Want to install openbox and remove other window managers

[Member Hunt]

I am new on linux and have very little knowledge in this regard..

I want to use Openbox on Antix

So I want to know how can I install and configure Openbox and remove all the other window managers…

Thank you all..

[Member PPC]

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Hi, Hunt

Welcome to Linux, since you are new.
You ask a simple question, but the answer is complex, please read everything I write here:

To install openbox on antiX:
1- antiX Menu > Terminal > type this command and enter your password, if asked to:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openbox openbox-menu obconf lxsession-logout

(Please note that there may be some more packages that need to be installed, that are not included in the above command)

2- antiX Menu > Exit > Log out

3- On the log in screen press F1 until you see Openbox. Then enter your credentials to log on.

BUT:
If you are new to Linux do not try to do that
If you want a more familiar interface, you can install and activate FT10 (it’s the package ft10-transformation)
antiX is a combination of Window managers and many other programs and scripts working together- installing another Windows Manager, like Openbox can have unforseen results, specially if you don’t know what you are doing (and, since you are new on linux, you don’t)
Please read the sticky posts here on the forum, to get to know antiX, before trying to do something as radical as changing the User Interface…
… If you are running antiX Live, feel free to install openbox, and check out how well it works with antiX.
Also, there’s Bento Linux (an antiX spin that uses Openbox)- https://linuxvillage.org/en/

P.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by PPC.

[Moderator christophe]

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If you are new to linux, why do you want to “reinvent the wheel” by installing & configuring openbox on antiX?
You can, of course. But antiX has great options for you pre-configured…
In my opinion, openbox is not easy to configure (antiX’s default window managers are all easier — again, that’s my opinion — to further tweak to one’s liking).
However, please do as you like. 🙂

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by christophe.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member PPC]

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christophe wrote:

If you are new to linux, why do you want to “reinvent the wheel” by installing & configuring openbox on antiX

I’m not a mind reader, but since the OP clarified that had “very little knowledge” I’m betting that he/she was not trying to “sound smart”, but probably read somewhere that Openbox used very little system resources and wanted to try to make antiX even lighter…
If that’s the case, I probably should also have explained, in my previous post that the 3 floating window managers that are included, out of the box, in antiX are about as light as Openbox, and Fluxbox is a “cousin” of Openbox – very similar, but also includes it’s own toolbar (unfortunately a very basic one, that does not even allow a proper menu button or any quick launch icons).

Also, removing the existing Window Managers does nothing to save system resources, and can cause problems with dependencies and saves what? Some 10 or 20mb of disk space or so? Not worth the risk.

The FT10 package exists also for people that want to change the way antiX looks, without risking messing up the system – every little detail is (I hope) perfectly configured and working in harmony with every single one of the pre defined antiX Window Managers…

One good thing about antix – if you mess it up so bad you have to install, it’s up and running some 10 to 40 minutes later (depending on your hardware and install media).

P.

[Moderator christophe]

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@PPC – Yes, all good points. And your instructions are good.

@Hunt – I suggest you test out antiX as created. Then when you have more knowledge, perhaps add openbox. But of course, it’s up to you.

PPC wrote:

the 3 floating window managers that are included, out of the box, in antiX are about as light as Openbox

Regarding openbox, I’m not sure how much configuration instruction you will receive on this forum, since openbox isn’t a part of standard antiX. But I’m sure we’ll help if our members have the knowledge.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by christophe.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by christophe.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Moderator BobC]

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Are you really sure OpenBox is better? Exactly what is better about it? Make yourself a list of pros and cons of each.

Installing OpenBox isn’t hard, but you can spend a lot of time configuring it to make it pleasing…

My suggestion, in this order would be:

1. Try running antiX stock from USB, first, and alter the configuration to make it work the way you would like it.
2. Try running antiX from USB, Install and try PPC’s FT10 reconfiguration of antiX.
3. Try running a ready made OpenBox respin like Bento if its that important to you.
4. Try running antiX stock from USB, and install OpenBox on it, and configure it as you would like it. Don’t bother removing the other Window Managers, as it will just cause you grief, unless you are a glutton for punishment.

When you get to where you like it, install it or run it from frugal.

5. Start from Core and build your own…

I think I’ve tried all of these over the years. Hope you find a setup you like 🙂

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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I’m in agreement with you, BobC, that as a window manager (by itself without a desktop environment), Openbox is a rather minimal window manager with limited features, similar footprint size, and not standard with antiX.

Those who are interested in Openbox are best served in distributions that feature and customize Openbox.

Beginners here are advised to use IceWM. Experienced users can use Fluxbox, one of the tiling window managers, (or go ahead and experiment, but then they are on their own).

--
Brian Masinick

[Moderator BobC]

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I’ve tried Melodys Bento respin before, and if I was really wanting antiX with OpenBox, that would be the path I’d take.

Especially for someone new to Linux, you would learn much quicker by looking at something that works, and could be more confident of ending up with good results if you started with an antiX system already setup with OpenBox that you could dig into and tweak rather than starting from scratch and needing to ask 500 questions to get it all working correctly.

Just sayin…

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