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Gentoo's Bugzilla – Attachment 106185 Details for
Bug 161107
New guide: The Xfce Configuration Guide
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xfce-config.xml
xfce-config.xml (text/plain), 17.38 KB, created by
nm (RETIRED)
on 2007-01-09 11:40:23 UTC
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xfce-config.xml
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nm (RETIRED)
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2007-01-09 11:40:23 UTC
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><?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?> > ><!-- $Header $ --> > ><!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> > ><guide link="/doc/en/xfce-config.xml"> > ><title>The Xfce Configuration Guide</title> > ><author title="Author"> > <mail link="nightmorph@gentoo.org">Joshua Saddler</mail> ></author> > ><abstract> >This guide provides an extensive introduction to Xfce, a fast, lightweight, >full-featured desktop environment. ></abstract> > ><!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license --> ><!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> ><license/> > ><version>1.0</version> ><date>2007-01-09</date> > ><chapter> ><title>Introduction</title> ><section> ><title>The Xfce desktop environment</title> ><body> > ><p> ><uri link="http://www.xfce.org">Xfce</uri> is a fast, lightweight desktop >environment for Unix-like operating systems. It is designed for productivity, >and is quite configurable while still adhering to the <uri >link="http://www.freedesktop.org">Freedesktop</uri> specifications. ></p> > ><p> >Unlike heavier desktop environments, such as Gnome and KDE, Xfce uses far fewer >system resources. Additionally, it offers greater modularity and fewer >dependencies; it takes up less space on your hard disk and takes less time to >install. ></p> > ><p> >This guide will not only show you how to install and configure a minimal Xfce >environment, but will also explore options to create a full-featured desktop in >keeping with the Xfce philosophy: light, fast, and modular. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ></chapter> > ><chapter> ><title>Installing Xfce</title> ><section> ><title>The basics</title> ><body> > ><p> >Before we install our fully-functional yet minimal desktop, let's take a moment >to review the basic packages we'll be emerging. ></p> > ><table> ><tr> > <th>Name</th> > <th>Description</th> ></tr> ><tr> > <ti>xfce4</ti> > <ti>The base Xfce desktop environment</ti> ></tr> ><tr> > <ti>xscreensaver</ti> > <ti> > A screensaver with powersaving features and the ability to lock the screen > for security > </ti> ></tr> ><tr> > <ti>hal</ti> > <ti> > A Hardware Abstraction Layer. HAL enables desktop applications to locate and > use hardware devices. This makes it easy for you to work with removable > media, such as USB sticks and CD/DVD drives. Installing <c>hal</c> will also > install <c>dbus</c>, a simple way for applications to talk to each other. > </ti> ></tr> ><tr> > <ti>gamin</ti> > <ti> > This file alteration monitor keeps track of file changes; it's very handy > when used in conjunction with a graphical file browser. > </ti> ></tr> ></table> > ><p> >You're free to install any other packages you wish, but for now, we'll stick >with these suggestions for a fast, minimal working environment. Double check >your USE flags in <path>/etc/make.conf</path> to suit your needs, though you'll >probably at least want <c>USE="-gnome"</c> to avoid pulling in unnecessary >dependencies. ></p> > ><pre caption="Installing Xfce"> ># <i>emerge -avt xfce4 xscreensaver hal gamin</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Next, add your regular user(s) to the following groups, so that they can take >full advantage of <c>hal</c> and be able to mount and use devices such as >cameras, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, and USB sticks: ></p> > ><pre caption="Adding users to the hardware groups"> ><comment>(Remember to replace username with your actual user)</comment> ># <i>gpasswd -a username plugdev,cdrom,cdrw,usb</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Next, update your environment variables: ></p> > ><pre caption="Updating environment variables"> ># <i>env-update && source /etc/profile</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Now start up <c>hald</c> and add it to the default runlevel: ></p> > ><pre caption="Starting hald"> ># <i>/etc/init.d/hald start</i> ># <i>rc-update add hald default</i> ></pre> > ></body> ></section> ></chapter> > ><chapter> ><title>Configuring Xfce</title> ><section> ><title>Starting Xfce</title> ><body> > ><p> >Now that Xfce is now installed, we'll configure it to be the default desktop >environment when we issue the <c>startx</c> command. Exit your root shell and >log on as a regular user. ></p> > ><pre caption="Setting Xfce as the default desktop environment"> >$ <i>echo "exec startxfce4" > ~/.xinitrc</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Now start your graphical environment by typing <c>startx</c>: ></p> > ><pre caption="Starting Xfce"> >$ <i>startx</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Congratulations, and welcome to your new Xfce desktop environment. Go ahead, >explore it a bit. Then continue reading to learn how you can configure Xfce to >suit your needs. