7.0 KiB
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