X

Set xorg and a desktop environment fast.

NO DE
RATPOISON
XBINDKEYS
TERMINAL EMULATOR
SCREEN TEARING

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:
startx
whenever you want to start X.

Next is an example ".xinitrc" file which goes under in your home directory:

# 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" file which goes under in your home directory can be customized to your needs:

# 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" add the information for each bind:

"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 which goes under in your home directory:

# 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 which goes under in your home directory:

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

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