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ><section> ><title>Program access</title> ><body> > ><p> >You might notice right-clicking on the desktop shows you the menu of all your >applications. It's useful, but your desktop can easily be completely obscured by >open windows, making it hard to to launch a new program. So, one of the first >things you may wish to do is give yourself a handy application menu on your >panel. Right click on this panel, and choose "Add New Item". Scroll through the >list of choices and select "Xfce Menu". You can choose where you want it to be >displayed on your panel. When clicked, it displays the application/preferences >menu, providing a nicely categorized list of your installed programs. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ><section> ><title>Sessions & startup</title> ><body> > ><p> >If you've installed (or plan to install) popular Gnome or KDE applications such >as <c>k3b</c>, <c>nautilus</c>, <c>kmail</c>, <c>evolution</c>, etc. then you >should make sure that Xfce launches the appropriate services for these at >startup. Navigate to Menu --> Settings --> Sessions & Startup. On the >"Advanced" tab, select the appropriate checkbox. This might slightly increase >Xfce startup times, but it decreases load times for KDE and Gnome applications. ></p> > ><p> >Xfce has the ability to save your session settings and running programs from the >"General" tab in the Sessions & Startup menu. They can be automatically >saved when you logout, or Xfce can ask you each time. This feature is >particularly useful for undoing configuration mistakes. Accidentally killed a >panel? Just select "No" when prompted to save your current session, and the next >time you start Xfce, your old desktop is restored. Want to automatically launch >your open webbrowser, terminal, and email client the next time you login? Just >save your session before logging out. ></p> > ><p> >You've now got a basic working environment installed and configured. But if >you're interested in doing more, then continue reading! ></p> > ></body> ></section> ></chapter> > ><chapter> ><title>Additional Applications</title> ><section> ><title>Panel plugins</title> ><body> > ><p> >In this chapter, we'll discuss some useful plugins and applications for everyday >use within Xfce. ></p> > ><p> >There are many plugins for the panel available in Portage; see for yourself with ><c>emerge --search xfce</c>. Though for the most part their names are self >explanatory, a few deserve some attention, as they are quite helpful. To use >them, simply <c>emerge</c> them. They'll be added to the list of available items >in the "Add New Item" menu. ></p> > ><ul> > <li> > <c>xfce4-mount</c> gives you a handy method of mounting devices listed in > <path>/etc/fstab</path> just by clicking your mouse > </li> ><!-- xfce4-taskbar is integrated into the panel in 4.4; remove when stable --> > <li> > <c>xfce4-taskbar</c> can replace the windowlist panel entirely. It's > useful if you want to conserve screen space (for small monitors), or don't > want your desktop cluttered with more than one panel. Add the taskbar to > your main panel, and then you can remove the separate windowlist panel by > running <c>killall -9 xftaskbar4</c> from an xterm, thus displaying your > application launchers, Xfce menu, clock, etc. all on just one panel. > </li> > <li> > <c>xfce4-battery</c> is perfect for laptop users. It displays battery > percentage, time remaining, power source (AC or battery), fan status, > warnings, and can even be configured to execute commands at certain power > levels. This feature can be used to put the laptop into hibernate mode when > the battery is almost exhausted. > </li> > <li> ><!-- xfce4-minicmd has been superceded by verve in 4.4; remove when stable --> > <c>xfce4-minicmd</c> is a small command line embedded into the panel. It's > quicker than opening up another terminal when you want to run a command. > </li> ></ul> > ></body> ></section> ><section> ><title>Useful programs</title> ><body> > ><p> >Now let's see about adding some useful yet lightweight applications, in keeping >with Xfce's philosophy. ></p> ><!