
  m:0x0 + c:122
  XF86AudioLowerVolume

# Raise volume
"amixer set PCM 5%+"
  m:0x0 + c:123
  XF86AudioRaiseVolume

##TERMINAL EMULATOR

To tweak the theme of your terminal emulator you need to tweak the ".Xresources" file. Each time you make changes run xrdb -merge

Next is an example ".Xresources" file:

xterm*maximized:	true
xterm*background:	black
xterm*foreground:	grey
xterm*cursorColor:	green
xterm*cursorBlink:	false
xterm*faceName:	Fixedsys Excelsior 3.01:size=11:antialias=true
xterm*faceNameDoublesize:	WenQuanYi Zen Hei
xterm*termName:	xterm-256color
xterm*locale:	true
xterm*utf8Title:	true
xterm*dynamicColors: true
xterm*borderWidth: 0
xterm*eightBitInput:   false
xterm*metaSendsEscape: true
xterm*decTerminalID:	vt340


urxvt*maximized:	true
urxvt*background:	black
urxvt*foreground:	white
urxvt*cursorColor:	green
urxvt*cursorBlink:	false
urxvt*faceName:	GNU Unifont:size=12:antialias=true
urxvt*faceNameDoublesize:	WenQuanYi Zen Hei
urxvt*termName:	urxvt-256color
urxvt*locale:	true
urxvt*utf8Title:	true
urxvt*font: fixed
urxvt*boldFont: fixed
urxvt*dynamicColors: true
urxvt*borderWidth: 0

##SCREEN TEARING To solve screen tearing you can use any of these config files in its appropriate directory.

• In the case you have Intel add these to "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf":

Section "Device"
   Identifier 	"Intel Graphics"
   Driver 	"intel"
   Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection

• In the case you have AMD add these to "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-amdgpu.conf":

Section "Device"
   Identifier "AMD Graphics"
   Driver "amdgpu"
   Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection

Another way to add changes is in the "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" file:

Section "Device"
   Identifier  "Intel Graphics"
   Driver      "intel"
   Option      "AccelMethod"  "uxa"
   Option      "TearFree" "true"
EndSection