Openbox in Ubuntu 12.10

Installing Openbox on Ubuntu 12.10

10/30/2012

I know it's not usual to encourage people to use a DE/WM that a lot of people think it's old or not giving any desktop candy, but this is for people looking a lightweight environment. Openbox is a WM (window manager) that is fast, easy to shape/customize and really made life easier (at least for me, an ex Windoze user). The basic desktop environment of Ubuntu 12.10 is Gnome 3 with Unity 3D on top of it. Some like it, Others hate it. Some leave Ubuntu because of it, some stayed on and customizing it.

There are lots of ways to customize Ubuntu as you see fit. if you love the basic Windoze XP look, you can try to install LXDE or XFCE on Ubuntu 12.10. Or you just create a new look by installing other DE/WM that's available in the Ubuntu 12.10 repository.

So, here is how to install Openbox on Ubuntu 12.10:

While still on Unity 3D (default DE)
1. Open the terminal and type sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list delete the # symbol in front of every deb and deb-src, save the file and close gedit.

2. Add some important PPA (this is not obligatory or anything, it's just in case you might need it) type sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8 && sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/gnome3 && sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/themes && sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3.

3. Refresh the software list and installing any upgrade available by typing sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade.

4. Install some important software by typing sudo apt-get install synaptic openbox obconf openbox-xdgmenu menu menu-xdg xdg-utils python-xdg openbox-themes obmenu lxappearance lxappearance-obconf nitrogen xcompmgr gnome-tweak-tool xscreensaver lxterminal gtk-chtheme

5. Now you have to chose which dock/panel you'd like to install, there is LXpanel & XFCE4-panel which are close enough to Windoze XP panel, there is Avant-Window-Navigator which I think is good looking, has a lot of functioning and a bit resource hungry, or Tint2 which is just a taskbar (since right-clicking on Openbox shows the Menu). I personally choose XFCE4-panel so, type sudo apt-get install xfce4-panel to install it or if you chose the other, just change the xfce4-panel to anything you like.

6. Exit by Logging Out and Log back in but change the default session (Unity 3D) to Openbox session (it will be there after installing all the openbox related software up there).

In the Openbox environment
7. You'll see something that will intimidate you, The blank grey look all over your desktop, no panel no nothing. But there still a right click and you'll see a menu like terminal emulator, web browser and stuff.

8. In Ubuntu 12.10, the nautilus is responsible for managing icons on the desktop, as nautilus is the default file manager it would interfere the openbox control over your desktop (gives a full blue and no openbox component appear) so, right click and select terminal emulator, a basic terminal emulator will open for you. type gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background show-desktop-icons false. By doing this, nautilus act just like another file manager.

9. Type in there sudo nautilus --no-desktop to open nautilus (Ubuntu's basic file manager) with root access. Press ctrl-H to show hidden files and folder.

10. Browse yourself through to your home folder, open the .config folder, look for openbox folder and open it.

11. If you can't find the openbox folder (which is very unlikely but happens sometimes) create one yourself.

12. Enter the openbox folder and create a new file and named it autostart.sh, right click on it, select properties and choose permision, change it's permision to Allow executing file as program.

13. Double click on autostart.sh and choose Display to edit it

14. The autostart.sh file is the file that tells Openbox to autostart certain programs and commands. Enter this to the autostart.sh :

#!/bin/sh

# Gnome keyring
/usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=gpg &
/usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=pkcs11 &
/usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=secrets &
/usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=ssh &
/usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 &

# The other usual stuff
xfce4-power-manager &
xfce4-panel &
xcompmgr &
nitrogen --restore &
xscreensaver -no-splash &

15. Save it and close the gedit and the nautilus.

16. type in the terminal nitrogen, nitrogen is the software that will put wallpaper on your desktop

17. Type xfce4-panel in the terminal emulator to run xfce4-panel (the panel of my choosinand change it the way you like.

18. Type gtk-chtheme and change the theme to Ambiance

18. Restart the computer and enter the log in as openbox session.

19. Done.