-- Remove the warning about ~arch once 4.4 and terminal go stable --> ><p> >First, let's replace the plain, boring old <c>xterm</c> with ><c>xfce-extra/terminal</c>. <c>Terminal</c> is far more configurable and useful >than xterm, and supports Unicode text, pseudo-transparency and accelerated >transparency via Xfce's built-in compositor, all out-of-the-box. At the time of >writing, it is still in ~arch, so you will need to add it to ><path>/etc/portage/package.keywords</path> before emerging it. ></p> > ><pre caption="Installing a better terminal"> ># <i>echo "xfce-extra/terminal" >> /etc/portage/package.keywords</i> ># <i>emerge -av xfce-extra/terminal</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Once it's installed, you may want to change the default action of the terminal >launcher on your panel to run <path>/usr/bin/Terminal</path> instead. Just >right-click the launcher and choose "Properties" to change the command. ></p> > ><p> >You may want to replace the rather confusing default filemanager, <c>xffm</c>, >with one that's more intuitive and helpful. The <c>rox</c> file manager is >icon-based and behaves much more like a traditional file manager. If you're >looking for something even more minimal, yet still extremely flexible, then try >out the <c>gentoo</c> file manager. (The <c>gentoo</c> file manager is not >related to the Gentoo Linux distribution.) Both file managers are lightweight >and fully configurable, and are only a short <c>emerge</c> away. ></p> > ><!-- Remove the note about masked thunar once 4.4 is stable --> ><p> >In the future, <c>thunar</c> will replace <c>xffm</c> as Xfce's default file >manager, but it is still masked at the time of this writing. However, the most >recent versions have been quite useful for daily work, and show great promise. >If you're feeling brave, you can try out the release candidates. Please read ><uri link="doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=3&chap=3#doc_chap3">Using >Masked Packages</uri> to learn how to unmask it and its dependencies. Note that >this software is still unfinished. You have been warned! ></p> ><!-- remove mousepad once 4.4 is stable; right now it's included by default --> ><p> >Let's install a simple graphical text editor. It's easier to use than ><c>gvim</c> or <c>xemacs</c>, and has fewer dependencies. ></p> > ><pre caption="Adding a text editor"> ># <i>emerge mousepad</i> ></pre> > ><p> >If you need a full-featured word processor but don't want the bloat of >OpenOffice, try emerging <c>abiword</c>. <uri >link="http://www.abisource.com">AbiWord</uri> is lighter, faster, and is >completely interoperable with industry-standard document types. ></p> > ><pre caption="Adding a word processor"> ># <i>emerge -avt abiword</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Need a nice email client/newsreader that isn't as demanding as ><c>mozilla-thunderbird</c> or <c>evolution</c>? Try <c>sylpheed-claws</c>: ></p> > ><pre caption="Adding an email client"> ># <i>emerge -avt sylpheed-claws</i> ></pre> > ><p> >For your internet chat needs, <c>irssi</c> is an excellent, tiny, incredibly >configurable IRC client that runs in your terminal. If you prefer a compact >all-in-one client that handles nearly all chat protocols, you may want to ><c>emerge gaim</c>. ></p> > ><p> >If you need movie and music players, look no further than <c>mplayer</c> and ><c>audacious</c>. They can play most every media format available quite nicely, >and have a wealth of additional plugins available for additional functionality. ></p> > ><p> >Finally, you'll need a webbrowser. Nearly all graphical webbrowsers require more >resources than most of your other desktop applications. Still, ><c>mozilla-firefox</c> (or <c>mozilla-firefox-bin</c>) is always a good choice. >Alternatively, you may find <c>opera</c> to be quite fast. However, <c>opera</c> >is not available on as many processor architectures as <c>mozilla-firefox</c>, >and it has more dependencies unless you override them with a USE flag. ></p> > ><pre caption="Adding a webbrowser"> ><comment>(Installing Mozilla Firefox)</comment> ># <i>emerge mozilla-firefox</i> ><comment>(Installing Opera)</comment> ># <i>echo "www-client/opera qt-static" >> /etc/portage/package.use</i> ># <i>emerge opera</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Now that we've explored some good suggestions for rounding out your desktop >applications, let's see what else we can do to enhance your Xfce experience. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ><section> ><title>Graphical login</title> ><body> > ><p> >Remember when we added <c>startxfce4</c> to our <path>~/.xinitrc</path>? All you >have to do to get into your desktop is type <c>startx</c> after logging in. This >is fine if you prefer a completely text-based boot and login, but let's use a >display manager that will automatically start Xfce after booting (so that you >can login graphically). First, let's make sure Xfce loads at boot: ></p> > ><pre caption="Adding xdm to the default runlevel"> ># <i>rc-update add xdm default</i> ></pre> > ><p> >We aren't quite finished yet. We have to pick a display manager and set the >appropriate variable. Though there are a few choices available in Portage, for >this guide, we'll stick with two display manager options: <c>xdm</c> and ><c>gdm</c>. ></p> > ><p> ><c>xdm</c> comes with your installation of <c>xorg-x11</c>, but it isn't pretty, >and isn't really customizable. On the other hand, there's nothing further to >install; it's ready to go. If you'd like to use it, then just edit the >DISPLAYMANAGER variable in <path>/etc/conf.d/xdm</path>: ></p> > ><pre caption="Editing /etc/conf.d/xdm"> >DISPLAYMANAGER="xdm" ></pre> > ><p> >While you can choose to stick with (the rather ugly) <c>xdm</c>, why not try ><c>gdm</c> instead? It's far more configurable, and much, much prettier. First, >let's emerge it. Note that though it has a few dependencies, they're small, and >they're not as nearly as numerous as other display managers. ></p> > ><pre caption="Installing GDM"> ># <i>emerge -avt gdm</i> ></pre> > ><p> >Next, change the DISPLAYMANAGER variable to use <c>gdm</c> instead of ><c>xdm</c>: ></p> > ><pre caption="Editing /etc/conf.d/xdm"> >DISPLAYMANAGER="gdm" ></pre> > ></body> ></section> ><section> ><title>Beautifying your desktop</title> ><body> > ><p> >A little customization of your desktop's appearance can go a long way. Xfce has >all the options you'd expect from a modern desktop environment, font >antialiasing settings, color schemes, dozens of window decorations, themes, and >more. If these aren't enough, it's easy to install third-party themes, icon >sets, mouse cursor themes, and wallpapers. ></p> > ><p> >A selection of nice Gentoo wallpapers in a variety of resolutions are hosted on >the <uri link="http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/graphics.xml">Gentoo website</uri>. >If you're looking for icon sets and complete Xfce themes, <uri >link="http://www.xfce-look.org/">Xfce-Look</uri> has a huge collection. The >important thing to remember about any third-party eyecandy you download is that >it will usually first need to be unpacked and then installed to the proper >directory. Icon sets go in <path>/usr/share/icons/</path>, and themes go to ><path>/usr/share/themes/</path>. ></p> > ><p> >If you installed GDM as your display manager, take a look at the many GDM themes >available on <uri link="http://www.gnome-look.org">Gnome-Look</uri>. To install >them, you can either unpack and move them to ><path>/usr/share/gdm/themes/</path> on the command line, or you can run ><c>gdmsetup</c> as <b>root</b> and drag'n'drop the archive into the GDM window. >There are some <uri >link="http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=45575">very nice</uri> >Gentoo <uri >link="http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=20071">themes</uri> >available. ></p> > ><p> >Finally, Xfce has its own built-in compositor to manage window transparency. >This option can be found in Menu --> Settings --> Window Manager. For best >performance, you will need to be running a graphics card with drivers that >support hardware-accelerated rendering, and you will need to enable >compositing in <path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> by adding the following section: ></p> > ><pre caption="Enabling composite in xorg.conf"> >Section "Extensions" > Option "Composite" "Enable" >EndSection ></pre> > ><p> >This is the bare minimum configuration required for Xfce and Xorg-X11. However, >setting up hardware-accelerated rendering depends on your individual graphics >card, and is beyond the scope of this guide. Please see the other guides in the ><uri link="/doc/en/index.xml?catid=desktop">Desktop Documentation >Resources</uri> list to learn about configuring hardware-accelerated rendering >for your graphics card. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ></chapter> > ><chapter> ><title>Summary</title> ><section> ><body> > ><p> >Congratulations on making it this far! You've installed and configured a speedy >desktop environment with a solid suite of applications for your computing >needs. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ><section> ><title>Resources</title> ><body> > ><p> >Need additional help on configuring and using Xfce? Need more lightweight >application suggestions? Try asking the folks in: ></p> > ><ul> > <li><uri link="http://forums.gentoo.org">The Gentoo forums</uri></li> > <li>#xfce on irc.freenode.net</li> ></ul> > ><p> >Finally, Gentoo's Xfce team is responsible for making Xfce available in Portage. >Send comments, thanks, and suggestions to <mail>xfce@gentoo.org</mail>. ></p> > ></body> ></section> ></chapter> ></guide>
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